Curated OER
Mousetrap Cars
Use mousetrap cars to make hands on connections with concepts such as energy, friction, momentum, and simple machines.
Curated OER
The Mass of the Van Allen Radiation Belts
In this van Allen Radiation Belts learning exercise, students are given the formula for the field line of the Earth's inner magnetic field. Students use this equation to find the polar coordinates of a field line in the van Allen Belts....
Curated OER
Energy Flow in Ecosystems
Students, in groups, create a slide show about the ecosystem and answer critical thinking questions based on their research.
Carnegie Mellon University
Understanding Electricity Mix Tradeoffs
Use the accompanying presentation and colorful technology sheets to introduce your class to the 10 different energy technologies. Connect kids to an interactive computer tool that allows them to combine different types of power...
Curated OER
Fossil Fuels (Part II), The Geology of Oil
More of a mini-unit than a lesson, these activities lead inquisitors through a survey of oil deposits. In the first part, they read about and view diagrams of sedimentary rock layers that trap oil. Next, they test porosity and...
Curated OER
Environmental Issues
In this environmental issues activity, students are given 10 current topics that are problems in our environment today. They complete sentences about each topic by filling in the blanks with the appropriate terms. Some of the issues...
Curated OER
Solar Cooking
Students experiment with a virtual solar cooker to discover the mathematical relationship among reflection, transmission and absorption. Then they actually build and test a solar cooker of their own invention.
Curated OER
Radioactivity, Time, and Age
Four activities demonstrate the chain reaction of nuclear fission to your physical science fans: falling dominoes, snapping mouse traps, throwing paper wads, and igniting a series of matches. They perform additional laboratory activities...
Curated OER
Erosion... Can You Fight It?
Young scholars study erosion and its effects on shorelines. In this erosion lesson, students work in an engineering team to design a seawall and submit a cost bid to their teacher. Young scholars must determine the energy of a wave and...
Texas State Energy Conservation Office
Global Climate Change
Here is an extensive reading resource that addresses our climate change crisis. It thoroughly explains the greenhouse effect, related Earth cycles, and the history of climate change. Use it as part of the intended unit, published by the...
Curated OER
Phytoplankton in the Gulf of Maine
Students use satellite data to see the correlation between sea temperature and sunlight in the Gulf of Maine. In this phytoplankton lesson students use Excel to analyze data.
Curated OER
The Plant Food Factory
Plants need sun and water to survive. Let kids discover these facts by reading a block of informational text and considering a scientific quandary. They read the text, then use the information to complete a two-part question about plant...
Curated OER
Animal Characteristics
Allow your students to review what they learned about animal characteristics with this PowerPoint. This slideshow includes 9 multiple choice questions and an answer key at the end. Tip: You can use this as an assessment by having your...
PEGAMES.org
Animal Escape
Use a quick game to give your class the chance to move around in a dynamic and silly way, or to play in PE class on a rainy day. Participants impersonate animals, creatures, bugs, etc. that must perform a particular, unusual task. See...
Curated OER
Life on Mars
Students research the feasibility of life on Mars and debate what it would need in order to sustain life. They work in teams to predict, research, infer, and explain their theory using models they build.
Curated OER
A Short History of Natural Gas
In this energy source activity, 3rd graders read a short passage about the history of natural gas. Students must then answer several multiple choice questions about the passage.
Curated OER
Green House Effect
Learners read about the green house effect and how our environment is deteriorating and what we can do to help it. In this green house effect lesson plan, students conduct a home and school energy audit, and create a rap.
Curated OER
Producers and Consumers
Learners make lists of producers and consumers and act as consumers that eat producers in a garden. In this producers and consumers lesson plan, students demonstrate a food chain by using a piece of yarn to connect all of them together.
Curated OER
Why Are Plants Green?
Students smash plant parts and wait for visibility of chlorophyl to show why plants turn green. In this green plants lesson plan, students use acetone and filter paper for this experiment.
Curated OER
Fossil Fuels and the Debt Crisis: Political Cartoons
Wondering what dinosaurs have to do with the debt crisis? This analysis handout includes two political cartoons using dinosaur metaphors, and prompts pupils to consider the symbolism to understand the cartoonist's point. You may want to...
Curated OER
Tic Tac Know: organelles
Tic-Tac-Toe is a game most students will be familiar with. This fun activity prompts students to answer questions about cells organelles in order to place a mark on the grid. There are some non-essential humorous sound effects and...
Curated OER
Venus Flytrap
Students study the Venus Flytrap including its habitat and how it eats. In this ecology lesson students complete several experiments using a Venus Flytrap to see how it reacts to various conditions.
Curated OER
Electron Transport System Made Fun and Easy:
Students identity the components of electron transport system through role play. They explain the role of intermediate energy carriers to the production of ATP molecules. They describe the relationship of electron transport system to...
Curated OER
Melt Away
Students explore objects before and after heating using their senses. In this matter and energy lesson, students experiment with a variety of objects and use their senses (except taste) to make predictions and record observations about...