Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Science: The Changing Life of Air Pressure

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders observe demonstrations how heated air rises and becomes a low pressure area. After watching several teacher-conducted experiments, 4th graders, in groups, discuss and answer questions in their journals. Finally, they...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Geographic Effects on Precipitation, Water Vapor and Temperature

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate the factors affecting climate using Live Access Server. In this geography lesson plan, students graph atmospheric data using Excel spreadsheet. They compare and contrast temperature, precipitation and water vapor of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A DISAPPEARING ACT Astronomy: Do Stars Always Shine?

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students observe why stars are not visible during the day with a classroom demonstration using an index card punched with holes.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Science: Hurricanes As Heat Engines

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Students conduct Internet research to track the path of Hurricane Rita. They record the sea surface temperature of the Gulf of Mexico during and after the hurricane and draw conclusions about how hurricanes extract heat energy from the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Stargazing Astronomy: A Ceiling Full of Stars

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Students make an observe a planetarium using a can with nail holes, black paper and a flashlight.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

CHARTING A COURSE

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Students model how a gyroscope works with string, an old phonograph record and crayon.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

BOUNCING INFORMATION AROUND

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Students examine how satellite signals are sent and duplicate it with a mirror, flashlight and black paper.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Spy on a Spider

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students view slides or live specimens to name and describe the distinguishing features of groups of arthropods, especially spiders and insects. They complete worksheets, observe webs and then search for and record where spiders can be...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Planting A Garden On Campus

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars investigate the school campus area in order to plan the best spot for a class garden. They create a map of the school and research the different types of soil that exist in order to find the best spot. The class takes the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hydroponics

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students discuss the concept of hydroponics. They create and run their own hydroponics system. They record and analyze the data they collect.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Silicate Gardens

For Teachers 10th - Higher Ed
Students take digital pictures of their Silicate Gardens as an analysis of measurements of silicate tube growth. In this silicate measurements lesson, students download pictures of Silicate Gardens being grown on the International...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders engage in a study of the solar system. The teacher constructs an outside model of it. They walk through it making constructive observations. Students conduct a class discussion about the solar system and planets. They...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Space - In Your Face or Not?

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders, in groups, examine how it doesn't matter if they can see the planets in the solar system or not--they're there.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Beyond the Tap

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explain the basic properties of a watershed including how water flows from higher to lower elevations and how watersheds are interconnected. They comprehend how the placement of buildings, roads, and parking lots can be...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Groundwater Modeling

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students evaluate the effects of point and non-pointy sources of water pollution using a model. They assess human impact on water quality. Students build a model which represents an aspect of the hydrosphere and compare their model with...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Time Marches On

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students research the development of remote sensing, various instruments used throughout time and create a time line depicting the history of remote sensing.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Permeability of Earth Materials

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars observe and classify the permeability of a variety of materials.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

An Investigation into Effects of Rhizobium Soil Bacteria on Nitrogen Availability

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students identify the control and the variables in the experiment. They describe the growth of plants with and without nitrogen fixing bacteria, then name the bacterium responsible for making nitrogen available to the plant.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rock Cycles, Crayon Cycles

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students examine the rock cycle and the path that rocks go through to rearranged in different ways. They define key vocabulary terms, then in small groups conduct a variety of experiments using crayon shavings as simulated rocks and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Native Species Restoration and its Impact on Local Populations

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students watch video clips of ecosystems and answer questions relating to them.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Timelines

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine evolutionary history; the earth's timeline by creating timelines. They determine the timeframes of era, epochs, and periods and study the species that were evident in each.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Density and Mass

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students experiment to find which liquids are more dense.  In this density and mass lesson, students predict and then test objects to observe and measure their density. students observe which items sink and float. Students complete...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Medicine: Then and Now

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students read ancient Greek texts to explore ancient healing practices and compare them to modern-day medicine. They conduct research into modern first-aid practices, using a standard medical reference.
Lesson Plan
PHET

Mapping the Field of a Dipole Magnet

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
High school scientists build their own magnetometer and use it to map the field surrounding a bar magnet. Excellent background resources is included, as well as a diagram of how to build the magnetometer.