Curated OER
Mystery of Mirrors: Discovery Stations
Hands-on stations in which groups of primary learners experience what mirrors can do provide opportunities for experimenting and authentic discovery. Recording their observations in complete sentences seems age-inappropriate. Drawing...
Curated OER
Levers and Wedges in the Human Body
Students identify the various parts of the body that serve as wedges and levers, identifying the fulcrum for each body lever. They bite into carrots and apples to analyze how their jaws and teeth work, then complete three worksheets that...
Curated OER
Animals and Humans
Students identify the functions of various body parts. They participate in the "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes" song, draw a picture of themselves and other mammals, and create a traced outline of their body that they add features to....
Curated OER
What's The World Made Of?
Second graders identify the three states of matter by examining fishbowls with various contents. They discuss their observations and the characteristics of matter in each state. Pupils read the story The Rainbow Fish and look for...
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We're Off To the Races!
Second graders use a magnet to "race" objects from one side of a racing track to another. They predict what the results are, then run the race. Pupils sort and graph which items were successfully moved, they attempt to race again. This...
Curated OER
Sink or Float
Second graders explore floating and sinking and make predictions about whether certain objects are likely to sink or float. They read the story Who Sank the Boat? by Pamela Allen. Pupils loacate rhyming words and discuss the events of...
Curated OER
In Touch with Apples
Students read "How To Make an Apple Pie and See the World", the story of a girl who traveled the world to find the ingredients to make her apple pie. They conduct a series of interdisciplinary activities including testing their senses,...
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Commotion About Motion
Second graders are introduced to different types of motion. They make rolling spider toys and race them on different surfaces to invsetigate forces and motion. Pupils make glue "spider webs" for their spiders after testing different...
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The Gingerbread Man Trail
What a fun way to familiarize your young learners with friendly faces on campus! Scholars read "The Gingerbread Man," discussing the characters he meets. Then, they examine a map of the campus, placing photos of employees (such as the...
Curated OER
Wisconsin Agriculture; Berry Bunch's Cherry Fast Facts
Students explore agriculture by researching Wisconsin's economy. In this cherry industry lesson, students read assigned text about the amount of cherries Wisconsin produces annually and the revenue it brings in to the state. Students...
Curated OER
Fun Faces of Wisconsin Agriculture: Curley's Beef Fast Facts
Students explore animal slaughter by researching the Wisconsin beef industry. In this meat statistics lesson, students practice using different math functions to identify how many burgers or sports equipment can be made from one...
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian In Your Classroom: The Music in Poetry
Take poetry off the page and put it into terms of movement, physical space and, finally, music with this series of three lessons from the Smithsonian Institution. This resource introduces students to two poetic forms that originated as...
Curated OER
Why Do Some Things Float?
Students recognize that density determines whether objects sink or float. For this sink or float lesson, students experiment with plastic in three liquids. students drop their objects into the liquids and observe and record their results.
Curated OER
Bird Nests
Learners build bird nests. In this Science lesson, students consider climate, location, and structure when building their bird nest. Learners try to locate each other's nests within the activity site.
Curated OER
Gaming in the Outdoors
Students explore their environment through a scavenger hunt. In this outdoor exlporation instructional activity, students use hunt cards and search for animal food, natural shapes, or both. Students share their finds. Students create ink...
Curated OER
Great Streamboat Race
Learners analyze currents. In this Science lesson, students race small boats in a creek or stream. Learners time the currents and collect organisms from the creek or stream.
Curated OER
Isopods
Students observe isopods for their distinct characteristics. In this isopod and pbservation activity, students gather at least two different isopods for observation. Students create a list of isopod features on a data board. Students...
Curated OER
Moisture Makers
Students use cobalt chloride paper to find moisture in leaves. In this moisture content investigation, students compare and contrast the amount of water given off by various leaves.
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Mystery Marauders
Learners investigate plants with pest damage. In this plant life instructional activity, students study plants that have been damaged by insects. Learners try to discover which insects are causing the damage.
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Out of Control
Young scholars release care of a lawn. In this Science lesson, students observe the changes that occur when lawn maintenance is stopped. Young scholars record data from several observations.
Curated OER
Seas in Motion
Students analyze wave movement. In this Science lesson, students use items that float to observe waves and currents. Students record and discuss their observations.
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Salt Water Revival
Students produce a high tide. For this Marine Biology lesson, students visit a tide pool to investigate the creatures response to changes in the tide. Students discuss the results of their experimentation.
Curated OER
The Old White Sheet Trick
Students attract night animals. In this Science lesson, students use a large white surface and a light at night. Students observe and record what they see.
Curated OER
Leaf Living
Students participate in a game to simulate life on a leaf. In this habitat lesson, students climb under a pile of leaves, some acting as predators and some as prey. Students answer questions related to the game under the leaves.