Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Driving Currents

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars conduct a variety of investigations to see how water, heat, and salinity affect the flow of the world's ocean currents,as well as, explore many factors that affect the flow of the world's ocean currents. They also describe...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Secret Codes

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students practice writing and decoding secret messages before discussing DNA and its role as a code for making proteins. They translate DNA into RNA and identify the sequence of amino acids to find a secret message. An interactive...
Worksheet
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Paper Internet Scavenger Hunt

For Students 5th - 8th
In this science learning exercise, students conduct Internet research to answer 15 questions about the history and process of papermaking. They also write an essay explaining how to make paper.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bones

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
In this bones worksheet, students list and describe the functions of bones and give examples for each. Then they compare and contrast the microscopic structure of compact and spongy bone. Students also list the types of fractures and the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Breathing is Essential to Life

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students explore the job of the lungs. In this Human Body lesson plan, students participate in five activities in order to develop a better understanding of the lungs. Each of the activities relates to how the lungs help us breathe and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Gold Mine

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students investigate gold. In this gold panning lesson, students demonstrate the process of mining through an experiment using two boxes of sand. Students design a safe way to mine gold.
Lesson Plan
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Kernel Power" Ethanol Fuel from Corn

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students study why corn is a biodegradable, renewable resource.  In this ethanol lesson students build models and observe a chemical reaction.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Name that Wind

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students study wind and the direction terms related to wind. In this meteorology lesson plan, students learn about the wind directions by completing a wind direction activity where kids locate cones marked with the specific wind...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Layering the Soil

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students study and classify soil. For this soil science lesson, students classify soil by texture and size and study soil horizons. Students label the soil types with their specific soil horizon and learn about permafrost. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Storm Watch: Knowing What To Do

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students study the different types of weather and how storms form.  In this weather lesson students make their own "tornado in a bottle" and create brochures.
Lesson Plan
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Purification of Water

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students study the process of water purification and explain why it was important to treat it.  In this water purification activity students purify drinking water and explain the factors that affect water quality. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Diffusion Across a Selectively Permeable Membrane

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students investigate how water passes through cell membranes. In this biology lesson, students differentiate osmosis and diffusion. They illustrate the movement of water in both processes.
Lesson Plan
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Dragon Genetics Lab-Principles of Mendelian Genetics

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students study genetic traits using popsicle sticks as chromosomes. In this biology lesson, students explain how traits are inherited from parents. They differentiate dominant and recessive genes.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Going in Cycles: The Life of an Aluminum Can

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Students investigate the manufacture of aluminum cans and consider the energy and resources saved when the cans are made from recycled material. They explore the concept of closed-loop recycling using charts, worksheets and discussion.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Food Safety Team at Restaurants

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers study who is involved in processing and keeping the food safe in dining out situations. They examine the procedures restaurants take for cleanliness and safety while identifying the role of the Food Code in restaurant...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ecosystems: What Are They and How Do They Work?

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students explore the characteristics of major ecosystems, the interactions of the organisms within the systems, and the effects of humans on the system. Both living and non-living components are examined in this five lesson unit.
Lesson Plan
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Matter Unit

For Teachers 8th - 9th
Students create products from studying about matter that include: Make a "T" chart with matter and non matter items. Write a poem, song, or rap about matter. Five vocabulary words from the chapter must be included in the poem.
Lesson Plan
National First Ladies' Library

Eli Whitney: A Top Ten Inventor?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students conduct research and present their findings in a persuasive manner. Then they work in groups to enhance the development of cooperative work skills. Students also present their findings through persuasive skills in writing and/or...
Lesson Plan
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Probes, Exploration and Application

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students examine the benefits of the space program to our life on earth.  In this space exploration lesson students participate in a lab, answer questions and study radar mapping. 
Lesson Plan
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Agriculture Careers

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students study the careers available in the agricultural field. In this agriculture field instructional activity, students study the jobs required to getting a food product into someone's kitchen. Students select an agriculture career...
Lesson Plan
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Mythbusters

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders watch an episode of Mythbusters and answer questions that arise in the video about the scientific process. In this Mythbusters lesson plan, 8th graders complete a scientific investigation based on the video.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mushrooms Can Save the World

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students use mushrooms to solve problems. In this environmental lesson, students study how fungi have been used to combat environmental problems. Students design strategies that employ mushrooms to combat other environmental challenges.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Are You Getting Thirsty?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars study droughts and how they affect communities and coastal ecosystems.  In this ecosystems lesson students use data to examine drought conditions in certain areas. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Bioluminescent Gallery

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students examine the different types of luminescence in deep sea organisms. In this bioluminescence instructional activity, students investigate how color and light aide deep ocean organisms by describing the characteristics of the...