LABScI
Taxonomy: Who is in My family?
Find similarities in seemingly unlike organisms. The second instructional activity in a series of 12 builds the concept of a taxonomy and explores the use of a dichotomous key. Learners begin in part one by attempting to group a set of...
Curated OER
Students Get Animated: Make Existing Lessons Move and Motivate Students
Students study the chemical elements in a computer generated cartoon format. In this computer animation and chemistry instructional activity, students learn how to animate using computer programs. Students use animation to learn about...
Curated OER
Talking Trees: Earth Day
Students complete a tree poster activity to learn about Earth Day, stewardship, and the environment. In this environmental stewardship lesson, students read The Story of the Tree and discuss stewardship with trees. Students act out tree...
Curated OER
Creative Activities for the Sciences
Students expand their creative outlets. In this science instructional activity, three ideas, including videos, are presented to help get students motivated to think creatively and express themselves.
Curated OER
The Mozart Effect
Music has been said to effect short term memory. Learners test out this hypothesis, graphing how knowledge retention in a biology classroom changes when music is played in the background. In the end, a better appreciation of the dynamics...
Curated OER
Illnois River and Lake Mussel Habitat Diorama Activity
Students identify the environmental elements of river and lake mussels. They compare the elements to the time before settlement and during industrialization. They also participate in a field trip to a mussel exhibit.
Curated OER
DNA Activities
Students work together to identify the structure of DNA. They practice using new vocabulary as well. They create a 3-D model of DNA to complete the lesson.
Teach Engineering
Water Power
Young hydrologists observe a waterwheel which helps them investigate the transformations of energy that occur when the blades of a hydro-turbine are turning. They work together in pairs and pretend to be engineers who are building a new...
Cornell University
Magnetic Mad Libs
Examine the science behind computer communication. After defining the properties of magnets, learners simulate how a computer hard drive works by sending each other binary codes using the magnets. They use these communications to...
Curated OER
Habitat Breakdown
Students investigate the fragility of insects and organisms and their survival needs. In this habitat lesson, students discuss what elements they need to survive day to day, then hypothesize what they would need to live as an insect....
Curated OER
Let it Roll!
Young scholars explore how various ramps affect the rate of speed of a rolling object. In this physics lesson, students work in groups to build a ramp out of various materials. Young scholars test and record the rate of speed of a...
Curated OER
Ho'opiha - Growing in Knowledge: Terrarium Project
Students explore environmental protection by conducting a research experiment in class. In this botany lesson plan, students identify the necessities for growing a plant indoors and create a small terrarium for their plant. Students...
Curated OER
Keep In Touch: Communications and Satellites
Fourth graders explore communications by reading assigned space science text. In this satellite instructional activity, 4th graders identify the concept of orbiting and examine gravitational pull by viewing diagrams. Students are...
Curated OER
Where Am I - Navigation and Satellites
Students explore geography by completing a navigation activity in class. In this satellite positioning instructional activity, students define terms such as orbit, satellite, GPS and triangulation. Students view diagrams of the Earth's...
Curated OER
Ramp Builder
Students plan and build a ramp designed for maximum distance a car can travel. In this physics and data collection math lesson, students work in groups to design a ramp using various household materials. Students test small cars on their...
Curated OER
Sorting
Students understand that sorting helps find things at a later date. In this sorting lesson plan, students use a website game and sort the common items. Students sort folders and other classroom items. Students discuss how sorting helped...
Curated OER
What Do We Learn From Fossils?
Students investigate what a fossil is and how it came to be. For this fossil lesson, students examine pictures of skeletons and identify characteristics that can and cannot be determined by a fossil. Students complete diagrams of a...
Curated OER
What Are the Layers of the Rain Forest?
Students investigate the different levels of the rain forest by comparing it to an apartment. For this ecology lesson, students practice using forest related vocabulary words and complete a vocabulary data sheet. Students create...
Curated OER
Measuring Cloud Coverage
Learners explore Earth science by completing weather symbol worksheets. In this cloud identification lesson, students identify the different types of clouds in the sky and how they are formed. Learners complete a cloud measurement...
Curated OER
The Energy Equation
Students explore human energy components. In this personal health lesson, students determine how food, sleep, and exercise impact human energy levels as they play BAM! Body and Mind interactive games. Students create motivational...
Curated OER
Eek, It leaks!
Young scholars construct model landfill liners out of two-inch strips of garbage bags within resource constraints. The challenge is to construct a bag that will hold one cup of water without leaking. This represents similar challenges...
Foundation for Water & Energy Education
Perpetual Flow Activity
Set up a demonstration of how gravity can drive the perpetual flow of water during your hydro power unit. Science learners work in teams to make observations and formulate questions about how it works. They compare the model to what they...
PHET
Planet Designer: What’s Trending Hot?
Excite scholars to design their own planet in this first of five lessons. The lesson starts with a pre-activity assessment, a complete lesson plan that is easy to implement, and a post-activity assessment that would look great displayed...
Curated OER
Rock Swap
Students collect rocks found locally and write a brief description which includes the name of the rock, whether the rock is sedimentary, metamorphic, or igneous, and what uses the rock has. They exchange rocks with another class in...