Unit Plan
ReadWriteThink

Let It Grow: An Inquiry-Based Organic Gardening Research Project

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
How does your garden grow? An inquiry-based, organic gardening unit asks young scientists to research a vegetable or flower, create an environment for it, and then plant and tend to the seedling. Gardeners develop their own research...
Lesson Plan
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National Science Teacher Association

Middle School Sampler: Science

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Focus on inquiry-based learning in your science class with a series of activities designed for middle schoolers. A helpful packet samples four different texts, which include activities about predator-prey relationships, Earth's axis...
Unit Plan
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PBS

Blow the Roof Off!

For Teachers 3rd - 8th Standards
Blow the minds of young scientists with this collection of inquiry-based investigations. Based on a series of eight videos, these "hands-on, minds-on" science lessons engage young learners in exploring a wide range of topics...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Glove Gardens

For Teachers K - 5th
Young scholars investigate how seeds sprout. In this scientific inquiry instructional activity, students make predictions on which seeds will grow the fastest and observe the seeds over a period of time. Observations are recorded into...
Unit Plan
American Institute of Architects

Architecture: It's Elementary!—Fifth Grade

For Teachers 4th - 8th Standards
Young citizens construct an understanding of urban planning in this cross-curricular unit. Covering every aspect of city development from the political, economic, and social influences to sustainable building practices, this...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Scientific Method Beyond High School

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students identify the different steps in the scientific method. For this biology lesson, students design an experiment given certain materials. They formulate conclusion and write a detailed lab report.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Nano Waterproofing

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students experiment to determine a way to waterproof a piece of cotton fabric. In this scientific inquiry lesson, students use reference worksheets to explore  waterproofing and the use of nanotechnology in engineering everyday...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Classification of Cerealites

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students create a dichotomous key. In this categorizing lesson, students create a dichotomous key for different types of cereal. Students classify the cereal into groups such as flakes and cereal with holes. Students discuss their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Alice Computer Programming

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore multimedia components. In this science inquiry lesson, students read "Invitation to the Game" by Monica Hughes and they use the Alice Computer Programming System to better understand population dynamics.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Coloring the Life Cycle of Fruits and Vegetables

For Teachers Pre-K
Students investigate how fruits and vegetables change and grow.  In this life cycle of fruits and vegetables lesson, students observe the changes in fruits and vegetables as they grow and record the colors on a worksheet.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sort the Compost Bin

For Teachers Pre-K - 2nd
Students discover what compost is. In this composting lesson, students view a sample of a compost bin and define what the purpose of compost is. Students discuss what the compost bin consists of and sort the compost bin into the green...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Young Engineers: Understanding Engineering Through Cooking

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders explore different engineering careers. In this math instructional activity, 2nd graders create a winning cooking recipe. They role play a mock cookie sale during the culminating event.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Grass as Biomass

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore energy properties by listening to a sustainability lecture in class. In this biomass lesson, students identify what biomass is, how it can be transformed into a usable energy and how it complements the energy cycle....
Lesson Plan
NASA

Gravitational Waves

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Young scientists participate in a hands-on experiment to explore Einstein's theory of relativity in a creative manner. They investigate various waves and compare their characteristics as they discuss how each wave is created....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

New Hampshire Unplugged

For Teachers K - 6th
Young historians explore how technology and science affected life in the state of New Hampshire. They define technology and give personal experiences of how technology affects people and how people have used technology. They compare the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

It's Challenging Being Green!

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Young scholars influence the plant life cycle as they take care of plants.In this caring for plants lesson, students understand the parts of the plant and their functions in keeping it alive. Young scholars participate in experiments...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Renewable Energy in Connecticut - Softening Our Footprint through Sustainable Energy Use

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers explore energy conservation. In this environmental lesson plan, students will look at data showing the amounts of energy used, our carbon footprint, and will research a power source. This unit allows for a deeper...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Permafrost: Permanently Frozen Ground

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students explore permafrost.  For this 3 states of matter lesson, students identify characteristics of solids and liquids.  Students observe water and soil melting and freezing at various temperatures.  Students make...
Lesson Plan
Sea World

Marine Animal Husbandry and Training

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Step into the role of a zoo director with several activities about animal training and running a zoo. Kids calculate the amount of food each animal needs, design a habitat for penguins, decide how to breed bottlenose dolphins, and train...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Michigan Food: From Farm to You

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students recognize Michigan on a map and understand how its climate is affected by the Great Lakes. In this Michigan food lesson plan, students play a trivia game to identify the produce of Michigan. Students relate the climate in each...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What is the Function of Each Seed Part in the Growth of a Plant

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders investigate the parts of a seed by using a digital camera.  In this botany lesson, 6th graders plant their own seeds in class and demonstrate the necessary attributes for growing a plant.  Students utilize a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Genetics

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Become familiar with the basic concepts of inheritance. Your junior high students work through mulitple examples of crosses and calculate probabilities of trait occurance. The explain the concept that each parent contributes one half of...
Lesson Planet Article
Curated OER

Smart Consumers

For Teachers 4th - 7th
You can help students cut through the hype and find out for themselves which brands are best by becoming consumer scientists.
Lesson Plan
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Curated OER

Ocean Careers Exploration

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Learners will work together in groups to gather information about careers in oceanography. They discover the need to have a diverse group of people on a team and then share their information with the class. Web links and materials are...