+
Lesson Plan
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

A Century of Plastics

For Teachers 3rd - 12th Standards
After reading about polymer materials, engineer trainees examine how plastics have been integrated into everyday products. In groups, they compile a list of products made entirely without plastics and then, as a closing activity, try to...
+
Lesson Plan
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

Insulators and Conductors

For Teachers 3rd - 6th Standards
In a classic activity, emerging electricians test various objects for electrical conductivity in a circuit. Each group constructs a simple circuit by following a diagram. Predictions are made and objects are inserted into the circuit,...
+
Lesson Plan
National Science Teachers Association

Hop into Action

For Teachers 3rd - 5th Standards
Young scientists find out what makes amphibians such unique and interesting animals in this simple life science lesson. After looking at pictures and discussing the characteristics of amphibians, learners complete a series of three Venn...
+
Lesson Plan
Cornell University

Exploring Rocks and Minerals

For Teachers 3rd - 8th Standards
Investigate the properties of rocks and minerals through a rockin' hands-on activity. Learners test rocks for various properties and, using a guide, attempt to identify different samples. They use various properties including hardness,...
+
Lesson Plan
American Chemical Society

Racing M&M Colors

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
More than anything, this is great practice in scientific inquiry. After discovering that the color coating of an M&M® dissolves in water during a preceding activity, investigators now question whether or not the color makes a...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Roller Coasters

For Teachers 3rd - 7th Standards
Twisting and turning through the sky, roller coasters are popular attractions at amusement parks around the world, but how exactly do they work? Explore the physics behind these thrilling rides with an engineering design activity....
+
Lesson Plan
Oklahoma State University

Hairy Heredity

For Teachers 5th - 8th Standards
Young scholars learn that heredity comes down to the flip of a coin with this cross-curricular math and science lesson. Using smiley faces as a model, young scholars toss coins to determine which dominant or recessive traits will be...
+
Lesson Plan
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

Radio Reception and Transmission

For Teachers 3rd - 12th Standards
After reading about radio transmission, application, and the difference between AM and FM, small teams of engineers use a kit to construct an FM radio and then send and receive broadcasts. This is an ideal activity for middle school STEM...
+
Lesson Plan
American Chemical Society

Using Color to See How Liquids Combine

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Blue-tinted water is added to unknown liquids that have been tinted yellow to find out how they interact. This is a memorable activity that is part of an investigation on the properties of liquids, which is part of a unit on the...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Get Charged!

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students explore the concept of electricity in this activity based unit.  For this physical science lesson, students focus on electricity and electrical engineering. The teaching unit includes 5 activities to develop students conceptual...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Transforming Energy

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Super detailed, this lesson will educate physical science learners about the flow of electrons. Begin by reviewing potential and kinetic energy with a moving pendulum, and then get them online to observe interactive websites about...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Magnetism

For Teachers 5th - 8th
This set of seven activities attracts physical science stars to concepts concerning magnetism. Pupils play with a lodestone, magnets, needles, and iron filings to understand magnetic forces, fields, and applications. If you are new to...
+
Lesson Plan
1
1
Baylor College

Heart Rate and Exercise

For Teachers 3rd - 10th Standards
What is the relationship among the heart, circulation, and exercise? Your class members will explore first-hand how different physical exercises affect an individual's heart rate. They will begin by learning how to measure their own...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Physics of Roller Coasters

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Young scholars design a roller coaster and demonstrate their knowledge of Potential and Kinetic Energy. They determine the average velocity a given marble travels on their roller coaster and apply their knowledge of various measurement...
+
Lesson Plan
3
3
California Academy of Science

Kinesthetic Astronomy: Earth's Rotation

For Teachers 3rd - 8th Standards
After completing the activity, "Kinesthetic Astronomy: The Meaning of a Year," zoom in on Earth's rotation using the same simulation setup and this outline. Each class member dons a map of the Western Hemisphere and plays the part of...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water in the Geosphere

For Teachers 5th - 8th Standards
Through a PowerPoint presentation and the embedded animation and video, earth science enthusiasts find out about the moisture in the soil beneath our feet. In the animation, follow a water molecule on its path through the water cycle. As...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Riding on a Pendulum

For Teachers 3rd - 5th Standards
A comprehensive resource gets fourth grade physical scientists making observations about the period of a pendulum and then applying knowledge to a playground swing. Through seven different stations, they will record observations and...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sports and Science

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Using footballs, basketballs, tennis balls, and more, learners conduct experiments to illustrate Newton's Laws of Motion.  The experiments are conducted outside, and require them to throw, kick, and hit a variety of balls. Your class...
+
Lesson Plan
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

Solar Structures

For Teachers 3rd - 12th Standards
It's time to soak up the sun! Youngsters read about active and passive solar heating systems, then they collaborate to create a miniature solar-heated building. Provide a variety of materials for them to incorporate and watch their...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Physical Science: Magnets

For Teachers K - 6th
Students investigate magnets and how they work. They read and discuss the book, What Makes a Magnet and record their observations as they complete activities. After exploring the magnet set, they record their predictions and results...
+
Lesson Plan
1
1
University of Colorado

Terra Bagga

For Teachers 5th - 12th Standards
Earth's magnetic poles switch positions about every 200,000—300,000 years. In the activity, groups create a planet with a magnetic field. Once made, they use a magnetometer to determine the orientation of the planet's magnetic field....
+
Lesson Plan
1
1
Center for Learning in Action

Properties of Balls

For Teachers 2nd - 5th Standards
Enhance your states of matter lessons with a hands-on science investigation that compares six different balls' color, texture, size, weight, ability to bounce, and buoyancy. 
+
Lesson Plan
California Academy of Science

Coincidental Colonization

For Teachers 3rd - 5th Standards
The Galápagos Islands are an amazing place of isolated adaptation, colonized by an interesting mix of plants and animals. The class plays a game to help them understand how these organisms came to live on the island through a combination...
+
Lesson Plan
NOAA

A Watery World

For Teachers 4th - 7th Standards
With about 70% of the earth's surface covered in oceans, it's fair to say that we live in a very wet world. Young scientists gain a better appreciation of this fact as they use maps to identify the world's ocean basins in the first...