Curated OER
Measurement: Length, volume, and temperature
Students determine the temperature of the water in a cup, measure the length of a piece of cardboard, and measure out an appropriate volume of water. This task assesses student's abilities to perform measurement and reporting skills.
Curated OER
Determining the Age of Fossils
Students examine the concept of radioactive dating. In this radioactive dating activity, students investigate how to determine the ages of fossils and rocks as they learn about half-life radioactive decay.
Curated OER
The Mystery Box
Students work in groups with a wooden box that is sealed shut. They make predictions about what is inside the box. Before being allowed to open the box, the groups make hypotheses, conduct experiements, record results, draw conclusions,...
Curated OER
Gathering Data About Respiration
Students engage in an experiment that tests how much air we breathe in and out during the respiration process. In this respiration lesson, students blow a typical breath's amount of air into a balloon. They use a ruler to measure the...
Curated OER
The Big Freeze
In this lab activity worksheet, students record the time it takes for an ice cube to melt in three different situations. After collecting data they design a container that will keep an ice cube in a solid state for as long as possible.
Curated OER
Wind Power
What a wonderful way to explore wind power! Through this lesson, learners get a background in the history of wind power, create their own wind turbine, and the test their designs. This is a terrific way to tie scientific principles to...
Curated OER
Wright Again: 100 Years of Flight
Aspiring aeronautical engineers demonstrate different forces as they construct and test paper airplanes. This lesson plan links you to a website that models the most effective paper airplane design, an animation describing the forces...
Curated OER
Introduction to Classification
Fourth graders design a classification system to categorize animate and inanimate objects. They discuss the advantages of grouping things as they classify buttons, leaves, shells.
Curated OER
Summer: Getting the Bugs Out
Students compare and contrast classification systems used throughout the world. They also examine the importance of preserving biological diversity.
Curated OER
Woodwind Instruments and Pitch
Young scholars explore musical pitch. In this cross curriculum musical instruments and "sound" physics lesson, students identify and describe common traits of woodwind instruments. Young scholars research "pitch" and what causes pitch...
Curated OER
Create a Creature
Students design, build, draw, or bake a creature of their choice and present to the class. They write a paper including the creature's habitat, method of getting energy, their creature as a producer or consumer, predator or prey species...
National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science
Cell Phone Use and Cancer
The cell phone you're using is making you deaf: news at 11:00. Oftentimes, the media uses fear tactics and other techniques to increase its audience base. In an intriguing look at the difference between scientific journals and...
Curated OER
Digestion & Nutrition: a Case Study
Middle schoolers explore digestion/nutrition and utilize scientific investigation skills. They complete meal logs for several days and graph their results. After analyzing their data, they write formal lab reports.
Curated OER
Population Density
Middle schoolers use the scientific method to conduct an experiment and use varied methods to gather background information. They correctly use lab equipment and prepare tables and graphs that organize, conclude, and present their...
Curated OER
Ants In Motion
Students brainstorm ants and their characteristics in a class discussion. They observe the ants and answer question pertaining to their behavior; then they apply the scientific method in creating and investigating a problem.
Teach Engineering
Viscous Fluids
Elasticity and viscosity. Help your class understand the similarities and differences with an introduction to viscous fluids. After describing four types of fluid behaviors: shear thinning, shear thickening, Bringham plastic,...
Curated OER
The Working of Scientists
Students define and explain the basic concepts of experimental design. In this scientific method lesson students complete a hands on activity, develop and present proposals to test their explanations.
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...
Curated OER
Evaporation Marathon
Students review the steps of the scientific method and participate in a three day experiment. They observe water evaporation over time.
Curated OER
Determining the Geologic History of Rocks from a Gravel Deposit
Students apply the scientific method to identify rocks from glacial deposits, hypothesize how they got there and then test their hypothesis. They are given the experience of active, hands-on inquiry.
Curated OER
Untitled Document Aerospace Team Online:
Students explain the historical significance of use of the scientific method in developing the first airplane and appreciate the process involved in developing a new technology.
Curated OER
Environmental Chemistry
Eighth graders are introduced to the topic of Environmental Chemistry. In groups, they review the steps within the scientific method and develop their own hypothesis and design an experiment. They solve equations related to the...
Curated OER
Science Project
Students research a topic in the various fields of science that interests them. Using a computer, they type their information to use on their project and use a scanner to place pictures or articles in the document. They use the steps...
Curated OER
Investigating Space Requirement of Seed Plants
Students use scientific methods to investigate the effects of overpopulation of seed plants on growth in a limited living space. Students relate seed plant population findings to that of other organisms.