Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Teaching Controversial Science Issues Through Law Related Education

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Discuss the differences in dialogue and debate when considering a controversial topic. Your class can work in small groups to complete a guided discussion of this controversial topic and then participate in a simulation of the Scopes...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Who Lives in the Water? Stream Side Science

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Andree Walker thought of everything when he wrote this resource. It includes a detailed list of materials and background information links for the teacher. In addition, it has procedures, a macroinvertebrate identification key, and tally...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Science-Observation Skill Builders

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Pupils explore observation while making connections between observation skills and careers (like how farmers observe the weather). They view a variety of nature photographs on the computer and practice their observation skills by...
Lesson Plan
Minnesota Literacy Council

Scientific Method

For Teachers 4th - 6th Standards
Here is a resource with a descriptive approach to explaining the scientific method. It's simple, but effective for both introduction and reinforcement of this concept. 
Lesson Plan
Teach Engineering

Antimatter Matters

For Teachers 6th - 9th Standards
Use science fiction movies to teach pupils about antimatter and alternate universes. Individuals learn about the portrayal of antimatter and alternate universes in movies such as Star Trek and Angels & Demons. They consider three...
Lesson Plan
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Baylor College

Magnifying and Observing Cells

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Though it isn't a novel activity to prepare onion cell and Elodea plant cell slides as examples of cells in a microbiology unit, this resource will leave you thoroughly prepared. As pupils examine the slides that they prepare, they draw...
Lesson Plan
US Department of Energy

Geothermal Energy

For Teachers 5th - 8th
With Earth Day quickly approaching, as well as many science fairs, why not challenge your class to investigate geothermal energy or other renewable energy resources? There are five driving questions explored in depth here, as well as...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Polar Scientists: Polar Science

For Teachers 3rd - 8th Standards
Research skills are extremely important and they can be linked to any subject. Get your class thinking about scientists that study the polar region, what they do, and how they get funded to continue their research. Each child uses a...
Lesson Plan
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University of Colorado

Punnett Squares with Piebald Deer

For Teachers 5th - 10th Standards
Explore the science behind Earth's amazing diversity of life with this lesson on genetics. Looking at specific traits in piebald deer, carnations, and roan cattle, young scientists use Punnett...
Lesson Plan
National Wildlife Federation

Fossil Fuel Extraction Activity

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Extracting oil is more difficult than many think! Learners work together and get hands-on as they represent oil companies drilling for oil by simulating oil extraction using beans. They identify the challenges faced in using...
Lesson Plan
University of Minnesota

Mirroring Emotions

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Do you ever give your class the "teacher look"? Without saying a word, they become silent and engaged (hopefully). How do they know what you're thinking? Explore the concept of nonverbal communication and how it relates to our...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Neurons and the Nervous System

For Teachers 7th - 12th
The highlight of this series is activitiy #4. Anatomy pupils examine slides of three unknown cells. With the function of the nervous system in mind, they consider the structure of each and try to guess which one is part of that system....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Qualitative Aspects of Rotational Dynamics

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Explanations for six different physics lab activities and five suggested assessments are contained in this resource by the National Science Teachers Association. Any combination can be used to open learners' eyes to rotational motion....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cell Size and Shape; Diffusion and Osmosis Processes

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Use salmon eggs as a cell model for demonstrating the movement of water over concentration gradients. Junior scientists examine the same process microscopically with an onion cell. They use a thistle tube and a semipermeable membrane to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Coulomb's Law and Induced Polarization

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Engage your aspiring physicists in a series of lab activities directied at demonstrating the behavior of electric force. In completing these exercises, learners will explore Coulomb's and Gauss's Laws. Well-written directions to four...
Lesson Plan
California Academy of Science

Human Evolution

For Teachers 9th - 12th
As the great and hilarious Tim Minchin once said, "Science is simply the word we use to describe a method of organizing our curiosity." Science is more than just a guess; it is based on questions, observations, and evidence. High...
Lesson Plan
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American Chemical Society

Natural Resources and Synthetic Materials

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
All synthetic materials began as natural materials. An engaging lesson begins with a hands-on activity and an example of the type of research that scholars perform independently. Then pupils receive a topic and begin researching the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Hot Wire Chemical Vapor Deposition, But Were Afraid To Ask

For Teachers 10th - 12th
To wrap up your year of general chemistry, have lab groups compete in a tot wire chemical vapor deposition (HWCVD) competition. With their foundation in chemical nomenclature, stoichiometry, and gas laws, each group completes several...
Lesson Plan
Global Oneness Project

Learning with Nature

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Think outside the box - and think about education beyond the classroom walls - with a resource that has your critical thinkers watching a video about a nursery in Scotland that lets youngsters roam wild in a forest....
Lesson Plan
Global Oneness Project

On the Verge of Displacement

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
By having scholars tackle this interdisciplinary lesson, they'll see how social studies and environmental science are related as they explore the impact that the construction of a dam will have on the population and ecosystem of the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Apples: Family and Consumer Science

For Teachers 7th
Learning to cook and making good food choices are extremely important life skills. Seventh graders explore food science in relation to health and nutrition, by conducting several experiments on apples. Websites, movies, and instructional...
Lesson Plan
National Science Teachers Association

Hop into Action

For Teachers 3rd - 5th Standards
Young scientists find out what makes amphibians such unique and interesting animals in this simple life science instructional activity. After looking at pictures and discussing the characteristics of amphibians, learners...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

That's Predictable - Stream Side Science

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Research the impact that changes in biotic or abiotic factors might have on an ecosystem. Debate for or against the changes and take action in the community. This resource ideally follows stream studies that young ecologists may have...
Lesson Plan
Teach Engineering

Energy Efficiency

For Teachers 6th - 10th Standards
Using the resource is probably the most efficient way to learn about efficiency. The 18th installment of a 25-part Energy Systems and Solutions unit has pupils investigate energy efficiency through discussions and associated activities....