Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Our Savage Planet in the News

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students explore extreme earth phenomenons. In this savage planet lesson, students explore and report on various types of severe weather and earth phenomenons using the Internet, a word processor, or other multimedia device.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Jell-O-Shakin

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students design a tower made of jell-o. In this science lesson, students investigate what it takes to build a jell-o building that will not fall when shaken. They discuss what causes earthquakes and how it is controlled.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

See the Wind

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students explore alternative energy sources. For this wind energy lesson, students will investigate the difference in the speed and smoothness of wind at different altitudes above earth. Students will use kites, helium balloons,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Does Your Garden Grow?

For Teachers K - 4th
Students discover gardening by documenting plants grown on school grounds.  In this botany instructional activity, students utilize digital cameras to capture images of plants on photo hikes which are turned into a slide show....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dinosaurs

For Teachers K - 5th
Students will develop goals for inquiry. They will also improve content area reading and research skills. The context of studying dinosaurs will help learners to distinguish from organisms that live presently and those from the past...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

This One is for the Birds

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars create a bird feeder to form their technological skills and create a better bond with nature. In this nature lesson plan, students use websites, technology, brainstorm ideas, and build models.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Our Savage Planet in the News

For Teachers 5th - 10th
Students research volcanoes, storms, atmospheric conditions, etc., find information and collect facts, create a simulation of a science news broadcast, watch a video clip of an avalanche, and create an artistic rendering of one naturally...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Oceanography

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore the importance of oceans in supporting life on earth and identify resources obtained from the ocean.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Trash Goes To School

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers explore solid waste background information. They are presented with a well balanced picture. Students review ideas on how to use solid waste issues in many fields including math, science, English, social studies and home...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Astronomy

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students complete a series of activities to better understand space studies. In this space science lesson, the teacher is provided with a number of activities for students to complete such as finding words that begin with the prefix...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plan a Mission to Recently Discovered Planet

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Pupils plan a mission to a recently discovered planet. In this science lesson, students research spacecraft design, distances in space, long-term missions in space, and life-sustaining planets. Pupils work in groups to research an...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar System Slide Show

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students work in small groups to research a planet in our Solar System in order to compare it to Earth. They examine the planet's size, atmosphere, rotation and revolution periods, temperature, and other attributes. They collect...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Amino Acids

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore what amino acids are, their history and how they are used in technology.  In this protein activity students identify the properties of proteins and amino acids.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Visit the Rainforest

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders define what a tropical rain forest is, what animals and plants exist there and realize how important the tropical rainforests are to life on Earth. They work in pairs to access websites imbedded in this plan to research the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Risk-Benefit Factor Challenging Our Environment

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders examine the factors that are contributing to the degrading of the Earth's environment. In groups, they analyze the types of hazards when dealing with pests and give an example of each. For each situation given, they...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hanging Around

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students explore weight by building a spring scale and observing how it responds to objects with different masses. Each team of students can make their own spring scale by following steps which are specifically outlined in the plan. As...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Taking a Stand: Pros and Cons of Forest Fires

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students explore the pros and cons of forest fires. In this science lesson, students research the ecological implications of forest fires. Students record their findings in journals and compose a persuasive e-mail to government officials.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Our Eye in the Sky: The TIROS Weather Satellite

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate the political context of the creation of a weather satellite. In this technology and society activity, students explore the historical, technological, and political context of the TIROS weather satellite. They write...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Weather Poems

For Students 7th - 9th
In this weather worksheet, students unscramble poems about weather patterns which were used before modern technology aided meteorologists. They use the pictures as clues.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Energy Efficiency Ambassadors

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students consider how to cut their energy use. In this physical science lesson, students investigate the connections between energy use and climate changes. Students compute the actual electrical energy consumption of 2 bulbs and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"Weather" or Not?

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students complete a three week unit about weather and how it affects our behavior. They read and discuss various books related to weather, conduct an experiment about the tilt of the earth, plan a field trip based on temperature,...
Worksheet
Curated OER

GPS Worksheet

For Students 7th - 12th
In this GPS worksheet, students complete 6 fill in the blank questions about GPS satellite signals, receiver units and the acronyms used in GPS technology.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Science: Let's Have a Cool Lunch

For Teachers 1st
First graders develop problem-solving skills by designing methods for keeping lunch boxes cool. Once they determine the amount of sunlight and heat generated in shaded and unshaded areas, they explore ways to provide shade. Finally, 1st...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Marine Animals on the Move

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students work with partners to track tagged animals using real-time data from satellites. Students gather and analyze data, compile information and conclusions and then prepare a final presentation of their research.