Trading in Gems

Students create a dichotomous key using potato chips. In this classification activity, students sort potato chips into groups based on observable characteristics. They record their results to create a dichotomous key in preparation for...

Take a walk through nature with a science experiment about leaves. Third graders use a branching diagram to group attributes of certain kinds of leaves, such as oak, pine, and chestnut. For extra practice, they can collect leaves and...

Fourth graders identify plant characteristics from different environments and communicate that information in different ways. They use a simple scheme to classify Utah plants and animals and make observations and record them in a...

Sixth graders classify candy according to observable characteristics. They use a dichotomous key to identify their bag of "treats." Thus, describe how dichotomous keys help to the identifying of organisms. Design a self-generated...

Students classify specimens by observable characteristics. By classifying potato chips, they are introduced to the dichotomous key for identifying plant and animal specimens.

Students investigate the characteristics of living things. In this life science instructional activity, students examine several living and non-living specimens. Students determine which things are living and non-living.

Students explore the Solar System. For this cross-curriculum space instructional activity, students identify the planets, name them in order according to distance from the sun, and describe major characteristics of each planet. Students...

Learners examine different objects. In this appearance activity, students watch a video about translucent, transparent and opaque objects. Learners work in pairs to examine a bag of objects and then discuss the results.

Fifth graders investigate biomes of the earth. In this biomes instructional activity, 5th graders explore eight different biomes which include the tropical rain forest, deciduous forest, grasslands, and taiga. They design an artistic...

Students examine leaves and the trees in their neighborhood that they came from.  For this ecology lesson, students read the book, I Can Name 50 Trees Today, and discuss how a tree goes from a forest to a wood shop.  Students find a tree...