Kenan Fellows
Sustainability: Learning for a Lifetime – Soil
Do great gardeners really have green thumbs—or just really great soil? Environmental scholars discover what makes Earth's soil and soil quality so important through research and experimentation. Learners also develop an understanding of...
Curated OER
Me and My Shadow
Students apply the process of scientific inquiries or technological design to explore the explanations of the daily patterns of the Earth's rotation. They record different shadow lengths showing the apparent movement of the sun through...
Curated OER
MAKE IT FLY
Students utilize the process of scientific inquiry and technological design to explain thrust, weight, lift and drag in flight. They design an "airplane" to test the "mechanics" of flight. In addition, they brainstorm and sketch a design...
Curated OER
How The Scientists Really Work
High schoolers question the accepted practices of science by scientists and their interactions with technology and society. They devise and conduct appropriate interview procedures for scientists to question their understanding and...
Curated OER
Dirty Decomposers
Students explore the ecosystem by conducting a ziploc bag experiment. In this recycling lesson, students identify decomposer organisms in our environment and how they speed up the recycling process. Students utilize a ziploc plastic bag,...
Curated OER
DIY Lava Lamp
Students examine lava lamps and what causes them to work. In this density instructional activity students make a lava lamp and write the scientific explanation of what happens.
Curated OER
Health Care
Students analyze information and draw conclusions about the reality of human life expectancy; the battle between health care technology and our own internal time clocks. Students answer questions such as "Why does aging occur and can...
Curated OER
States of Water
Students investigate the 3 states of matter. In this physical science "matter" lesson, students observe and participate in a number of demonstrations involving melting and freezing water. Students observe the effect heat has on changing...
Curated OER
Protein Synthesis Worksheet
In this protein synthesis instructional activity, high schoolers complete 17 questions about making proteins through the process of transcription and translation. They use a sample of DNA to make a protein using a given tRNA dictionary.
Curated OER
Weathering
Second graders explore weathering and how the water cycle plays a part in weathering. For this weathering lesson, 2nd graders put gravel and sugar cubes in a jar and shake, simulating weathering. Students use the scientific method...
Curated OER
The effectiveness of Antacids
High schoolers design and conduct a scientific experiment to test which of four antacids would be most effective for neutralizing acids. They rank the antacids in order from most effective to least effective and explain how they...
Curated OER
Who Owns Rights to Pharmacogenetic Information?
Students develop an understanding of the rationale of ownership over scientific information. They research commercial applications of DNA sequences. They analyze how to evaluate medical ethics issues.
Curated OER
A Journey Through Time
For this science worksheet, students research a specific time frame to discover major scientific developments and historical events. Then they identify at least 50 events and write a brief description of each. Students also create a time...
Curated OER
Classifying the Class
Fifth graders create dichotomous keys to create classifications of students in the classroom by writing instructions. In this classifications lesson plan, 5th graders learn how dichotomous keys are used in science observations.
Curated OER
Bluebirds Project
In this bluebirds project activity, students are given directions on completing a project about bluebirds including measurements, scientific method questions, data entry, and more. Students complete 15 exercises.
Curated OER
Cut Ice Cubes in Half Like Magic
Students explore the process of melting or cutting ice. In this scientific observation lesson, students discover that the pressure from two weights will pull a string through an ice cube by melting the ice directly under the line of...
Curated OER
Environmental Studies: The Environment Rocks!
Rock exploration, so exciting! After reading the book Everybody Needs a Rock, the class makes sandwiches to better understand that the Earth is made in layers. They then use a description of the 3 types of rock to conduct an observation...
Teach Engineering
See the Genes
"If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough" - Albert Einstein. The sixth installment of a seven-part series teaches young scientists about the importance of being able to communicate scientific research and...
National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science
A Rose By Any Other Name
In part one, your astronomers read an interview dialogue between a reporter and Dr. Maria Ocasio, the chair of the group that assigns names to celestial objects. The topic in question is Pluto's status. Learners research Plutinos and...
Curated OER
The Case of the Contaminated Maize
Environmental health students read about an outbreak of aflatoxin poisoning with the intent to examine the stages of an epidemiologic investigation. As they read the case study, they identify where the outbreak occurred, form a...
NASA
Revising an Investigation
Write, edit, and then revise! The fourth lesson plan in a five-part series asks peers to provide feedback on research. Individuals then use the research to edit and revise conclusions and develop their presentations.
NASA
Melting Ice: Designing an Experiment
Sometimes, despite the best laid plans, the unexpected will occur. Learners witness this firsthand as they carefully design an experiment to determine the time needed for ice to melt in salt water or pure water. They uncover facts not...
University of Colorado
Strange New Planet
The first remote sensors were people in hot air balloons taking photographs of Earth to make maps. Expose middle school learners to space exploration with the use of remote sensing. Groups explore and make observations of a new...
Intel
Help Wanted! Physicist
Groups discover physics as they take an assigned scenario, perform research about different aspects of the subject matter, and present their findings to the class. From the presentations, learners must develop and support a point of view...