Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Winter Wonderland - Winter Olympics and the Water Cycle

For Teachers 5th - 7th
After a concise introduction to the water cycle, junior meteorologists access NOAA's average snowfall data. They choose a city to examine in terms of precipitation. Then they look at historical snowfall data and use it to predict snow...
Lesson Plan
Nuffield Foundation

Investigating the Effects of Biochar on Soil Fertility

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Breathe some new life into charcoal. Scholars use biochar to improve soil fertility. They test the effectiveness of this addition by conducting an experiment with soil having 0%, 2%, and 4% biochar.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Life Cycle of the Mealworm

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders provide a habitat for live mealworms and observe their life cycle. In this animal life cycle and scientific inquiry lesson, 4th graders create a habitat for a live mealworm and observe and record related data as it grows....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

the Journey of the Pacific Salmon in the Open Ocean and Fishing

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders discuss salmon and their life cycle.  In this salmon life cycle lesson, 3rd graders recognize the difficulties researching the life cycle of salmon as they migrate.  Students conduct an experiment and create a game.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Day in the Life of a San Francisco Native Animal

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students write from an animal's perspective. In this writing lesson students explore the landscape of San Francisco prior to the arrival of the explorers. Students research animals indigenous to the area.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pond Life

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students recognize the habitats of animals that live near or in a pond.  In this pond instructional activity, students examine pond water and look for pond organisms. Students observe organisms with a loupe and complete a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Life Science: My Pyramid

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine how the school food program compares to the food pyramid recommendations. In this food pyramid lesson, students compile data regarding the food choices available in the school through the lunch program and vending...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ego Trip- Exploring the Inner Workings of the Human Body

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students gain an understanding of how systems and organs in the human body work. They create their own fictional account of a trip through the human body, and describe one response the body makes to stimuli.
Lesson Plan
Virginia Department of Education

Freshwater Food Chains

For Teachers 9th - 12th
What's in the water? Encourage your class to further explore this question and learn about pond ecosystems, food chains, and food webs as they complete this hands-on activity. They view the environment from a new perspective...
Lesson Plan
Serendip

Is Yeast Alive?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Through two investigations, life science learners determine whether or not yeast is alive. They perform tests for metabolism by providing sugar and observing if gas is produced as a byproduct. They incubate some of the sample for at...
Lesson Plan
Virginia Department of Education

A Designed Organism

For Teachers 9th - 12th
How can you encourage pupils to demonstrate creativity while still meeting the objective of applying technical knowledge? This activity is your answer! Scientists will create an imaginary creature and prepare a graphic organizer with...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Density Studies of the Earth

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Density comes to life as investigators place soda cans into containers of various liquids to find if they sink or float. They layer different density liquids, compare densities of different gases, and more. A total of six different...
Lesson Plan
1
1
Baylor College

Fuel for Living Things

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
During a three-part lesson, learners make a cabbage juice pH indicator and use it to analyze the waste products of yeast after feeding them with sugar. The intent is to demonstrate how living organisms produce carbon dioxide, which is...
Lesson Plan
1
1
Baylor College

Tools of Magnification

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Life science learners need to be able to use a microscope. With this comprehensive resource, they first experience how lenses and magnification work, and then get familiar with using a compound microscope. Tremendous background...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Extinction and Rediscovery of the Ivory-Billed Woodpecker

For Teachers 5th - 8th
An incredibly thorough, and well-designed lesson teaches youngsters about the presumed extinction and rediscovery of the ivory-billed woodpecker in Arkansas. Learners discuss the environmental factors that led to the birds disappearance....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Where Has It Been? Tracking the Ivory-Billed Woodpecker

For Teachers 5th - 8th
By studying the assumed extinction, and subsequent rediscovery of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker, learners use maps and come up with a scenario for the rediscovery of the bird. This incredibly thorough lesson plan is chock-full of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Taking the Measure of the Universe

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Four fabulous activities immerse amateur astronomers into measuring objects that we cannot handle. The experiences are applied to NASA's Space Interferometry Mission, which will take measurements of planets around stars other than our...
Lesson Plan
National Geographic

Rescuing, Relocating, and Rehabilitating Wildlife

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Bring up the Deepwater Horizon (BP) oil spill that occurred in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. Display the colorful diagram of the coastal and marine organisms living in the area. Show a video about relocating the eggs of the Gulf's sea...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Ants Go Marching

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
Integrate art, math, life science, music, and fun in this beginning addition and subtraction activity. Children kinesthetically represent adding and subtracting numbers to 10; they stand up one at a time as you count forward and sit down...
Lesson Plan
University of Waikato

Māui and the Sun

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Using a Maori legend, How Maui Tamed the Sun, youngsters are introduced to the importance of sunlight to civilization. Teach them about nuclear fusion that occurs to produce the solar energy we later receive on Earth as...
Lesson Plan
1
1
PBS

The Caterpillar or Larva

For Teachers K - 3rd Standards
The larval stage of the butterfly life cycle is quite exciting. Start a discussion about the specially designed body parts unique to caterpillars. After examining images of caterpillars, learners use plastic soda bottles, string, and...
Lesson Plan
2
2
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

Case Studies: Influenza and HIV

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Stop infection spread. Pupils participate in an activity to model infections and replications of viruses. Within the activity, scholars see that viruses may end up with genetic variation and connect that to how some forms of the flu are...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Life Cycle of the Butterfly

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders study the life cycle of a butterfly by observing metamorphosis taking place in a butterfly pavilion. Students illustrate their understandings of the body parts of a caterpillar and butterfly, as well as the life cycle,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Vocabulary: Types of Ecosystems

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Pupils practice using vocabulary words from life science. They will investigate the ecosystem and the terms that are associated with it. In addition, they will complete a fill-in-the-blank exam using the vocabulary words.