The 10 lessons in the Science 4 Inquiry collection introduce middle schoolers to Physical Science. Scholars watch videos, design experiments, and play interactive games to understand the elements of physical science. They create a...

The Understanding Science and Engineering Through Solar Power unit module teaches scholars how to conduct investigations and the steps for scientific inquiry and experimentation. To begin, young scientists conduct two probes to...

Why do some objects sink while others float? That’s the question young engineers tackle in a unit module of two lessons and three activities. With some help from Archimedes (and his principle) and the principle of buoyancy, scholars...

Seven activities make up the TeachEngineering: Earthquakes Living Lab Collection. Activities designed for grades K-8 include “Geology and the 1906 San Francisco Quake,” “Designing for Disaster,” and “The Theory of Plate Tectonics.”...

Class members use the online resources provided through the Earthquakes Living Lab to investigate why large earthquakes occur in Japan. Pairs work together to research tectonic plates and fault lines and determine whether other locations...

Class members look at two historical earthquakes: San Francisco, California, and Kobe, Japan. Pairs compare the two earthquakes and their impacts, then determine how engineers may use the information gleaned from previous earthquakes to...

Pairs research building design in earthquake-prone areas and use computer simulations to see the effects of earthquakes on buildings. They sketch and explain a building design that would withstand a strong earthquake.

Class members research the theory of continental drift, examine evidence of plate tectonics, connect this information to engineering, then write an essay on whether they support the theory of continental drift.

Using the Internet, pupils research what causes earthquakes, how scientists measure them, their locations, and their effects.

Pairs research current earthquakes to see if there are any patterns. They determine the mean, median, and mode of the earthquake data, along with the maximum and minimum. Using that information, they make earthquake predictions for a year.

Pairs use an online simulation to determine the epicenter and magnitude of an earthquake. Using actual data about the earthquake's maximum S wave amplitudes, they then determine the magnitude.

The Inquiry in Action: Fifth Grade Curriculum set contains five chapters, comprised of 16 lessons, activity sheets, videos, and other resources to help explain science concepts to young learners. In Chapter 1 - Matter is Made of Tiny...

Inquiry in Action: Fifth Grade Chapter 5 - Engineering Design is comprised of a single project-based assessment. The assessment helps highlight the importance of prior knowledge as individuals design a floatation device for a cell phone....

Chapter 4 in the Inquiry in Action series for fifth graders consists of a single, hands-on lesson. To verify that mass remains the same, learners measure the mass of substances before and after melting, dissolving, and undergoing a...

Fifth-graders experiment with substances that can mix, react, and combine to form new substances using hands-on lessons. In the first lesson, pupils observe how different substances react to form different amounts of gas, leading to a...

The five lessons in Chapter 2 ask fifth graders to use their observation skills to identify substances. They dissolve known and unknown substances to determine the identity of the mystery substances. Next, learners investigate the...

Four lesson plans investigate all phases of matter and provide pupils with hands-on experiences that demonstrate that all matter is made of tiny particles. First, scholars explore solutes and solvents. Using candies and water, they...

Twenty-one Inquiry-based lessons provide young scientists with an opportunity to experiment with a variety of chemical reactions. Classroom investigators make observations, develop basic lab skills, and follow step-by-step instructions...

Two lessons introduce youngsters to vaccines and vaccine makers. The first lesson in the module asks learners to research and complete a graphic organizer that showcases the differences between a virus and bacteria. Groups then research...

As part of a study of the history of the Chumash on California's Channel Island chain, class members view the documentary Once Upon a Time, respond to discussion questions, and create a timeline for the different waves of migration....

As part of their study of the history of the Channel Islands, class members watch Dark Water, a documentary about a traditional Chumash ceremony. The documentary launches a series of lessons about this tribal nation that inhabited the...

How do scientists provide evidence to support the theories they put forth? What clues do they put together to create these theories? After watching West of the West's documentary Island Rotation, class members engage in a series of...

The tale of the restoration of California's Channel Islands begins with a video that details the devastation of Santa Cruz Island by introducing species that are not native to the region. Additionally, the video discusses the controversy...

Renewable energy is the focus of a seven-part environmental science unit for middle and high schoolers. Lessons challenge students to look closely at the type of energy they consume in their home, examine the regulations and limitations...