Some scientists argue that air pollution now causes more deaths than smoking. The second unit in a six-part series focuses on air quality. Scholars learn what's in the air, how clean the air around their school is, and what they can do...

Here is an excellent lesson plan on the water cycle and the states in which water exists. Learners identify the features of the water cycle, describe how water changes form, and look at ways that people affect the natural movement of...

Young scholars examine the condition, triggers, and ways to cope with asthma, compare their previous knowledge of asthma with new information presented in an educational video, and use information about asthma to the creation of an...

Youngsters develop an understanding of how smog is produced, and how exhaust from automobiles is one of the major sources of smog. They explore the roles that engineers play in developing technologies that reduce smog, then work in teams...

Rotating through five stations, evolutionary biologists explore the question of how changes in DNA facilitate the changes in a population over time. High-quality, colorful cards of animals, skeletons, skulls, and DNA sequences can all be...

In an effort to practice engineering design, STEM classes break out into teams and endeavor to make a working ink pen. To prepare, they read about writing implements through history, patents, and viscosity of liquids. Armed with this...

In this weather learning exercise students use a weather map to answer given questions. Kids answer questions using map symbols and make predictions based on map. Students create additional questions with answers using the same map.

After reading Elie Wiesel's Night, watching the movie Life is Beautiful, and researching World War II, class members write a comparison essay on the book and film. This includes a prior knowledge activity, discussion in whole and small...

Students explore biology by completing science worksheets in class. In this animal anatomy lesson, students read the book The Adventures of Marco and Polo and identify the animals mentioned in it. Students examine a real life animal and...

Student demonstrates the ability to select and evaluate media. They access and organize information about volcanoes. Each student locates on a map a currently erupting volcano.

What does it take to get stuff to the Moon? Design teams create subsystems for a space transportation system to go to the Moon. The teams study Earth transportation components along with historical space transportation systems to...

Students study the water cycle and the different forms of water.  In this exploratory instructional activity students observe, measure and describe water as it changes state.

Students study the existence of dinosaurs as a precursor to learning about extinction. In this dinosaurs instructional activity, students watch dinosaur video at assigned web sites. They discuss what they observed in the videos including...

Learners consider the connection between the past and future landscape of Quail Island. In this visual arts lesson plan, students observe existing artwork, art vocabulary, and connections to the role of social sciences when painting...

Young scholars study tree leaves to complete the activity, In this tree leaf experiment instructional activity, students observe, measure, and sort tree leaves individually, in groups, and in relationship to the entire tree.

Students observe leaves. In this math and science cross-curriculum leaf lesson, students take a nature walk and collect leaves. Attributes are assigned and leaves are sorted in various ways. Students use non-standard or standard units of...

Students explore the design of structures. In this science lesson, students use various items to build structures. Students discuss the structures they build.

Thor, Loki, Iron Man, and Captain America. As part of their study of Greek and Roman gods and heroes, middle schoolers compare the characters in The Avengers to Greek counterparts. Individuals then create their own superhero,...

Installment eight of the 10-part Discover Your Changing World series tests the class's understanding of climate. Scholars play alone or in small groups to assess their understanding of climate systems, causes of climate...

Fifth graders use scientific skills and processes to recognize how living things depend on one another and on the environment for survival and the human use of natural resources impacts the environment. Explain how Earth's surface...

Students acquire knowledge and literacy (through multiple intelligences) in social studies, language arts, science and math as we study the Oregon Trail. This type of lesson plan is strong in its attempt to be accessible to all learners.

Students explain how our knowledge of the sky has been enhanced by telescopes. They make their own night-sky observations, diagram and describe what they see, and examine pictures taken by telescopes.

Celebrate the whimsical world of Dr. Seuss on Read Across America Day with a collection of science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics activities, each linked to a popular Dr. Seuss story. 

Fifth graders use scientific skills and processes to recognize how living things depend on one another and on the environment for survival and that the human use of natural resources impacts the environment. They research how Earth's...