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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...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Deep Convective Clouds

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students observe clouds. In this deep convective clouds lesson plan, students analyze cloud data recorded over one month and draw conclusions based on results.  Students predict "Thunderstorm Season" and prepare to defend their decision...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Can We Learn From the Past?

For Teachers 7th - 11th
What would future archeologists learn from your scholars' personal belongings? Have them bring in a box of "primary sources" from their home. Discuss the difference between observations and inference, using some of your own items to...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Butterflies, Butterflies, Butterflies

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Transform your class into a butterfly museum! Research different types of butterflies, their habitat, and life cycle. Interactive components such as PowerPoint presentations, Claymation movies, and webpages add pizzaz to the museum...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"Lettuce" Learn About the Water Cycle

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Young scientists investigate the water cycle through a lettuce seed experiment. For this experiment, learners plant lettuce seeds inside of a ziplock bag in order to create a small greenhouse. They observe condensation and precipitation,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

When the Wind Blows Lesson Plan

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Learners read a book and observe the wind and how it affects the environment. They explore what wind does by looking at pictures, reading a book, and by completing an experiment. They will use their own knowledge of the wind and compare...
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Lesson Plan
American Chemical Society

Investigating the Line

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Note that this lesson plan is best paired with the preceding lesson plan in the unit. In that lesson plan, elementary physical scientists observed that the color coating of M&Ms® candies do not mix when dissolved off of the chocolate...
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Lesson Plan
Berkshire Museum

Nature Journaling: Experience the Outdoors Through Writing and Drawing

For Teachers 2nd - 5th Standards
Step into the great outdoors and develop young scientists' skills of observation with a nature journaling lesson. Given a specific focus or goal, children practice making and recording observations of nature through written descriptions...
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Lesson Plan
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University of Wisconsin

Bimodel Botany Bouquet

For Teachers 1st - 12th
Gardeners are given an individual plant specimen from a bouquet of local rain garden plants. They group up by their plant type and then make observations together, name the plant, and introduce it to the rest of the class. You then share...
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Lesson Plan
University of Kentucky

Beneficial Bug Scavenger Hunt

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Many people think of bugs as annoying pests to be squashed, but most insects and spiders are beneficial, eating the actual pests or pollinating plants. After reviewing some of the common bugs in your area (they may differ from those...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

From Light to Dark and Back

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Experiment with light and dark in a series of interactive activities that lead up to reading and writing poetry. Class members have the opportunity to observe their feelings while sitting in the light and dark and to play with shadow...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Summer Machines Activity: How Can We Move This Box of Blocks?

For Teachers Pre-K - K
Students discover there's more than one way to move a heavy load. In this problem solving activity, students use observation and problem-solving skills as they experiment with simple machines in order to transport loads.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson: Weaving Words

For Teachers 6th - 12th
A woven rug depicting birds and cornstalks becomes the inspiration for a lesson on critical thinking and creative writing. Learners analyze the symbolism found in the rug and then compose a descriptive paragraph or poem that embodies the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pollination Power

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders study and examine the structure of a flower.  In this pollination lesson plan, 2nd graders observe pollinators in the garden and dissect a flower. Students then plant strawberry plants in the garden and observe the process...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tomato Exploration

For Teachers K - 2nd
Create tomatoes in 15-20 minutes using this fun and interactive lesson plan! Learners listen to a book about tomatoes (recommendations listed), and focus on the vocabulary word tomato. They count the syllables and practice the plural....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Winter Wonderland Painting

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
The examples of art at the top of this page speak for themselves. Here is a fun and lovely project that gets kids outside to observe how snow falls on trees and how various trees are structured. They use crayons, tempera paint, and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Applied Science - Science and Math Lab 4B

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Learners experiment with the combination of vinegar and baking soda. In this applied science lesson, future scientists compare qualitative and quantitative data collected from their exploration. Then they work together to analyze and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Close Observation: Coins

For Teachers 2nd
Integrate math, science, and speaking/listening with a collaborative hands-on activity. Each group works with a single penny, examining it with the naked eye and recording observations. Repeat using magnifying glasses. Then repeat with a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Investigate Science Using Crayfish

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Young scientists discover the importance of scientific investigation by observing live crayfish. They carefully observe the patterns of crayfish in different environments. Then they discuss their conclusions and define what all living...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Water Cycle (Evaporation, Condensation, Precipitation)

For Teachers 1st - 4th
The 3 steps of the water cycle, evaporation, condensation, and precipitation, are the focus of this instructional activity. After a neat demonstration of rain using hot water, a pie tin, and ice cubes, young scientists observe and...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Human Cheek Cell

For Students 8th - 10th
Get up close and personal with human cells with this lab worksheet. Learners use a microscope to examine their own cheek cells, drawing diagrams of the cells and identifying the parts when they have focused in on a visible specimen....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Amelia the Pigeon: What Am I?

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students investigate photos and images both close and far for different types of information.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Measurement and Variation

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Examine the concept of variation through observation and measurement. Middle schoolers will study a peanut and record any distinguishing characteristics visible as well as sketch their peanuts and describe them in writing. Their peanut...
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Lesson Plan
American Chemical Society

Colors Collide or Combine?

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
As part of a unit investigating the dissolving of M&Ms® candy coating, this lesson examines whether or not the different colors combine. There are no new concepts revealed in this particular lesson, but learners will see that the...