Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Using Your Senses

For Teachers K - 4th
Students make observations. In this sensory skills lesson, students use their senses as well as tools that sharpen their senses to make observations regarding foods and other items.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Scientific Method Using Mystery Powders

For Teachers 6th - 11th
Students use the scientific method to determine physical and chemical properties of unknown substances. In this scientific method lesson plan, students discuss chemical and physical properties of substances as a class after a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bugs, Bugs, Everywhere!

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Learners collect and compare bugs using magnifying lenses and graph data based on their comparisons. In this bugs lesson plan, students also make an aspirator by using a jar, tubing, and screen.
Lesson Plan
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Baylor College

Magnifying and Observing Cells

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Though it isn't a novel activity to prepare onion cell and Elodea plant cell slides as examples of cells in a microbiology unit, this resource will leave you thoroughly prepared. As pupils examine the slides that they prepare, they draw...
Lesson Plan
Michigan Technological University

Giant Mirrors

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Did you know some retailers use curved mirrors in their fitting rooms to make customers look thinner? Pupils view themselves in convex and concave mirrors to understand the difference. The resource includes big ideas for multiple age...
Lesson Plan
LABScI

Botany: The Plant Dissection Lab

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Study everything about plants! The 12-part series of lessons continues with an examination of many aspects of plants. Components of the laboratory activity address the growth and structure of plants by evaluating familiar plants. The...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Close Up and Far Away

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students use magnifiers and telescopes to view things close up. In this magnifiers and telescopes lesson plan, students use the tools to identify things that are close and far away. Students tell details of things they can see closer.
Printables
Science Days

My Fingerprints

For Teachers K - 2nd
Here is a very simple worksheet that offers learners the opportunity to put their fingerprints on two blackline shapes of hands. A great tool to use when teaching little ones about their unique and individual prints. Tip: Have learners...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Magnifiers

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students describe how several different objects magnify a provided sentence and decide if they are good magnifiers or not. They then write a sentence describing two properties an object must have in order to be a good magnifier.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Magnify It!

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students explain that there are limits to what the eye can see and that a magnifying glass can help extend those limits. They examine an object with the magnifying glass and draw the size and shape of what they see as accurately as they...
Worksheet
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K12 Reader

Microscopes Magnify Things

For Students 2nd - 3rd Standards
After examining a short article about light microscopes, readers record their responses to a series of comprehension questions based on the text.
Interactive
Smithsonian Institution

George Washington: A National Treasure

For Students 2nd - 8th Standards
Uncover the answer to a specific clue in a portrait of George Washington with a spyglass in an Internet-based interactive. Learners read a clue to an item hidden in a portrait of the First President of the United States in the last years...
Interactive
CK-12 Foundation

Cassegrain Telescope

For Students 6th - 12th
How does a telescope magnify images? Learners first watch a tutorial explaining the basic construction of a telescope. Then they interact with a simulation that allows for changes in the location and diameter of the reflecting mirrors....
Interactive
American Museum of Natural History

Life in the City

For Students 6th - 12th
Believe it or not, biodiversity exists even in areas of disturbed habitat. An interactive activity challenges learners to look for species with a magnifying lens in an image of a city habitat. Pop-up images and descriptions explain how...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Playground Zoom

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students observe and draw small objects on the playground or in the classroom with and without a magnifying glass. They explore how lenses can affect the way that an object is observed from afar or remotely sensed. Afterwards, they share...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Are You Ready to Rock?

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders investigate rock samples using magnifying class. In this earth science lesson, 2nd graders identify the physical properties and describe them verbally with their partners. They compare their findings with the class.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Crystal Painting

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers investigate crystalline solids. In this crystals lesson, students observe samples of natural crystals and compare and contrast each. They draw pictures with crayons and then paint over their picture using crystalline...
Activity
Computer Science Unplugged

Drawing Lines with Pixels

For Teachers 4th - 12th Standards
How do the computers keep it straight? Using the provided algorithms, class members draw a line and a circle using pixels. They then check the drawings using a straight edge and compass to determine the accuracy of their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Use of Substitution As a Creative Thinking Tool

For Teachers 1st - 6th
Students practice using substitution as a creative way of thinking about writing and try to substitute song lyrics, food items, rhythm movements and more. In this substitution lesson plan, students create a new candy, and create...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reflections on Earth: Exploring Planet Earth from Space

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students examine satellite images of Earth and contrast images at different scales. In this exploring Earth from space lesson plan, students use satellite images to contrast images at different scales, calculate distances from the scale...
Activity
Exploratorium

Pupil

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Give pupils a magnifier, a mirror, and a flashlight so that they can examine their own pupils. As they shine a light on their eyes, the light is shone on how this structure dilates and contracts to control how much is allowed into the...
Lesson Plan
American Chemical Society

Curious Crystals

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Crystals are more than meets the eye! Can learners tell them apart simply by observation? As they examine five samples with a magnifier, they find that appearance alone is not enough. This serves as an introduction to a mini unit on...
Lesson Plan
Cornell University

Forensic Science: Case of the Missing Diamond Maker

For Teachers 5th - 9th Standards
Someone stole a diamond-making machine. Who done it? Scholars use forensic science at six different stations to determine the culprit. They analyze fingerprints, use their senses, and complete chemistry experiments to determine the...
Lesson Plan
Discovery Education

Architects in Action

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Hands-on and real-world applications are great ways to teach mathematical concepts. Creative thinkers examine how ratios are used to create scale models of buildings and structures. They practice working with ratios by looking at a map...