Students examine edible plants by identifying salad ingredients. In this botany lesson, students discuss the different vegetables that can be eaten in a salad and draw them on a worksheet. Students review vegetable vocabulary and examine...

Students take a quick examine part of the water cycle, and the combined gas laws. The instructional activity lead them through the conditions necessary for cloud formation and allow them to create clouds in three different hands-on...

Students examine the different ways heat can be felt.  For this radiation and conduction lesson, students recognize that the sun radiates heat. Students conduct three experiments to find how the sun warms the Earth and how that heat...

Students complete a WebQuest. In this water cycle lesson, students investigate the cycle through a WebQuest activity. Students research the water cycle through Internet resources and create a documentary video of their process.

Students observe and photograph clouds. In this cloud lesson, students make a cloud scrapbook by photographing and completing a worksheet describing the clouds.  Students record other sky events such as rainbows.

Students examine the rock cycle and the path that rocks go through to rearranged in different ways. They define key vocabulary terms, then in small groups conduct a variety of experiments using crayon shavings as simulated rocks and...

Students understand how clouds are formed. In this cloud lesson, students participate in three experiments to make clouds. Students complete activity sheets for each experiment.

Students explore the ways that engineers study and harness the wind. They study the different kinds of winds and how to measure wind direction. In addition, students learn how air pressure creates winds and how engineers build and test...

Third graders view photos of machines that measure wind energy and chart what they observe in the pictures and the questions they have about the pictures.  In this wind energy lesson, 3rd graders make a pinwheel.  Students show...

Third graders identify the different parts of the sun. In this astronomy lesson, 3rd graders examine how the sun's energy drive life processes on Earth. They construct a model of a solar system using large rolls of toilet paper.

Students choose one rock from a collection of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks. They use multiple resources to create an informational brochure highlighting their rock. The brochures are combined into a class rock museum to be...

Students conduct an experiment. For this lightning lesson, students use a blanket and a dark room to simulate lightning.

Students explore air pollution. In this ecology and air pollution lesson, students perform an experiment in which a Vaseline coated lid is placed inside and outside the classroom. Students make predictions and then record what they see...

Student's explore the concept of animal adaptations.  In this animal science lesson plan, students create insulated mittens and conduct an investigation with cold water.  Students discuss the results and make connections to...

Young scholars study floods and flash floods. The About Floods page explains the difference between floods and flash floods, and why flash floods occur. The Flood Types page explores some of the different types of floods that occur....

Students investigate the properties of insulation as it relates to whales and sea ice. They research whales and examine the atmospheric changes that occur when there are changes in sea ice.

Students observe populations and determine the functions (e.g., decomposers, producers, consumers) they serve in an ecosystem. They investigate the energy flow ecosystems. Students investigate factors (.g., Resources, light, water) that...

Students examine the continent of Antarctica, then read a news article about the decline in the Antarctic penguin population. In this current events lesson plan, the teacher introduces the article with a discussion and vocabulary...

Students experiment with the construction of shelters and the various types of architectural designs.  In this shelters lesson, students draw the building they live in.  Students compare and contrast buildings made today and...

Students investigate student homes.  In this insect homes lesson,students observe insect homes. Students visit a campsite and gather information about  insect homes. Students examine and record an insect home on a worksheet....

Students observe the brightness of stars and are introduced to the concept of apparent brightness as a measure of how much light hits a detector of a surface area during a given time. In this star lesson, students make connections...

Students demonstrate their knowledge of rock formation processes in varied ways by sharing their cooperative research projects with the class. They generate well-framed questions in response to each presentation.

Students examine the relationship between water retention and plant growth by conducting two experiments. They first compare the water retention qualities of clay, sand and loam soil types. Then they use the data from the first...

Students examine a crushed rock and sort the minerals they find in that rock by color and other properties.