Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary
Guess What Benjamin Franklin Did!
Learners research Ben Franklin's inventions. In this invention lesson, students see the relationship between a need and an invention. Learners will engage in a class discussion, read a handout, and play a match the invention to its...
Curated OER
Luz: Poetry and the Physics of Light
Students explore color, light, refraction and reflection. In this light lesson students measure solar position and compare it to time.
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Smart Consumers
You can help students cut through the hype and find out for themselves which brands are best by becoming consumer scientists.
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Indirectly Direct
Student form and test hyptheses using indirect and direct observation. They launch marbles to determine the shape of a hidden object.
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Observing Lava Flows
Learners examine the difference between fast and slow spreading lava flows. They identify various types of lava flow and determine the factors that cause them to form. Viewing photographs of lava flows, students working in groups,...
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Paper Dart Airplane
Students create a paper dart airplane and measure its flight pattern. In this flight lesson, students follow the included directions to build their own paper airplane. The students change the aileron configurations to see how it affects...
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Honing in on Hummingbirds
Students explore ruby-throated hummingbirds. In this cross-curricular hummingbirds lesson, students listen to the book The Mystery of the Missing Hummingbirds and choose related topics to research with a partner. Students draw or...
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Oobleck
Students explore "matter." In this literacy and three states of matter lesson, students listen to Bartholomew and the Oobleck by Dr. Seuss, then work in groups to explore "oobleck" (cornstarch and water mixture) with their five senses....
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Structures and Behaviors of Planarians
Students investigate planaria of the phylum platyhelminthes. They use DigiScope technology to observe and describe the structure and movements of planarians.
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What is a Seed?
First graders identify the parts of a seed. In this plant biology lesson, 1st graders are given a seed and identify each part of the seed by using a hand lens. Students plant a seed and graph the growth.
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What did I find?
Students excavate an artifact. In this archaeology lesson, students get a bucket filled with dirt and a broken up artifact. They work in groups to take it out and to find what its purpose was.
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Minerals
Students apply rules to compare and rank the hardness and softness of minerals. They perform a scratch test on four unknown mineral samples, read a bar graph that illustrates the comparative hardness and softness of four named minerals,...
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School Redesign and Multiple Intelligences
Students examine their own intelligence to find areas of strength after studying the multiple intelligences. In this diverse learning styles lesson, students analyze how the school environment fosters or fails students of diverse...
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Designing Babies
Learners analyze current and emerging techniques used to select specific characteristics in offspring. They examine specific case studies and make ethical decisions based upon the Ethical Decision-Making Model.
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Using Fulcrums
Students engage in a lesson that concentrates on the use of a lever and fulcrum. They define how a lever is used to lift a load. The lesson has background information to justify it. Students demonstrate how to use the lever while lifting...
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A Wet Welcome Home
Students investigate data collection and analysis. In this Algebra I lesson plan, students create a scatter plot and find the equation of best fit in a simulation of a leaking water pipe.
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Tree-Ring Dating
In this tree-ring dating worksheet, students use activity sheets to determine a tree's age and to observe changes in climate from the tree-rings. Students investigate how archaeologists use tree rings to date evidence and they answer 5...
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Burn, Baby Burn (Or Not)
Physics learners apply the concepts of fluid pressure input and output to firefighting. Divide your class into small groups and give them each a few cards that list nozzle type, hose length, hose size, and structure dimensions, They are...
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Sands of Time
Young scientists take a close looks a samples of sand that come from three different beaches. They use microscopes to view the three slides, and make observations on a worksheet. At the end of the lesson, learners share their...
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The Environment
Students explore the issues that influence our environment and research ways to decrease the negative impact that humans have on the environment. Misconceptions about environmental issues are addressed in this instructional activity.
Mascil Project
Parachute Food Drop
Drop a perfect project into your lesson plans. Groups use different building materials to create models of parachutes for food drops. After testing out their prototypes, they make improvements to their designs.
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What's The Big Deal About Accutane?
Young scholars take on the role of epidemiologists. They investigate an "outbreak" in serious birth defects that occur in infants born to teenage girls. students discover a link between the use of the acne drug called Accutane and birth...
Cornell University
The Science of Snowflakes
Who can grow the best crystals? Challenge class members to develop strategies for enhancing growth in the crystals. Through a lab investigation, learners study the properties of crystals and test the effectiveness of different...
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Get the Picture!
Astronomers practice downloading data from a high-energy satellite and translate the data into colored or shaded pixels. As a hands-on activity, they use pennies to simulate high-energy satellite data and they convert their penny...