Lesson Plan
American Institute of Physics

Meet Four Pioneering African American Astronauts

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
An out-of-this-world resource introduces young scientists to four African American astronauts: Michael P. Anderson, Ronald E. McNair, Guion S. Bluford Jr., and Jeanette J. Epps. Groups read biographies of these individuals and prepare...
Lesson Plan
Academy of American Poets

On Marilyn Nelson's Poem “1905”

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Marilyn Nelson's poem, "1905," asks young scholars to compare and contrast George Washington Carver and Albert Einstein. After studying images of the two scientists and listing their observations, class members listen to several readings...
Lesson Plan
American Institute of Physics

African Americans and Life in a Secret City

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Imagine the lure of being offered a job at a secret site, working on a secret project, and earning higher wages! Such was the approach used to recruit African Americans to Hanford, Washington, one of several sites used to develop...
Lesson Plan
American Institute of Physics

Dr. Gates and the Nature of the Universe

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
What do Russian nesting dolls have to do with physics? They make a great demonstration tool for explaining Dr. Sylvester James Gates, Jr.'s string theory to young scientists. A two-part lesson first introduces learners to Dr. Gates'...
Lesson Plan
American Institute of Physics

Historical Detective: Edward Alexander Bouchet and the Washington-Du Bois Debate over African-American Education

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Young scientists meet Edward Alexander Bouchet who, in 1876, was the first African American to receive a PhD in Physics. This two-part lesson first looks at the debate between Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois about the type of...
Lesson Plan
American Institute of Physics

Optics and Anthony Johnson

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Message sending has come a long way since the days of Morse code's dots and dashes. Young scientists study the research of optical physicist Anthony Johnson and his work in fiber optics, lasers, and the principle of total internal...
Lesson Plan
American Institute of Physics

The Physical Sciences at Women's Colleges

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
After a brief introduction to the history of women's colleges in the United States and a discussion of the resistance such institutions faced, young scientists investigate seven traditionally women's colleges and their physics programs....
Lesson Plan
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Learning for Justice

The Color of Law: Creating Racially Segregated Communities

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
It is pointed, powerful, and painful! The first of three lessons about laws and practices that support inequality looks at how government policies created and reinforced segregated communities. Young social scientists read excerpts from...
Lesson Plan
PBS

Amid Rising Economic Inequality, Does America Need a Third Reconstruction?

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Young political scientists investigate the Poor People's Campaign protest held in Washington, D.C., on June 18, 2022. They research how the event was reported in various news outlets and consider their stance on whether...
Lesson Plan
Anti-Defamation League

Representing the People: Diversity and Elections

For Teachers 8th - 12th Standards
After studying statistics and reading articles about diversity in the 2018 through 2020 U.S. elections, young social scientists discuss what they believe is the impact of having more diverse elected officials. Individuals then select one...
Lesson Plan
American Association for the Advancement of Science

Sensing the Invisible: The Herschel Experiment

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Learners of light will construct a contraption in which light is passed through a prism and shone into a box. The temperatures at different points along the path and outside of the path of light. The intent is to imitate William...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Eyewitness Accounts

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students use eyewitness accounts to gather and evaluate information about the events of the May 18, 1980, eruption of Mount St. Helens. They play the following roles: reporter(s), eyewitnesses, and scientists who are investigating the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Genes, Environments, and Behavior 2

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the genetic and environmental factors that interact to produce variation in behavior across a population. They are introduced to the various approaches scientists use to explore this interaction. Students explore how...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Atomic Structure in the Chemistry Classroom

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students are introduced to many of the scientists who contributed to the creation of the model of the atom. The changes to and evolution of the model over time is also covered. At the end of the lesson, Students differentiate between...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Endangered Species 2: Working to Save Endangered Species

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners explore the Endangered Species Act and the work of scientists who strive to protect species.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ideas for Using Current Event Articles in the Science Classroom

For Teachers 6th - 12th
It is important that future responsible scientists and citizens are able to read and analyze scientific literature. Here you will find four ideas for bringing current science event articles into your classroom. Suggestions range from...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

WET Science Lesson #11: How Light Affects Water

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Scientists listen to the story of Wadja Egnankou who works to save African mangrove forests. They experiment with refraction and the introduction of particulate matter to water. They conclude with creative writing about the need for a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Right Ratio of Rest: Proportional Reasoning

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars see how NASA scientists are studying the circadian timing system to improve astronaut's physical and mental tasks while working in space. They demonstrate how fractions, decimals, and percents are related.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Nearsightedness

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Examine the processes scientists go through to develop their conclusions. Using the internet, research the problem of nearsightedness and identify anyone they know with the condition. Discover the debate in the science world on this...
Lesson Plan
University of Arizona

Language Registers

For Teachers 4th - 12th Standards
Do you speak to your parents the same way you speak to your friends? The differences between formal and informal language are highlighted in this exercise. Groups are asked to select a scenario and script different dialogues that might...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fantastic Fossils

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students learn about the kinds of fossils and what scientists can learn from them.  In this earth science lesson, students are told how engineers and paleontologists work together.  Then students create a "fossil fondue" and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Global Warming - The Heat is On: Global Climate Change Revisited

For Teachers 6th - 8th
After listening to your lecture on climate change, young scientists access NOAA's database listing Mauna Loa's carbon dioxide data. They graph the monthly means and then compare their graphs to NOAA's. This is a concise plan that could...
Lesson Plan
Teach Engineering

See the Genes

For Teachers 10th - 12th
"If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough" - Albert Einstein. The sixth installment of a seven-part series teaches young scientists about the importance of being able to communicate scientific research and...
Lesson Plan
Desert Discoveries

Bird and Feather Features

For Teachers 3rd
Ornithology is the study of birds, and young scientists do just that with an interesting science lesson. They identify the parts of a bird, realize that birds have different types of beaks, wings, and feet, and take a close look at bird...

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