Curated OER
Friendly Letter Writing and Sentence Structure
Explore communication through writing by analyzing individual sentences with young writers. They practice writing compound sentences and identifying sentence fragments. The next step has them learn the five parts of a friendly letter....
Berkshire Museum
Backyard Rocks
You don't have to travel far to learn about rocks, just step outside, pick up a stone, and begin investigating. After taking a class walk around the school grounds collecting rocks, young scientists practice their skills of observation...
Pulitzer Center
Writing About the "Arab Spring"
An information-rich resource, this webpage will provide your class with all the information they need to explore a relevant real-world and little understood topic: the Middle East and the people's revolutions that shook it in the spring...
Curated OER
Writing Example Paragraphs
Sixth graders explore language arts by writing basic paragraphs. In this writing techniques lesson, 6th graders define an "example" paragraph and discuss techniques to prove a point in one paragraph. Students practice writing their own...
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How To Grow Red Seaweed
Students explore ocean biology by participating in a plant growing activity. In this seaweed lesson, students identify the importance and uses of seaweed in the ocean and examine different seaweed samples. Students utilize an aquarium,...
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Geologist and Core Sampling
Third graders observe a cupcake and attempt to answer each question on the observation page. They write three sentences that explains how a geologist takes core samples of the earth's surface. Students make sketches and write...
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Dental Chemistry Analogy
After taking in background information on teeth, marble, eggshell, and fluoride, chemistry aces design an experiment. Their goal is to demonstrate whether or not fluoride has a similar effect on marble or eggshell as it does on tooth...
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Irish Eyes: Taking a Look at Local Landscape
Direct your class’s attention to the elements that make their community unique. After examining sample travel brochures, groups select something from their community to use as the subject, and then research, create, and publish a...
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Statistical Sampling
Students collect data in the field and analyze it in class using tables and graphs to determine how many observations of a phenomenon are necessary to draw valid conclusions.
Curated OER
Plastic Bag Pond
Young scholars investigate the pond water from a local water source. They collect the pond water from the bottom or near vegetation in order to obtain the best sample possible. Then they use microscopes in class in order to examine the...
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Lead Detection
Young scholars hypothesize whether the soil sample may have lead contamination and why. They describe what they see happening with the soil samples and the corresponding swabs. Pupils write a brief description of what they observe as the...
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Investigating Planetary Soils
Students study soil characteristics and identify properties of soils from different parts of the solar system. In this soil lesson students divide into groups, read soil descriptions, test and record soil samples.
Curated OER
Column Chromatography
Students research the mechanics of liquid chromatography. In this technology instructional activity, students calculate the concentration of unknown samples. They write a report about their research and lab results.
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Introduction to Trees and Wood
Students examine samples from various types of trees. In this trees and wood lesson plan, students review The Giving Tree and complete a KWL chart on trees. Students brainstorm what we get from trees and view wood samples with hand...
Curated OER
Making Clean Water
Students examine water samples assess the quality of each sample by examining the color/clarity, smell, pH, etc. of each Then they filter the water samples once and assess water quality a second time. finally they filter the samples a...
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A Bit of Engineering
Students discuss the drilling process. In this engineering lesson, students get into small groups and drill their own core samples in a sandwich using a plastic tubing, a jumbo straw, a slim straw and a offee stirrer predicting which...
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Observing and Questioning
Third graders investigate different types of soil. In this soil lesson, 3rd graders compare various soil samples. They work hands-on with their peers to find the differences and similarities.
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Crystal Painting
Students investigate crystalline solids. In this crystals lesson plan, students observe samples of natural crystals and compare and contrast each. They draw pictures with crayons and then paint over their picture using crystalline solids...
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What About Cantaloupes?
Second graders investigate the physical properties of cantaloupe using their senses. In this life science lesson, 2nd graders estimate the weight of their sample. They get it's actual weight and compare it with their estimate.
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Oobleck
Students explore "matter." In this literacy and three states of matter lesson plan, students listen to Bartholomew and the Oobleck by Dr. Seuss, then work in groups to explore "oobleck" (cornstarch and water mixture) with their five...
Curated OER
Are You Ready to Rock?
Second graders investigate rock samples using magnifying class. In this earth science lesson, 2nd graders identify the physical properties and describe them verbally with their partners. They compare their findings with the class.
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Geo Jammin' By DeSign - Day 5, Lesson 25: Geo Jungle
Students search the school grounds for examples of symmetry in nature. They bring examples back to the classroom and write about them.
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This is Your Rock, This is My Rock
Students study the identity of rocks and minerals that can be found in Utah. They examine the characteristics that identify the rocks and minerals by using a hand lens and write them down on an index card. They role play as detectives by...
Curated OER
Lead Extraction
Students investigate one method used in the detection of lead in the soil. They use a Lead Check Soil Kit to safely obtain results in 30 minutes or less in levels of 400 ppm or above. In addition, they write a brief description of what...