Curated OER
A Matter of Survival
Fourth graders dance with inspiration from wild animals. In this creative movement lesson, 4th graders watch a video clip and then move like an animal might move in their natural surroundings.
Curated OER
Identification of Animals by Serum Electrophoresis
Learners compare their unknown serum against a set of known serum standards and determine the animal source of their serum. They write a lab report to communicate their results.
Curated OER
Where's the Water?
Fifth graders conduct an investigation into water purification during a role play situation in an Amazon Rainforest. They design a scientific experiment for cleaning and filtering water.
Chicago Botanic Garden
Climate and Forest Ecosystem Services
Forests, through sequestration, capture excess carbon dioxide in our atmosphere and store it, aiding in climate change. The third installment in a four-part series on how climate impacts forests explores carbon sequestration....
Curated OER
Maps with a "Spin"
Students, in groups, research and map the effects of a proposed airport three miles outside of town. They prepare a presentation based on a set of maps they make and explains its different points of view from the viewpoints of the town...
Curated OER
Activity #5 Soils-Permeability and Impurity Removal
Middle schoolers predict which types of soils would work best for keeping contaminants contained. They comprehend that in the past, landfills have been one major source of groundwater contamination. Pupils comprehend that placing and...
Teach Engineering
Exploring Energy: What Is Energy?
...Then the water heater exploded like a bomb. Using a video of an exploding water heater, the resource presents the definitions of energy, potential energy, and kinetic energy to be used in later lessons of the unit.
Curated OER
What Makes a Seed Breathe Faster?
Here's a five-star lesson plan in which inquisitors conduct sophisticated experimentation with cellular respiration in plant seeds. Placing seeds in a closed system they measure the amount carbon dioxide produced and relate it to...
Curated OER
Marine Archaeology
Students examine marine archaeology. In this archaeological data lesson, students see how archaeologists use data to make inferences about shipwrecks. Students read data and make their own inferences, write about marine life and...
Curated OER
Eek, It leaks!
Middle schoolers 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...
Curated OER
Hunger/ Nutrition
Seventh graders investigate nutrients and nutrition to determine what types of food the body needs for energy. They study each type of nutrient and why it is important to the body. They determine what a balanced diet is by completing the...
Curated OER
Living in a Watershed
Fourth graders examine watersheds. In this ecosystem lesson, 4th graders discover what a watershed is and identify the local watershed they live in. Students investigate the attributes of a watershed as well.
Curated OER
Keeping Warm?
Fifth graders explore conductors and heat loss in different materials. In this Physical Science lesson plan, 5th graders will be measuring the temperature drop of water in four containers. The class will then discuss what an...
Curated OER
Plankton Parade
Plankton isn't just a tiny cartoon character, it's also a very important food source for animals around the world. Budding scientists discuss the types and functions of plankton, including where they are found, how they are caught, and...
Curated OER
Exploring Landforms
Second graders discuss the different types of landforms throughout the world. They pick one and research and present it to the class.
Curated OER
Solar Sweet Tea
Students study the sun. In this heat energy lesson, students use the sun's warmth to make tea. They place a few jars with tea bags and water in the sun and discuss what the sun is doing to the water while they wait for the tea to brew....
Curated OER
Lemon Light
High schoolers engage in a lesson plan which model different types of light refraction. They perform an experiment which uses lasers, jello and wax paper to illustrate how light refracts.
Curated OER
Make a Solar Sill
Students design a solar still and purify water. In this earth process and design lesson, students observe how the heat of the sun helps to purify water. Students analyze why this could be helpful on a desert island. Students...
Curated OER
Community Action
Fifth graders decide how one uses resources within a particular bioregion. In this decision making instructional activity, 5th graders consider the biodiversity and complexity of the ecosystem. Students select a resource...
Curated OER
How Cells Do Their Jobs
In this cells worksheet, high schoolers will review cell characteristics and structure and different types of cells and what role they play in the body. Students will investigate experimental results of the influence of sucrose on the...
Chicago Botanic Garden
Understanding the Greenhouse Effect
Dive into the power of the sun with a two-part activity. Budding scientists model the greenhouse effect in a hands-on activity, and then participate in a skit that explores the earth's energy balances and what really occurs in the...
Cornell University
Beneficial Insects
A lot of people think of insects as pests. But actually, some insects are beneficial because they get rid of pests! After learning about beneficial insects, class members research given insects to find out if they are pests or predators.
Curated OER
Seed Transport
Students explore botany by completing KWL worksheets. In this seed transportation lesson, students define a list of vocabulary terms associated with botany and seedlings before completing worksheets based on assigned text. Students...
Curated OER
Take a Stab!
Your geology class practices taking core samples of a potato to examine the stratigraphy. This is a terrific modeling lesson that helps youngsters visualize strata that cannot be seen from the surface of the ground. The directions...