Montana Natural History Center
Studying Grassland Ecosystems
At first glance, grassland ecosystems might seem dull and uninteresting, but once you start to explore it's amazing the things you'll find! Through this series of engaging lessons, activities, and experiments, elementary students examine...
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
The Day the Mesozoic Died
While this is not the traditional, step-by-step lesson plan, it is chock-full of material that you can easily incorporate into your earth history unit. Its main purpose is to serve as a guide to using a three-part film, The Day the...
Curated OER
Outdoor Activities: Taking Science Outside
Students participate in various outdoor science activities to enhance their observation, classification, and analysis skills. In this outdoor instructional activity, students begin by observing a tree from a straightforward angle, then...
Curated OER
Growing Learners: A Multi-Disciplinary Approach to Investigating Plants and Flowers
Engage young scientists in these inquiry-based lesson ideas to spring into learning about nature.
Curated OER
Take Your Class to the Moon
Get your kids talking about our lunar neighbor with these hands-on lessons.
Curated OER
Come Shine with Us: Floor Polish Testing and Industrial Science To Teach Critical Thinking
Students discover that science relates to everyday life and see testing procedures used in an industrial laboratory. Students compare various brands of household and industrial floor polishes for specific criteria.
Curated OER
Eating the Rainbow: A Student's Guide to Healthy Foods That Grow
Third graders examine the nutritional value of different foods. In this health science lesson, 3rd graders create a daily log of the foods they eat and categorize them. They plan a healthy menu for their family.
Curated OER
Soil Acidity and Leaching
Students are introduced to the concept of acids and bases and arouse curiosity about acids and bases in daily life. They are introduced to the measurement of soil pH. Pupils are introduced to the effect of soil pH on nutrient cycling...
Curated OER
Demonstration of Cheese-Making Enzyme Magic
Students watch a demo which is a modification of an enzyme lab which is done as a "magic show". It's primary purpose is to tickle the curiosity of the student and grab interest before discussion of enzymes. It is also used to stimulate...
Curated OER
Demonstration of Cheese-Making Enzyme Magic
Students participate in a modified demo enzyme lab, a "magic show." The purpose of the demo is to tickle the curiosity of the student and grab their interest before discussions of enzymes. Its purpose is also to stimulate problem solving...
Curated OER
Insect Inquiries
Students explore the topic of insects. In this biology lesson plan, students develop a curiosity about the insect world. Students will collect and observe insects native to the area.
Curated OER
Cool! Awesome! What is it?
Students work in small groups to brainstorm hypotheses about mysterious science photographs, read and interpret answers to the science photographs, cooperatively develop a set of clues for the images and develop their own science photo...
Curated OER
Strange New Planet
Students simulate different spacecraft missions using materials provided. In this space science lesson, students observe and record a planetary model's features from a distance. They relate this activity to scientists' space exploration...
Curated OER
Why Do We Have Night?
Students engage in a fun, creative way to discover how the Earth moves. This lesson plan helps students explain why there is day and night. It can also create curiosity to further study the solar system and eclipses!
Curated OER
Eureka! I’ve Got an Idea!
Students explore many inventions and inventors. In this science lesson plan, students collaborate as they research inventors and their times in order to compile information to build an informative Web site.
Curated OER
See the Stars
Students explore the nighttime sky. In this space science lesson plan, students read the book Maria's Comet and and investigate the sky using their naked eyes. Students compare the view of their naked eyes to the view of a telescope.
Curated OER
Earth Day Lesson
Students analyze Earth science by answering environmental study questions. In this Earth Day lesson, students read the book The Lorax and identify the themes within it. Students define several recycling vocabulary terms and create an...
Curated OER
Getting the Dirt on Soils
Students examine soils and the components that make them up. In this hands-on soil science lesson, students receive soil samples and must identify the various aspect which make up soil.
Blogger
Apple Poster
Science is all about wonder... I wonder what causes the moon phases; I wonder why people get sick. The cross-stitch-style poster pays homage to Sir Issac Newton's curiosity when it came to asking questions about gravity.
Curated OER
Periodic Table of Fun
Are you looking to put the fun back in the fundamentals of chemistry? Why not have groups create their own periodic tables of something (animals, food, music groups, etc.) practicing the organizational strategies used in the periodic...
University of Georgia
Flavor of Organic Chemistry
Introduce organic chemistry through an analysis of flavor. A three-part unit begins with an overview of the components of flavor. Next, scholars prepare esters through esterification. Finally, they examine how all senses have an impact...
University of Georgia
Density and Texture of Soil
All soil is not created equal! A lab activity asks learners to collect and analyze soil. Specific calculations determine the amount of sand, silt, and clay in a sample and allow individuals to identify the soil texture.
Curated OER
Water: Liquid or Solid?
First graders investigate how water can be both a liquid and a solid. They weigh popsicles and observe them as they write in their science journals. They measure the liquid as the popsicle melts and refreeze them to change them back...
Curated OER
A Chemical Curiosity
In this chemical change instructional activity, students review physical changes such as evaporation and condensation before working with chemical change. They conduct an experiment with vinegar and baking soda before recording the...