Curated OER
Puberty
Eighth graders describe the changes their body undergoes during puberty. In this health science instructional activity, 8th graders explain how the hypothalamus and pituitary gland play a major role in the process. They identify the...
Curated OER
Family Emergency Preparedness
Middle schoolers watch a video prior to developing a family emergency preparedness plan and kit. They decide with their families what local media sources they would use to get information during an emergency situation.
Curated OER
From Milk to Cheese & Seed to Shelf
Learn about food production by making cheese, seeing how a seed gets to a shelf, and discussing food safety. Budding agriculturalists complete several activities and learn about food production, biotechnology, food preservation,...
Forest Foundation
The Sustainable Forest
As part of their examination of forest ecosystems, class members examine how foresters, biologists, botanists, geologists, and hydrologists work to together to develop a management plan for sustainable forests.
Baylor College
Serving Sizes
Are serving sizes for different foods always appropriate for what you need? In this hands-on activity, learners work in groups to estimate what one serving size of various foods are, and then evaluate their hypotheses by measuring real...
Curated OER
Wildflower Beautification Project
Learners, in cooperative groups, design and create a wildflower garden for the community. They write letters to property owners requesting use of their land and then write invitations to their parents and to local, state, and federal...
Curated OER
Everything's Connected
Learners explore how trash decomposes. In this ecosystem lesson, students discuss new vocabulary words, such as producers and consumers, and think critically to answer how landfills work.
Curated OER
Nutritional Influence on Illness and Disease
Students examine nutritionally related diseases and illnesses, evaluating studies and developing topics for a science fair project. They investigate bacteria, researching how it can be harmful or helpful, and create illustrated displays.
Curated OER
Materials, Let's Do the Life Cycle
Students examine environmental and social impacts of products that consumers buy. For this environmental stewardship lesson, students play a game that requires them to consider real costs of products. Students consider the environmental...
Curated OER
Interdependence and Adaptation
Learners construct a food web to identify producer, consumer, herbivore, carnivore and predator. They complete an online activity collecting plants and animals and arranging them in the web. They describe the interdependence between...
Curated OER
ABOUT ALL YOU CAN EAT: Superfoods
Students trace back through time to see how the nutritional value of food consumed was enhanced. In this nutrients lesson students complete several activities that show the mass of food, and its PH value.
Curated OER
Foods for Better Health
Students define biotechnology and discuss the economic impact of biotechnology. They also describe what a 1015 onion and a slow-softening tomato are and how they are produced. They examine the safety of genetically-engineered or altered...
National Wildlife Federation
Master P in the House: An All School Energy and Climate Change Plan
A person in the US uses 20 times more energy than a person in India—that's a drastic difference! The final lesson in the 12-part series goes back to the initial energy audits, analyzes which room showed the most conservation of energy,...
University of Southern California
Mastering Microbes
Small but mighty! Learners explore the role of microbes in a healthy ecosystem. An engaging instructional activity asks pupils to design an aquaponics system that demonstrates that healthy microbes are necessary to maintain the ecosystem.
Teach Engineering
Grow Your Own Algae!
Develop a model of a wastewater treatment center. The last activity of the unit has pupils mix a lake water sample into a tank of water containing fertilizers. Over time, the algae from the lake water grows and removes the nutrient-rich...
Curated OER
DNA: Expressions in Agriculture
What is DNA extraction, and can you make a living doing it? Yes, if you are in a biotechnology field. Kids learn about DNA extraction, GMOs, and biotechnology careers. They then watch videos and complete activities to understand the use...
ARKive
Temperate Rainforest in the Pacific Northwest
Explore the amazing temperate rainforest of the Pacific Northwest. Your class starts by investigating the animals and plants of the Northwest, specifically Washington, and then research an animal population common to the area. In small...
Curated OER
Vitamin Planet
Young scholars explain the function of vitamins in their body. In this health lesson, students identify the six types of vitamins. They create a chart comparing two of them.
Curated OER
Soil: Food Mapping
Pupils examine the concept of food mapping . In this agriculture instructional activity, students explore food and agriculture systems in the United States in the past and today. Pupils complete food mapping activities.
Curated OER
What's the Connection to Me?
Learners discuss the impact of oil spill to the environment and to their daily lives. In this environmental science lesson, students research the pros and cons of petroleum based products. They share their findings in class.
Curated OER
Petroleum Poisons
Students discover how harmful petroleum distillates are that are found in the home. They demonstrate how to collect information about consumer products. They also ask their parents about the safety of the cleaning supplies used in their...
Curated OER
Eating for Your Future
Students brainstorm ways to live healthy. In this health science lesson, students recipes that are healthy and appealing. They compile all recipes and develop a class cookbook.
Curated OER
Flambe Elements
Eighth graders discuss atoms and electrons as well as atoic structure. They view atomic structure via the computer. Students watch a demonstration in which the teacher demonstrates glass tubing turning yellow in a Bunsen Burner flame....
Curated OER
Calories
Students explore calories. In this instructional activity about calories, students practice counting and recording calories. Students use a sample Calorie Calculation Chart to record how many calories consumed in one day. Students do an...