Curated OER
Web of Life - Ecosystem
Third graders play the roles of various organisms in an ecosystem (focusing on insects) and pass yarn or string around to other organisms from largest animals to the smallest. The end product is a web which shows how all of these animals...
Curated OER
Ego Trip- Exploring the Inner Workings of the Human Body
Students gain an understanding of how systems and organs in the human body work. They create their own fictional account of a trip through the human body, and describe one response the body makes to stimuli.
Curated OER
Radioactive Decay/Half Life
Students demonstrate radioactive decay using candy corns. In this Physics lesson, students make predictions, collect data and form conclusions about patterns in radioactive decay.
Global Oneness Project
The Value of Ancient Traditions
Imagine having to give up cell phones, computers, and TV? What would be lost? What gained? An examination of the Drokpa, a nomadic people who live in the grasslands of Tibet, provides class members an opportunity to consider how access...
Curated OER
A Matter of Life and Death
Young scholars research burial tombs of ancient Egypt and Acting as pharaohs of Egypt, students create burial plans to illustrate what items they would include in their own tombs and why. They then act as archaeologists and analyze other...
Curated OER
Death and Dying in Puritan New England: A Study Based on Early Gravestones, Vital Records, and other Primary Sources Relating to Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Students examine the time in which the Puritans lived in colonial New England. In groups, they research the Puritans view on life and death and discuss as a class. They read gravestones, diaries and other primary sources to discover...
Curated OER
What do Earthworms Like to Eat?
Students encounter three ecosystems for earth worms prior to performing an experiment. It will introduce students to one form of ecosystem as well as demonstrate how earthworms and the foods they eat affect the environment in which they...
Curated OER
Landfills and Contamination
Students discover the dangers of landfills to our environment by investigating leachate. In this environmental lesson, students create a model landfill experiment in which they observe the effect of rain on a landfill over the...
Curated OER
Smallest Thing
Students compare characteristics of myobacteria and viruses to determine which is the smallest life form. They read and discuss an article that presents different viewpoints on the definition of life to determine their own viewpoint.
Virginia Department of Education
Osmosis, Diffusion, and Active Transport
No, it really is okay to play with your food! Emerging scientists manipulate popcorn, eggs, and other household objects as they demonstrate multiple cellular processes. The activity, capable of modifications, is designed to reflect...
Curated OER
Populations – The Survival of the Fittest (Part 1)
Students explain in their own words why organisms live together. For this biology lesson, students model what happens to organisms if their environment changes. They explain the importance of evolution.
Curated OER
Diverse Environments
Students explore life forms in different environments. After exploring different biomes within their state, students research different plant and animal species within each biome. They prepare a group report on one feature of the region...
Virginia Department of Education
Cell Division
Searching for simple ways to teach mitosis to high schoolers? Using colored chalk and onion root tips, pupils visually demonstrate what they view when looking through the lens of a microscope. There are also various ways to expand the...
Curated OER
Plants and Animals
Students discuss the different types of plants and animals in a local environment. In this science instructional activity, students name some plants and animals understanding that they require different habitats to live. Students use...
Curated OER
A Body Dilemma
Students explore the pros and cons of the selling of body parts in this lesson. A discussion of how personal value systems impact science and research is developed.
Curated OER
Habits: An Introduction
Second graders identify different types of habitats animals live in to have a better understanding of the world around them. They choose a habitat, draw a picture of an animal that lives there and list the unique attributes the habitat...