Curated OER
Bioterrorism: Development of a "Superbug"
High schoolers compare bacteria and viruses and their roles in biotechnology and bioterrorism. They outline fundamental steps of bacterial transformation and the possible selection processes to identify transformants. They discuss...
Curated OER
Microscope Investigation
Pupils explore physical science by participating in a science examination. In this microscope tutorial instructional activity, students read the book The Naked Eye and discuss the purpose for using a microscope in the field of science....
Curated OER
What Is A Plant?
Students explore plants. In this plant lesson, students examine organisms to determine which are plants. During this introductory lesson, students explore characteristics of living things.
Illinois Valley Community College
STEM Activities for Middle School Students
Use STEM activities within the class to provide connections to concepts. The resource includes activities that range from working with buoyancy to building rockets and launching them. Other activities involve the engineering design...
Perkins School for the Blind
The Germinator
How does a plant grow from a seed? Observe the process with a clever idea from the PBS television show ZOOM. Watch the video, then have your young botanists create their own germinators. The lesson described here is for visually impaired...
Curated OER
Polar Scientists: Polar Science
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...
Chicago Botanic Garden
Recognizing Change (Observation vs. Inference)
What is the difference between making inferences and making observations? Young climatologists refer to a PowerPoint to make observations on each slide. They record their observations in a provided worksheet before drawing a...
Curated OER
Inventing and Presenting Unit 1: Analyzing Nonfiction and Inventing Solutions
Students read about and identify patterns in the invention process. Students discuss and write about information learned from research. Students compile a list of problems, choose one, write a problem statement, and compile a list of at...
Curated OER
Classification of Cerealites
Students create a dichotomous key. In this categorizing activity, 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...
Curated OER
Life Science - Seeds
Fourth graders participate in a scientific experiment involving growing lima beans. Students plot information gathered on included charts and graphs. Students use the steps of the scientific method throughout this experiment.
Curated OER
Phosphate Testing Contract
Students examine how to prepare an experimental procedure. In this scientific method lesson students conduct an investigation on phosphate.
Curated OER
Humidity and Air Saturation
Students experiment with air saturation. In this earth science lesson, students first complete an activity which teaches humidity. Then they use the scientific method to create their own experiments to test how long it takes a...
Curated OER
The Nitrogen Cycle
Students design and create a compost pile in order to study the Nitrogen Cycle. They then use the scientific method to determine if plants grow better when they add organic matter from their compost pile to the plant's soil.
Texas State University
Earth: Deposition and Lithification
Geology geniuses analyze sediment samples with a hand lens and sort according to physical characteristics. They also learn about the processes of cementation, compaction, and lithification within the rock cycle. The lesson plan is...
Curated OER
A Research Project and Article For the Natural Inquirer
Get your class to use the scientific process to solve a scientific problem. They utilize the Natural Inquirer magazine to identify a research question which they write an introduction to and collect data to answer. They use graphs,...
Curated OER
Measurable You!
Conduct guided experiments and discussions while collecting anthropometric measurements. Your class will explore impact of experimental errors in a scientific system, and explain their observations/findings in writing. An introduction to...
Curated OER
The Art of Soap Making
Here is a nice, clean wrap-up lesson for your chemistry class when they are studying chemical reactions . They experiment with different oils to make soap. To make it more fun, they are to imagine that they are part of a soap testing...
NOAA
Wet Maps
How do oceanographers make maps under water? Junior explorers discover the technologies and processes involved in creating bathymetric maps in part three of a five-part series designed for fifth- and sixth-grade pupils. The...
Curated OER
Simple Circuit: Electric Currents and Circuits
Through inquiry and exploration, 4th graders will learn and understand the functions of open and closed circuits. They will break into 2 groups, define vocabulary, hypothesize how to light a bulb, then test their hypothesis 4 different...
National Christmas Tree Association
Merry Christmas, Geraldine
If you're reading the story "Merry Christmas, Geraldine" by Holly Keller, this is a fantastic cross-curricular resource to use. Complete with activities for language arts, science, social studies, art, and math, you'll get the most out...
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
RNA Was the First Genetic Molecule
Can organic molecules come from a pre-biotic environment? Stanley Lloyd Miller proved it is possible when exactly the right conditions exist. Learn about his experiment and the other experiments later building off of it that changed the...
Curated OER
The effectiveness of Antacids
High schoolers design and conduct a scientific experiment to test which of four antacids would be most effective for neutralizing acids. They rank the antacids in order from most effective to least effective and explain how they...
Curated OER
Quality of Life Investigations: Risk Reductions
Students participate in a discussion of recent environmental issues affecting their own community or ones nearby. In groups, they research the role of food additives and the purpose of adding them to foods. They also determine their...
Curated OER
How Do Cells Reproduce?
Students examine cell division and the process of mitosis. In this cell reproduction lesson plan students grow yeast and observe the results, and learn about the career of scientific illustration.