Baylor College
Dust Catchers
In class, your emerging environmentalists construct dust catchers. They take them home for a week or two, and then bring them back into class to examine under a magnifier. From this activity, they learn what makes up dust and that...
Cornell University
Non-Newtonian Fluids—How Slow Can You Go?
Children enjoy playing with silly putty, but it provides more than just fun. Young scientists make their own silly putty using different recipes. After a bit of fun, they test and graph the viscosity of each.
Curated OER
Let's Build
Students listen as the teacher differentiates between natural and people-made items. They go outside and make lists of natural and people-made things they see. Students complete the linked worksheet by cutting and pasting as suggested by...
Curated OER
The Paper Dutch Kite
Students construct a Dutch Kite using simple materials. In this math lesson, students measure kite dimensions according to specified instructions. They also describe and define the different parts of a kite.
Curated OER
A Metric World
Students convert English to metric units. In this math lesson, students give examples of measurements they encounter in their daily lives. The share their answers in class.
Curated OER
Starfish: The Stars of the Sea Lesson Plan
Students discover many characteristics of the starfish. In this early childhood lesson plan, students identify characteristics of starfish. Students develop a language experience chart and record their new-found information, and...
Wild BC
Weather Where We Live
Over a span of two weeks or more, mini meteorologists record weather-related measurements. What makes this particular resource different from others covering similar activities are the thorough details for the teacher and printables for...
Baylor College
Air and Breathing
Blow some bubbles and learn how living things need air in the eighth activity of this series. Young scientists investigate this important gas by observing bubbles and monitoring their own breathing. A simple and fun activity that raises...
Baylor College
Lungometer
Life science learners construct lung-o-meters from gallon-sized milk jugs and then measure their lung capacities. For older students, have them graph the vital lung capacities of each person in the class. Cross-curricular pieces are...
Curated OER
Sun and Shadows
Why do shadows look different in the summer than in the winter? What causes day and night? How can a sundial be used to tell time? Answer these questions and more through two engaging lessons about light and shadows. Fourth and fifth...
Curated OER
Flying the Friendly Skies
Students discover the power of wind by flying a glider. In this weather lesson, students describe their thoughts on wind and practice using weather related vocabulary. Students construct model gliders in class and attempt to fly them...
Curated OER
Which Way?
Middle schoolers explore distance-time plots. In this algebra activity, they will investigate how different types of motion affect the distance-time plot.
Alabama Learning Exchange
Inch by Inch
Third graders listen to a read-aloud of Leo Lionni's, Inch by Inch before measuring a variety of items using both standard and metric units. They record the measurement data and follow a recipe for dirt pie.
Curated OER
My Crazy Contraption
Fourth graders design a contraption, which contains five different examples of simple machines and works without intervention. They sketch designs and label its parts. They present their creations to the class and relate them to Rube...
Curated OER
What's Up With the Weather?
Young scholars examine raw data about temperatures throughout the world and record their observations. They work together to graph a specific year of data. They calculate an average temperature and discuss their findings.
Curated OER
Rhinos and M&M's
Students analyze patterns of exponential models by collecting data in paper folding and M&M investigations. They use graphing calculators to create scatter plots that lead to equations for the exponential models. They then apply this...
Curated OER
This Is My Home
Students listen to a read aloud of Mary Ann Hoberman's A House Is a House for Me before discussing the meaning of habitats and the different types of homes that people live in. Next, they pretend to be architects and design a home for...
Curated OER
Functions and Statistics: International Space Station: Up to Us
Students explore how the International Space Station was built and how it provides first-hand experiences with the space program. They view the NASA engineers discussing the major components of the International Space Station, their...
Curated OER
Patterns, Functions, and Algebra: Wired for Space
Students assess how patterns, functions and algebra can assist NASA engineers design new ways of propelling spacecrafts. They explore how electricity and magnetism are replacing the fuel-consuming rocket propulsion. Electromagnetism is...
Curated OER
Data Analysis and Measurement: Ahead, Above the Clouds
Students explore and discuss hurricanes, and examine how meteorologists, weather officers, and NASA researchers use measurement and data analysis to predict severe weather. They plot points on coordinate map, classify hurricanes...
Curated OER
Weather Reporter
Fourth graders generate an oral presentation on the weather. In this weather lesson plan, 4th graders watch the weather for a week and record the data on a chart. Students give a weather report at the end of the week.
Curated OER
Principles Of Flight: Wings That Spin
Students discover how flight is possible. In this physics activity, students investigate the properties of a blimp and gyro-copter, comparing rotating wings and fixed wings of aircraft. Students create their own model aircraft and...
Curated OER
Snakes
Students follow directions to make a snake out of patterns. They research a specific snake and present it to the class in a group. They listen to a presentation about the King Cobra snake prepared by the teacher.
Curated OER
Altimetry
Fifth graders accurately measure the distance to eight points on an uneven surface by conducting a simulation of sattelite altimetry. They create a two-dimensional model of the simulated ocean surface by graphing data from the Radar Run...