Students investigate the different materials in their environment.  In this geology instructional activity, students collaborate in groups to examine the differences in sand, soil and gravel.  Students utilize a magnifying...

Students identify rock classifications and rock cycles.  In this rocks and soils instructional activity students complete experiments on rocks and how they are symbols in the Bible. 

Learners conduct experiments demonstrating soil erosion and the benefits of conservation practices. Working in groups, they use topsoil and sand in shallow boxes as models to examine the effects of water on soil and sand with and without...

Learners investigate methods of decomposition in order to make compost. In this decomposition science activity, students set up compost bags using food and materials which decay over time. The initial activity is approximately 30...

Students examine the importance of details in evidence gathering, as well as the relationship between chemistry, physics and biology.  In this forensics lesson plan students divide into groups and look at fingerprints and fill out...

Students build mine-earthworm habitats to discover their niche in them. They make predictions about what the niche looks like in a week and draw a picture of it. Students notice the tunnels in the soil and how the sand and dirt are now...

Learners explore the process of photosynthesis in plants. They discuss the purpose of photosynthesis and its components. Students discuss the importance of photosynthesis for plants and they examine the parts of the plant that play an...

First graders listen to the book The Story of Sand and make predictions about an investigation based on soil, sand, and silt. In this sand lesson plan, 1st graders work in groups to discuss their observations about sand and answer higher...

Fourth graders examine the effects of waves as they erode coastal land. They discover how the power of water can change the appearance of land formations.

Young scholars read about specific instances of arsenic in history and share these stories with each other. They identify, after reading the articles and sharing, what role arsenic played, how arsenic enters the system and what its...

Sixth graders experiment with different ways to test an apple for ripeness. In this apple harvesting lesson, 6th graders conduct three different experiments to test apples for ripeness and carry-out four additional activities involving...

Students see that ecosystems provide services to people that are essential to life as we know it. Reporters (drops of water) could interview the trees and soil in the surrounding ecosystems for news stories on how they helped keep the...

Students study a real plant to explore its parts. They discover the function of the plant parts which they diagram and label.

Students explore resource management, specifically farming. After reviewing vocabulary words, groups of students explore what is conserved by each practice. They compare and contrast responses. Students describe farming procedures which...

High schoolers conduct a series of experiments on mulching. In this earth science lesson, students discuss the benefits of mulching on soil. They explore how different types of mulch affect plant growth.

Students investigate the composting process through a variety of experiments. In this ecology instructional activity, students discuss the benefits of composting. They examine how compost affect plant growth.

Students create their own landfill where they observe materials that will and won't biodegrade. In this biodegrading lesson, students discuss the concept of a landfill and what materials biodegrade into soil and which ones stay in the...

Students identify and analyze a variety of sources for information and statistics on drugs. They map out why its important to know the facts about drugs. In addition, they show examples of what happens when you use drugs of any kind.

Second graders create stratified soil levels using pictures. In this earth science lesson, 2nd graders identify "artifacts" from 3 historic eras and divide them into 3 soil levels. Then they draw their own multi-level soil profile and...

Students use the Internet to research hydroponic gardening which is the growing of plants without soil. They participate in an experiment where a hydroponic garden is contructed in the classroom for observaion. They recorde information...

Learners demonstrate how to plant seeds. In this gardening lesson, students read the book The Tiny Seed and identify the steps to planting a seed. Learners plant their own lima bean seeds in plastic cups and watch it grow.

It's time to save endangered species through engineering. The third lesson in a nine-part Life Science unit has young environmentalists study species extinction. An engaging discussion leads to some ideas on how to use engineering design...

Here's a fine lesson that combines poetry with life sciences. Learners carefully listen to a poem that's all about a food chain. As the poem is read, learners name the producer, the herbivore, the carnivore, and the omnivore. Lots of...

Beginning with a brief anticipatory set on how water is commonly used, this presentation evolves into a well planned lesson on the water cycle. Students will discuss vocabulary, label the parts of the water cycle, locate where water is...