Curated OER
Galaxies
The first thing to note is that this lesson was written for use in a parochial school. Even if you are in a non-religious setting, however, the website exploration of galaxies and the accompanying worksheet make for an engaging...
Curated OER
Conservation in Small Spaces: Conservation
Pupils define conservation, identify actions that conserve habitat and those that reduce habitat, and generate ideas about how one can practice conservation in everyday life.
Curated OER
Animal Instincts
Fourth graders explore the difference between studied behavior and instinct. In groups, 4th graders use website links to research information about a selected animal. They create a story about the life of their animal during the four...
National Geographic
Eat an Alien Invader
If you are looking for a lesson about invasive species to ocean habitats, you have arrived! Introduce the concept to learners and have them read an article about marine invasive species. Vocabulary, relevant web links, and a cute handout...
Curated OER
Environment: Water & Air
The introduction to the lesson mentions a sailor's limited capacity to store drinking water on his ship. Pupils then set up an overnight experiment to remove freshwater from salt water by distillation. There is a math and map activity to...
Curated OER
Making Field Journals
Young scholars follow a bookmaking format to create a book and use it as a garden journal. In this science journal lesson, students follow book making directions to create a garden and science journal.
Clean Up Australia
Why are Batteries Harmful to the Environment?
Open this lesson by reading together about primary and secondary batteries (such as nickel-cadmium cells), problems they can cause in the environment, and how humans can minimize the damage. Afterward, little ones examine a collection of...
Curated OER
Mammals
Students gather information from an online database about mammals. Choosing one mammal, they compare its physical characteristics, food habits, behavior and location to the other mammals they were introduced to in this lesson. In groups,...
Curated OER
Dear Peter Rabbit
Write dear old Peter Rabbit a letter with this lesson. First, youngsters listen to the story Peter Rabbit and analyze the story elements. Then they complete a story map graphic organizer in order to write a letter to Peter Rabbit using...
Curated OER
Reading Miss Lady Bird's Wildflowers
Students discover the impact "Lady Bird" Johnson had on America by reading a short biography. In this historical persons lesson, students read a multi page biography of the former first lady and write a summary of her life's work....
Curated OER
The Delicate Balance - Iowa's Natural Resources
Discover the natural resources in Iowa by studying it's history. In this environmental lesson, your students will observe a topographical map of Iowa and identify where its most valuable resources are. They complete an Iowa name...
Curated OER
Why Are Plants Green?
Students smash plant parts and wait for visibility of chlorophyl to show why plants turn green. In this green plants lesson plan, students use acetone and filter paper for this experiment.
Curated OER
Sharks ~ Taking a Bite Out of the Myth
The first thing to know about this lesson is that the commercial fisheries data for the activity no longer seems to be available. That being said, there are fascinating links to other websites, some about the comparative odds of being...
Curated OER
Bats, Bees, Birds, and Blossoms
Youngsters use a paper bee to pollinate two paper flowers. They use hole-punch dots as pollen. Older learners dissect flowers and name the structures involved in pollination. The handouts mentioned in the lesson plan are not included, so...
Curated OER
Everybody Needs a Little Sunshine
Three activities introduce upper elementary ecologists to photosynthesis and food webs. In the first, an experiment is set up to determine how plants respond to different types of light. In the second, they connect organism cards with...
Curated OER
Costa Rican Food Chain
Discuss the animals and plants in the rainforest food chain using this activity. Learners talk about and do research on the top predators from the Costa Rican region and create a model of one of them in class. They also make a visual...
Curated OER
Splish Splash
Pupils study drinking water. In this environment activity, students draw the path of drinking water from the place of precipitation to the tap after researching a map and information from the United States Geological Survey water...
Curated OER
Exploring the Hudson in 1609
While this lesson focuses on a study of the Hudson River, it could be used as a template for a discussion of map skills, converting measurements, and plotting a route. The lesson includes vocabulary and other resources to make it a...
Curated OER
To Tell The Truth
Students create a faux ivory napkin ring using art supplies and knowledge gained from in-class discussions and teacher supplied information in this art lesson easily adaptable to a Social Studies or Language Arts classroom.
Curated OER
Making Weather-Tracking Tools
Young scholars build tools to help track the weather. In this weather lesson plan, students follow directions to build a rain gauge, barometer and hair hygrometer.
National Geographic
Spot Where You DON'T Get Your Seafood
When your class is examining the fishing industry or sustainable practices, you can use this brief activity to demonstrate the global impact our food choices have. Overharvesting, overfishing, and bycatch are important topics to address...
Curated OER
Just Bee-Tween Flowers!
Learners examine the major plant and bee parts and the interdependency between bees and fast plants. They observe and record the stages of growth of fast plants, take photos of the plant's life cycle, and cross-pollinate plants.
Curated OER
Animal Life Span Activity
Students study and compare the life span of farm animals with their own. They research a farm animal, complete a table and answer comparative questions. They work in jigsaw format groups.
Curated OER
What is a Living Thing, and How Does a Living Thing Respond to Its Environment?
Students investigate how living things interact with their environment. In this living things lesson, students complete lessons for science investigations on what living things have in common. Students study cells, complete...