University of Wisconsin
Noting Notable Features for Rain Gardens
Eight groups in your class are each responsible for a different aspect of surveying the campus for a suitable rain garden location. Features to consider include water flow, topography, sun/shade patterns, land surface, vegetation,...
Curated OER
Shadows & Light, Science & Puppetry
Lights, shadows, action, and inquiry await your artistic scientists. They explore the way light travels, absorbs, reflects, and transmits through shadow play. They create folktale-inspired shadow puppets, explore the science of light,...
Curated OER
Weather, Sea Level Rise and Climate Change
Students differentiate weather and climate. In this earth science lesson, students compare weather and climate in different regions of the world. They interpret weather graphs and compare isotherm lines of northern and southern hemisphere.
University of Wisconsin
Conjunction Function
As part of a unit, this lesson familiarizes youngsters with components of a rain garden. They speculate about the role of an assigned component in contributing to a rain garden, and ultimately, in the health of the local watershed. Each...
Curated OER
Death and Recovery
Mount St. Helens erupted on May 18, 1980, devastating plant and animal life for miles around. Two activities are included in this lesson plan. In one, learners evaluate tree rings to determine the age of a tree and the year of a volcano....
Curated OER
Architectural Letters
Have your class construct their own architectural letter. This art project focuses on architecture, or the art of building. You can connect this activity to a biography activity. Your class can decorate their initial to reflect their...
Curated OER
Shape Makes a Difference!
Students learn the difference between perimeter and area by watching a video and a hands on activity.
Curated OER
Sunspots: Correlating Sunspots to Active Regions
Learners investigate sunspots. They use solar imaging from satellite instruments which are currently circling the sun. Students compare images from the satellites and determine the existence of a correlation between the two types of...
Curated OER
Introduction to Earth Sun Relationships Incorporating P.E.
Third graders investigate space science by performing physical activities. In this solar system lesson, 3rd graders perform a relay activitiy with their class in which they race between different "planets". Students define...
Curated OER
"Hard" Data from Space
Students use satellite images to analyze development patterns within Baltimore City. They prepare a land cover map for Baltimore indicating the prevalence of impervious surfaces and explore how these patterns affect water pollution.
Curated OER
Living Swamps, Bayous and Forests
Third graders explore interesting environments by exploring Louisiana. In this wetland lesson, 3rd graders utilize the web to research the State of Louisiana, the bayous in the area, and the Gulf of Mexico. Students write a journal entry...
Curated OER
Measurement
Students measure angles, perimeter, area and volume. In this geometry lesson, students define different ways to measure and solve for the perimeter, area and volume of geometric shapes. They analyze and process information to help them...
Curated OER
Measuring Solar Energy
Students study solar energy and how to measure it. For this energy sources lesson students complete a lab, obtain data and use that to convert surface temperature to energy.
Curated OER
You’re Tugging at Me!
Students study the sliding and rolling friction. In this forces lesson students divide into groups and use a cart to examine the amount of force that is used to move objects.
Curated OER
Infusing Equity in the Classroom by Gender
Students investigate the idea of gender descrimination in the classroom. In this algebra lesson plan, students collect data in stereotyping, and gender bias in the classroom, school materials and activities. They graph and analyze their...
Curated OER
Ratios of Similar Figures
Students identify the ratios of different triangles. In this geometry lesson, students identify the similarity and differences of triangles. They use the navigator to move the sides of the triangle around.
Curated OER
The Nanofiber Chocolate Factory: An Analogy
Students investigate Nanotechnology. In this physic's lesson, students evaluate a hands-on model made from chocolate syrup and pretzels to determine the advantages of size. Students weigh chocolate syrup to determine it's wait...
Curated OER
Explore More About Bottle Construction
Students explore Green Construction. For this lesson based on the experiences of Peace Corps volunteers, students gain insight into alternative construction in Guatemala. They examine the pros and cons of using alternative building...
Curated OER
Volume of Cones
Students identify the volume of cones and pyramids. In this geometry lesson, students derive the formula for cones and pyramids. They calculate the volume of cones and other three dimensional shapes.
Curated OER
It's All In The Surface: The Effects Of Color & Texture On The Ability Of A Surface To Absorb Solar Energy
Ninth graders examine how dark surfaces absorb more light than light surfaces. They perform an experiment that compares various surfaces abilities to absorb heat, then record and analyze the results.
Curated OER
Hovercraft Racers!
Students gain first-hand experience on how friction affects motion. They build a hovercraft using air from a balloon to levitate a craft made from a compact disk (CD), learning that a bed of air under an object significantly reduces the...
Curated OER
Wind Power
Fourth graders develop an understanding of how engineers use wind to generate electricity. They will build a model anemometer to better understand and measure wind speed. They discover that engineers design wind turbines that generate...
Michigan Sea Grant
Wetlands
Wetlands may not sound particularly ornate, but they are as important as any habitat! With a hands-on activity, young scientists build a wetland model and observe its many functions in action. They discover the importance of wetlands to...
Curated OER
One World Ocean
Students compare and contrast the properties of salt water in the oceans/seas and freshwater elsewhere on the planet. They also analyze mixing caused by currents in the ocean, including the effects of warm and cold water as well as with...