Newspaper Association of America
Cereal Bowl Science and Other Investigations with the Newspaper
What do cereal, fog, and space shuttles have to do with newspapers? A collection of science investigations encourage critical thinking using connections to the various parts of the newspaper. Activities range from building origami seed...
Nevada Outdoor School
Let It Snow! Let It Melt!
Winter weather offers a great opportunity to teach young scientists about the states of matter. This activity-based lesson includes a range of learning experiences, from experimenting with the rate at which ice melts to singing a song...
Space Awareness
Investigating the Atmosphere - Air Takes Up Space
How do you know there is air? Can you see it, smell it, feel it? To begin the investigation, learners watch a video and discuss what they know about air and the atmosphere. Then, they participate in five different hands-on, inquiry-based...
Curated OER
What's Dancing in the Water?
Students learn about watershed, as well as the different forms and uses of water. In this water forms lesson, students brainstorm water sources and uses. Students read the book Water Dance and discuss water examples. Students complete a...
Curated OER
Air and Water in the Environment
Students demonstrate an awareness of air as a substance that surrounds us and takes up space, and whose movement we feel as wind. They predict and describe how local weather conditions affect living things, including themselves.
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
Fred the Fish -- A River Ran Wild
Students apply cause and effect relationships to water pollution in a stream. In this pollution activity students recognize the importance of clean water in their daily lives. Students accompany "Fred the Fish" as he travels down stream....
Curated OER
Earth/Globe (poles & equator)
First graders create his/her own paper mache earth and label the poles and equator. The land masses can be added and labeling of specific bodies of water. The paper mache earth can then be used to discuss the sun, moon, and the earth and...
Curated OER
Water, Water Everywhere
Studetns view a terrarium with water droplets on the wals. They discuss the ways the water could have got onto the wall of the terrarium. Students design an experiment to duplicate the process. They describe the patterns form their data...
Curated OER
Rain, Rain, Go Away
Students conduct a number of experiments involving evaporation and condensation. They view and discuss a video about the water cycle and then design posters about the rain based on the book "Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs".
Curated OER
Glove Gardens
Students investigate how seeds sprout. In this scientific inquiry instructional activity, students make predictions on which seeds will grow the fastest and observe the seeds over a period of time. Observations are recorded into a...
Curated OER
The Water Cycle
Learners create an "animated" water cycle wheel that illustrates where water comes from and where it goes.
Curated OER
Water, Water, Everywhere!
Learners become aware of the important role the ocean plays in our lives. Students will gain general knowledge about the ocean by reading information on the Internet. They discover the weather events generated by ocean conditions.
Curated OER
Environmental Studies: The Power of Wind
Investigate the prospect of wind as a renewable resource. Second and third graders make a pinwheel, answer critical thinking questions, and then attempt to use wind power to wind string. I would be more apt to use this lesson in a 1st or...
Curated OER
In What Direction Do Seeds Grow?
Students predict and examine the direction seeds grow and thereby explore the effects gravity has on seeds and plants. They perform this inquiry in-class by keeping track of how beans grow.
Curated OER
Daily and Seasonal Cycles
First graders identify the sun as a source of heat and light. They identify features of houses that help keep use sheltered and comfortable throughout daily and seasonal cycles. Students are told that summer is the best season to...
Curated OER
Observation Hike
Students participate in an observational hike to study the natural surroundings. In this observational hike instructional activity, students hike through a state park and observe the plant and animal life. Students learn about...
Curated OER
How Does Climate Affect Plant Growth?
First graders compare plant samples obtained from two different sites to explore how climate affects plants.
Curated OER
The Effect of Moisture on Soil Temperature
Students analyze the relationship between soil moisture and its effect on soil temperature.
Curated OER
A Frog's Life Story
Students investigate the lives of frogs by completing several worksheets. In this biology instructional activity, students discover the life cycle of a frog from tadpole to death. Students complete frog life cycle puzzle as well as...