Unit Plan
Curated OER

Our Solar System

For Teachers 1st
Students study the Earth and Solar System through a variety of activities. They compile a coloring book show the characteristics of the Sun and nine planets.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Learning From Leaves: From Observation to Inference

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students examine the adaptation of plants to their environments. They analyze and observe the structure, shape, and internal structure of various leaves, and make inferences about the structures.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Observations and Inferences

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students observe how to distinguish observations form inferences.  In this examining inferences lesson plan students list observations relating to the activity and discuss the importance of them. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Sensitive Scavenger

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students create multi-sensory scavenger hunt worksheet to be used on a scavenger hunt throughout the schoolyard habitat area to introduce students to concepts of biodiversity and interdependence within a habitat.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Learning From Leaves: A Look at Leaf Size

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students measure and analyze leaves from various environments. They discuss the environments, and make inferences about environmental variables that could have contributed to the differences in leaf size and texture.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Learning From Leaves: Adaptations To Differing Light Levels

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students, in groups, examine plants with different light levels. They are given plants from a tropical and desert region. They write a hypothesis at the beginning of the experiment.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hide and Seek with Bones: A Mapping and Scaling Comparison

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students examine and simulate how paleontologists map objects. They hide and find objects using a grid to map the objects' placements.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Planets or Not, Here We Come!

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students, working in groups, research planets in terms of the size, temperature, number of moons, and potential for life. They use packets and worksheets as guides for their research. Students may role-play as aliens visiting their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Measurement: Stream Flow & Stadium Capacity

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders study the scientific fields and how information can be monitored and recorded.  In this scientific inquiry lesson students view a PowerPoint presentation and complete a hands on activity. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Track the Meteor Storm Online!: Leonid Meteor Showers, Astronomy

For Teachers 1st - Higher Ed
Students are guided through an online series of readings and questions to explore the Leonid Meteor Showers and related topics. Modifications are provided for teaching this lesson to k-4, 5-8, and 9-12 students.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

As a Matter of Fact!

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore matter. They use a formula to measure the volume of matter.
Lesson Plan
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Can You "Gas" What's Happening?

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students examine gas production in "soil" samples through hands on activities and class discussions, to determine if the soil samples have contain living or non-living systems.
Lesson Plan
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The Magic School Bus Kicks Up a Storm

For Teachers K - 2nd
Young scholars investigate how warm air from a lamp affects a spiral of paper. They determine how the warm air rises while cooler air moves into take its place which creates wind in this Magic School Bus activity.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Recycling Bingo

For Teachers K - 12th
Students participate in Texas Recycles Day. They discover the importance of recycling and how it helps the environment. They discover which products are recyclable and which ones are not.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Porosity and Permeability

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students examine the concepts of porosity and permeability. They conduct experiments to determine the porosity and permeability of gravel, sand, and clay. After performing the experiments they collect and graph data, comparing the...
Lesson Plan
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Solids, Liquids, and Gases

For Teachers 1st
First graders explore the properties of matter. In this states of matter activity, 1st graders conduct scientific investigations that require them to mix, cool, and heat objects in order to observe changes in the properties of matter.
Lesson Plan
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Can You Find Me Now?

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Students locate points using longitude and latitude coordinates. They locate their home using longitude and latitude, explore the uses of GPS, and accurately use a GPS.
Unit Plan
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Meteorology Madness

For Teachers 4th
Students probe the dynamic weather changes through several hands-0n activities in this seven lessons unit. The hydrologic cycle, clouds, atmosphere, air movement, fronts, and forecasting form the components presented in this unit.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mass

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students determine how mass is a property of an object that can be measured, and examine how size affects mass. They work with balances and determine what units of measurement are associated with mass. Finally, they determine the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Gravity (Newton's Laws of Motion): A Weighty Subject

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Learners identify Newton's Laws of Motion. They students explore Newton's Laws of Motion and apply the second law with a classroom activity. The videos will provide visual examples of the effects of gravity while riding on a roller coaster.
Lesson Plan
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Earth

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders have a spatial awareness of the plants by orally discussing what they saw after they stepped out the model of the solar system. They recognize the similarities and differences between Earth and the other planets by being...
Lesson Plan
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Natural resource Race

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders answer true or false questions about natural resources. They stand on lines opposite each other and hop toward the middle if they answered the question correctly.
Lesson Plan
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Defining Values: Environmental Issues

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students analyze an environmental issue of local or regional interest and compare and contrast the roles of the individual and the community in responding to the issue. They discuss how values are expressed in environmental issues and...
Lesson Plan
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Forest Ecology or Who Lives Here?

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore a hardwood forest. In this forest ecology lesson, students examine the diversity and animals and plants as they explore their habitats at Poricy Park Conservatory. Students determine how biodiversity and abiotic elements...