Curated OER
Energy and Work: Transformation Through Engines
High schoolers conduct a webquest on an energy source they chose. In this physics lesson, students design an experiment to determine the factors affecting potential and kinetic energy. They calculate speed and create distance vs. time...
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Working with Questions
Students explore questions in a scientific context. They consider what makes questions testable. After reading short scenarios, students come up with their own testable questions about the reading.
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Animal Behavior
Students investigate stimulus-response behavior, learned behavior in animals and innate behavior in animals. In this animal behavior lesson plan, students answer questions about their reactions to a toy cap gun that is fired off in...
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An Introduction to Chemistry
In this introduction to chemistry worksheet, students complete 48 problem solving and fill in the blank questions. They convert measurements from one unit to another.
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Alka-Seltzer Cannons
Fourth graders observe what is happening when an Alka-Seltzer tablet is placed in a clear cup of water. They observe the release of carbon dioxide gas. Pupils answer the question of how much as is released by observing the experiment...
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Fractals, An Inquiry: Day 4
Students put their growing understanding of the scientific inquiry process to work. They use paint to implement their plans to experiment with how changing one aspect of the fractal making process influences their appearance.
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Why Cheerios Don't Sink
Students investigate Archimedes' Principle and show how it relates to density. In this Archimedes' Principle lesson plan, students experiment with a beaker of water, a Styrofoam "boat" and a weight. They predict what will happen when the...
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The Big Bang Theory
Students will use scientific reasoning to formulate ideas about the formation of the universe using the Big Bang Theory. The use of critical thinking skills is part of the activity and the foundation of the scientific method will serve...
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Weathering
Second graders explore weathering and how the water cycle plays a part in weathering. In this weathering lesson, 2nd graders put gravel and sugar cubes in a jar and shake, simulating weathering. Students use the scientific method to...
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Springs
Springs are amazing. Here, learners are presented with springs found in various everyday objects. They discuss which springs they think will have the most force, then test their hypothesis. This presentation has the start of a good idea...
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Science Lesson Plans
Learners conduct a variety of exploration activities on various science topics. For this science lesson outline, students design a cell encapsulation to hold a specific type of medicine. They give examples of physical and chemical...
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Methods of Mystery
Students utilize the scientific method to discover the age of an item. In this historical dating instructional activity, students compare and contrast a 400 year old cabinet to one made within a few years by using carbon dating....
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Urban Biology: Can Fish Detect Odors
Students investigate how fish use their sense of smell. In this scientific method lesson, students design and perform an experiment to investigate how fish use their sense of smell. This lesson includes statistical analysis and...
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Curiosity Does Not Kill The Cat
Students list the different ways they could test a guinea pig, a dandelion, and their brother (or sister)? They create a data chart in their group that lists the organism, what they could measure, and how they could change that measurement.
Curated OER
Investigating the Effect of Minerals on Plant Growth
How do different minerals affect the growth of plants? Budding botanists find out in a multi-week experiment that has them using solutions with specific mineral deficiencies. While there is a lot of preparation for the investigation,...
K20 LEARN
It's Alive! Or, Is It?
Seems like a fairly simple question—until you begin asking your class! Get pupils acquainted with the characteristics of life through pairs classification, discussion, and scientific reading. The lesson plan, part of the K20 series, also...
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Teaching Biology Through Bioinformatics
Wow! A very detailed slideshow covers complex topics of genome research methods. This is advanced and relevant to the highest level of school biology. Excellent resource if you wish to expose your class to scientific methods and...
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Understanding the Epidemiologic Triangle through Infectious Disease
Introduce infectious diseases and the epidemiologic triangle. A helpful resource describes the agent, host, and environment from the three vertices as well as the time factor, which is in the middle. Scholars complete a simple...
Population Connection
The Peopling of Our Planet
How many people live on the planet, anyway? The first resource in a six-part series covers the topic of the world population. Scholars work in groups to conduct research and make population posters after learning about the global...
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Scientific Method in Action
Students investigate the current environmental movement by cleaning up their own campus. In this environmental care instructional activity, students practice cleaning their "environment" by picking up trash on their campus and...
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Examining Samples and Asking Testable Research
Students formulate a testable research question containing a comparison and a
quantitative measure. They state the null and alternative hypothesis for a testable research question. In addition, they describe some of the abiotic
and...
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Oil and its Everyday Uses
Explore the properties of oil through an experiment. They use the scientific process to investigate oil, participate in experiments, watch videos,and use information from the internet to determine how oil has changed our...
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Earth System Science
Students investigate the age of the earth by using accepted scientific methods. They conduct research about the use of radioactive dating and there is a simulation activity of the process. Finally, students measure the radioactive decay...
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Introduction to Scientific Theory
Ninth graders explain how scientists set up investigations. For this scientific process lesson, 9th graders review the principles of the scientific method and use these skills to answer an open-ended question about how to set up a...