Interactive
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

Development Balances Cell Growth and Death

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Cells demonstrate a life cycle like other living things, but what if death was no longer part of the cycle? Learn about the important balance requiring death to continue functioning. An online interactive introduces a group of scientists...
Lesson Plan
Minnesota Department of Natural Resoures

Parts of a Tree

For Teachers 1st Standards
Discover the parts of a tree and so much more with a packet of activities covering a range of subjects. First graders label practice pages, test their measuring and addition skills, explore books, dance, build 3-D trees, play games, give...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pulleys and Levers

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders explore the concept of pulleys and levers. They read and discuss text from the book "It's Science! Machines We Use," and in small groups construct a simple lever and pulley using a Lego Dacta set.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Recycled Vegetable Oil Powers Vans, Cars

For Teachers 2nd - 7th
Students share their knowledge about fuel sources, then read a news article about vegetable oil as a cleaner alternative to gasoline. In this current events and environmental science lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Our Forests Need Fires?

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students consider how forest fires are both damaging and beneficial to forests.  In this earth science lesson, students are read the book Fire! In Yellowstone by Robert Ekey and watch "Fire Ecology" and "Two Sides of Fire" before...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Calling All Owls

For Teachers K - Higher Ed
Learners research various types of owls.  In this owls lesson, students observe owls and discuss their characteristics.  Learners go to an owl habitat and listen for the call of an owl. Students read The Owl in the Shower and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Does a Butterfly Grow?

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students explore the stages of a butterfly. They read and discuss the book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, by Eric Carle. They draw a picture of their favorite part and create a graph. They write a letter to Eric Carle and observe a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

It's Mine Lesson Plan

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students read a book called It's Mine! In this lesson about three frogs and sharing, students explore how what they do affects everything around them. Through a series of seven different activities, students interpret the frogs and their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Farmers Use Falcons to Protect Berries

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students share information about falcons, then read about how farmers are using falcons. In this falcon lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a discussion and vocabulary activity, then students read the news report and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Scientists Use Web Site to Report Volcano Activity

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students react to statements about volcanoes, then read a news article about scientists monitoring eruptions at Augustine volcano in Alaska. For this earth science and current events lesson, the teacher introduces the lesson with a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

In the Wake of a Storm

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students share thoughts about the effects of Hurricane Katrina on Louisiana's natural environment. They read an online article and write proposals to save Mississippi River marshlands.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Disease and Epidemics

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers watch a video to introduce the study of historical outbreaks of infectious diseases and epidemics. They create charts of diseases after reading an article and share their information as a class.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Scientists Find 27 New Species in Caves

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students share their knowledge of creatures that live in caves, then read a news article about new cave animals that have been found in California. In this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a discussion and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Look Alikes

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders compare and contrast the physical features of parents and offspring. In this life science lesson, 3rd graders classify a set of animal pictures according to their similarities. They share and explain their work in class.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What is a Robot?

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students explore robots. In this robot lesson, students discuss what they know about robots and what kinds of jobs they have seen robots do. Students research robot books, chart their findings and share with the class. Students also...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Flight of the Future/Space Flight

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students explore space science by viewing videos on YouTube. In this moon landing lesson, students view clips of Neil Armstrong taking his first step on the moon and discuss the space race between the U.S. and Russia. Students utilize...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Animal Coverings

For Teachers K
Students read a book. In this animal characteristics lesson plan, students read the book Animal Coverings, answer comprehension questions, and complete a chart where they match animals with their coverings.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Weather with Pink Snow and Other Weird Weather

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders explore different kinds of weather. In this weather lesson, 3rd graders discover the different ways humans protect themselves from weather.  Students read the book Pink Snow and Other Weird Weather by Jennifer...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Deadly Stingrays!

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Learners read a story called Irwin's Death Draws Attention to Stingrays and answer vocabulary and comprehension questions about it. In this stingray lesson plan, student respond to literature by answering questions, recalling details,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pollution is Not a Solution

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students explore the environment by completing science worksheets in class. In this water conservation lesson, students identify ways water is used in our society and how we abuse the privilege. Students discuss methods to reduce water...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Old Solutions - New Solutions

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners examine descriptions of a mining company's land-reclamation project. They share information to analyze the environmental impact of the project. Independently, they answer questions on environmental and economic issues...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wheel and Axle

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders construct a wheel and axle model using a Lego Dacta set. They read and discuss informational text from the book "It's Science! Machines We Use," and in small groups create a simple machine using Legos.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Japanese Scientists Photograph Giant Squid

For Teachers 2nd - 12th
Young scholars read and discuss a news article about scientists capturing first-ever photos of a giant squid in its habitat. They answer comprehension questions, write a journal entry from the scientists point of view, and analyze a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Drought Threatens Huge Man-Made Lake

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students locate Lake Mead, then read a news article about Lake Mead drying up and how that would effect water and power supplies to the region. In this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a map and vocabulary...