Cornell University
Study Soil
What's in soil? Young scientists study the pH levels of soil from their school yard. They observe the land and area the soil came from to decide if location has anything to do with acidity level.
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.
Curated OER
Urban Life: What Lives in Our Schoolyard?
Students research living organisms by exploring their school grounds. In this microscopic observation activity, students gather materials, insects, and objects from their playground and schoolyard and bring them into class. Students...
Curated OER
Living or Non-Living
Students examine living and non-living things. In this life science instructional activity, students are given a group of objects and discuss if they are living or non-living. Students identify and list characteristics of living things.
Curated OER
The Science of Respiration and Blood Circulation
Fifth graders study how respiration and circulation are connected. In this respiratory lesson students complete several activities to better understand heart rate and carbon dioxide in the body.
Curated OER
Making Models of the Solar System
Students make several models of the solar system to learn the positions of the planets in the solar system as well as relative distances and sizes. Creation of these models will help them identify the planets by size, shape, color,...
Curated OER
Soft Sculpture Birds
Art can mimic life, and animals are always interesting subjects. Learners create large soft sculptures (stuffed) birds using paper, paint, and other basic collage materials. They view images of birds, and discuss bird traits and shapes....
University of Minnesota
Your Incredible Memory
Test the efficiency of your memory! Scholars test each other's memory as they explore factors that affect memory retrieval. Through experimental analysis, they discover there are different types of memory, which has an impact on the...
National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network
Gelatin Microfluidics
Micro what? Analyze microfluidics as an application in the medical community. A lab investigation highlights the importance of channel design in biotechnology. Learners modify channels and observe the behavior of the flow of the fluids.
Curated OER
Web of Life Game
Students participate in a web of life game. After reviewing new vocabulary, they play each round of the game and discuss the changes that occured in the last round. They are to survive in the game as long as possible given the...
Curated OER
Applied Science-Science and Math Lab
Learners explore magnification. In this scientific observation skills lesson, students observe sea life items and draw pictures of what they observe. Learners predict which lens will have the strongest magnification when given three...
Curated OER
Marine Life: Whales
Sixth graders delve into a study of whales. In this biology lesson plan, 6th graders fill in crossword puzzle utilizing vocabulary generated from the comparing and contrasting of common- and less common-place objects.
Curated OER
Going in Cycles: The Life of an Aluminum Can
Students explore the life cycle of aluminum cans. In this recycling lesson, students review the manufacturing process and how to make a closed loop cycle. Students also have the opportunity to present what they've learned to others...
Curated OER
Life Cycle of Brassica Plants: Planting Seeds
Students explore botany by participating in a calendar class activity. In this plant observation lesson, students examine a diagram of a Brassica plant and identify its anatomy before planting their own seeds and viewing the changes over...
Curated OER
Saving Humpty Dumpty;Recycling, Environmental Science, Math, Ecology, Athletic Shoes
Students describe how shoe design, manufacturing, retailing, consumer use, and disposal impact environments and societies. They discuss ways to reduce, reuse, or recycle resources in the life-cycle for a shoe product.
Curated OER
Grow, Grow, Grow
Students listen to literature selection, describe life cycle of silkworm, discuss what they know about growth in living things, observe silkworms for one week and record observations in science journals, and review stages of growth.
Curated OER
The Great MPA Debate
Students study the 'Marine Protected Areas' process. In this ocean lesson students work in groups, conduct research and present it to the class.
Curated OER
See how They Grow: Butterfly
Students view butterflies and participate in a butterfly activity to learn needed vocabulary. In this butterfly life cycle lesson, students access prior knowledge of butterflies. Students listen to a butterfly life cycle book. Students...
Curated OER
The Scientists’ Way
Learners summarize the steps of the scientific method. In this life science lesson, students explain the importance of varying only one variable at a time. They analyze possible flaws in their experiment.
Curated OER
Organisms – Their Needs
Students compare and contrast different organisms characteristics. In this life science lesson, students design an experiment about plants and animals needs. They collect data and write their conclusion about the experiment.
Curated OER
Trash Traits: Marine Debris, Litter, Ecology, Oceans
Young scholars perform experiments to examine whether trash can float, blow around, or wash away. The effects of these characteristics on the presence of marine debris in the environment are then discussed.
Curated OER
Temperate Forest : Pacific Spirit Field Trip
Students examine nurse logs with hand lenses and identify animals. In this ecosystem lesson plan, students gain understanding of the rainforest by studying nurse logs. Students become familiar with vocabulary through their study of...
Curated OER
Designing a Germination Experiment
Students explore botany by participating in a seed experiment. In this plant nutrition lesson plan, students define several science experiment vocabulary terms like observation, treatment, and replicate. Students utilize soaked seeds in...
Curated OER
Highways of Life
Students explore the circulatory system. They participate in media activities to explore blood flow and identify the parts of the circulatory sytem. Students create a model of the circulatory system.