Cornell University
Atomic Bonding
Explore the connection of surface area to bonding within atoms. Learners complete lab investigations to model changing surface area with different sizes and concentrations of atoms. A flour fireball demonstration follows the labs to...
Curated OER
Pond Ecology
A lab activity is a great way to incite thoughtful questioning and scientific processes. Pupils will collect organisms with a Petri dish, make observations, sketch the organism, ask questions, then attempt to identify the specimen...
Purdue University
Food Waste and the Environment
Out of sight out of mind can be a dangerous habit. Learners investigate the life of food waste after it leaves people's homes and its impact on the environment. They complete a series of three activities that involve building a mini...
Curated OER
Water 3: Melting and Freezing
Students understand that most substances may exist as solids, liquids, or gases depending on the temperature, pressure, and nature of that substance. This knowledge is critical to understanding that water in our world is constantly...
Curated OER
Do You See What I See?
Students hypothesize the role of rocks, soil, and water by observing a terrarium and create a model to explore the water cycle. This is part of a five station set up.
Curated OER
Observing Weather
Students investigate the weather by reading children stories. In this weather observation lesson, students read Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs and several other stories about weather before they create a KWL chart....
Curated OER
What's the Matter with My Snow?
Middle schoolers collect snow samples around their school. They explore the concepts of density and phase change as well as the math skills of measurement and statistics. Students explore the water cycle through an interactive, down...
Curated OER
Aquatic Science and IPC
Students explain the importance of water in our daily lives. In this aquatic science lesson, students identify different ways to purify water and make it potable. They design and construct a water filter based on researched information.
Curated OER
The Moon Made Me Do It!
Learners research lunar cycles and how it effects living organisms. In this investigative lesson students prepare written reports on the lunar cycles and the relationship between animal behavior and reproductivity then give an oral...
Curated OER
Rock Cycle SIOP Unit
Students collect rocks, identify them, classify them, investigate their properties, and more. In this rocks lesson plan, students also experiment with soil and erosion and weather.
Curated OER
Global Change- Time and Cycles
Students study trees and their growth. In this investigative lesson students work in groups to reconstruct a 50 year climatic history using a simulated tree ring.
Curated OER
Humidity and Air Saturation
Students experiment with air saturation. In this earth science lesson, students first complete an activity which teaches humidity. Then they use the scientific method to create their own experiments to test how long it takes a...
Curated OER
Driving Currents
Learners conduct a variety of investigations to see how water, heat, and salinity affect the flow of the world's ocean currents,as well as, explore many factors that affect the flow of the world's ocean currents. They also describe in...
Curated OER
Pumpkin, Pumpkin
First graders understand that pumpkins grow slowly over several months. In this pumpkin lesson plan, 1st graders listen to the book Pumpkin, Pumpkin and recall the sequence of the pumpkin life cycle. Students create pumpkin artwork...
Curated OER
The Bending and Bouncing of Light
Students investigate refraction and reflection of light. In this light lesson, students perform 3 activities to observe light interacting with matter by using a flashlight. They explore refraction using a glass of water and reflection...
Curated OER
Ziploc Gardening
Students observe beans germinating in a plastic bag. In this bean growing lesson, students predict what their beans will look like. Students draw illustrations to record the changes in their bean plants. Students should also note...
Curated OER
Mystery Eggs
Students investigate the properties of plastic eggs filled with solids, liquids, and gases and use these observations to hypothesize whether a chicken egg is hard-boiled or raw.
Curated OER
Inviting Butterflies to the Schoolyard
Students create a butterfly garden. In this butterfly garden lesson, students plot a garden with plant species that will attract butterflies. Students learn about the specific plants and items that will help butterflies use the garden.
Curated OER
The Global Precipitation Measurement Mission (GPM) Lesson
Introduce your class to one of the ways that technology is benefiting humanity. The Global Precipitation Measurement Mission involves the data collected by nine satellites from different countries with a united focus on studying world...
Curated OER
Trophic Relationships, Cycling of Chemicals, Human Impact on Ecosystems and Conservation
Students explore how the energy flow through a system is related to trophic levels. They investigate how organisms affect the cycling of elements and water through the biosphere. Students participate in lab activities to observe ways...
Curated OER
Time and Cycles - Dendrochronology
Students investigate the lives of trees by examining ring cycles. For this plant life lesson, students identify the field of study known as dendrochronology and discover its history. Students investigate a simulated tree ring...
Curated OER
A Seed Dispersal Investigation
Students investigate the function and purpose of seed dispersal. In this garden lesson plan, students examine the importance of wind in the plant cycle. Students construct a flying seed model from an attached design and discuss if it can...
Curated OER
Dissolved Oxygen and Respiration
Students are presented with the question, "Do plants that grow underwater use oxygen?" They create an experiment to test the presence of dissolved oxygen in the water using provided materials. Student experiments include a control jar as...
Curated OER
Life Science- Learning About Tadpoles
Students investigate a frog's life cycle. In this tadpole lesson, students observe tadpoles in an aquarium and record results. Students fill in a KWL chart as an assessment.