Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hardware Sort

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students work in groups to sort and classify a variety of hardware materials commonly found in the store. Students discuss attributes and explain their reasoning for different classifications.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Not Just a Fish Tank

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students learn about a specific species of fish, study the effects of outside substances on the reproductive development of a fish, and explore the process of a wastewater treatment facility.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Anaconda

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students examine basic facts about the anaconda. They discuss the length of an anaconda, estimate the length of 33 feet, compare their estimate to the actual length, and decorate the paper snake with colored scales.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

We're All In This Together

For Teachers Pre-K - 2nd
Students discover what a coral reef is and the animals that live there. In this ecosystem lesson, students act out a story with ocean organisms. They answer questions that show the interdependency of the sea animals. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Aquarium Bill of Rights

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners review the Bill of Rights on Aquademics and list the rights that are guaranteed to United States citizens. In groups, they role play the role of important leaders whose rules would make a difference for the lives of fish in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Meet an Aquatic Snail

For Teachers K
Students explore aquatic snails. In this life science instructional activity, students create a class list of questions about aquatic snails and begin to observe aquatic snails in the classroom. Students record observations.
Lesson Plan
Sea World

Whales

For Teachers K - 3rd
A whale of a lesson is sure to intrigue your elementary oceanographers! Learn about the mammals of the sea with a series of activities about whales, dolphins, and porpoises. Kids complete worksheets about the anatomy of a whale, create a...
Lesson Plan
National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network

Making a Liquid Crystal Thermometer

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Introduce your classes to a fourth state of matter! Liquid crystals have a colorful sheen that changes based on different physical factors. Learners use this information to create a liquid crystal thermometer where the color of the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sheffield Island Adaptation Activity

For Teachers 6th - 8th
You don't have to visit The Maritime Aquarium to use this plan, but you would need to find a location where a variety of bird species live, re-write the activity worksheet to incorporate the local species, and purchase field guides for...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Classroom Aquarium

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students turn their classroom into a giant aquarium. They work together to decorate the bullentin boards, windows, desks and computers into an aquarium setting. They dress in fish costumes to go along with the theme, while focusing on...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Reading: Hoover: A Famous Seal

For Students 3rd - 4th
In this reading comprehension worksheet, students read a one page true account of people adopting a seal. Students read the definitions of the bold face words in the story. Students answer 8 multiple choice questions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Wonders

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students explore hydrology concepts. In this environment and biology lesson, students identify and describe macroinvertebrates using a variety of pictures and resources. Students observe and write about a classroom aquarium in which...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Raising Trout

For Teachers 6th - 7th
Young scholars investigate the life cycles of fish as they observe a trout's life in class.  In this fish life lesson, students create a proper habitat in a fish tank for the trout eggs to spawn and thrive for several weeks....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Color in the Garden

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders study color in a garden environment. For this color lesson, 3rd graders explore the colors of living and nonliving elements within a garden environment. Resources are provided.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Phytoplankton and Ocean Color

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders identify function of phytoplankton in the biospere by conducting experiments and simulations and reading for information. They detect the presence of phytoplankton in bodies of water by examining ocean in satellite images...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

environment: Fresh and Saltwater Habitats

For Teachers 1st - 4th
Students compare and contrast fresh and salt water coastal environments. After describing how sea animals adapt to their habitats, they design a variety of sea creatures and explain how the adaptations aid in the animals' survival. ...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Brine Shrimp Hatching Experiment

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students hatch brine shrimp in a classroom experiment. In this hatching brine shrimp lesson, students participate in two-week lab in which they study how brine shrimp hatch under different conditions. They record data about the control...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"Using Cichlids To Demonstrate the Effects of Human Activity On Ecosystems"

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Young scholars explore the freshwater ecosystem of Africa's Lake Victoria by creating a freshwater aquarium. They investigate factors affecting the aquarium's ecosystem and conduct lab activities.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Oceans in Glass: The Great White Shark Experiment

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students use the Internet to study great white sharks and answer questions.  For this ocean lesson students create and produce a website that summarizes the information they obtained in their research. 
Worksheet
Curated OER

What Lives in Water: Pre and Post Activities

For Students 3rd - 5th
In this multiple choice instructional activity, students answer questions about fish and how fish live. After visiting the aquarium, students chart the different creatures they see during their visit and solve mathematical equations of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"Pennsylvania Watersheds, Many Ways to the Sea"

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students trace a molecule of water through the water cycle including each of its three loops. They describe why evapotranspiration demands the largest portion of total precipitation falling on a forested watershed.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Seeing the Cell as a System

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers explain how the components of a cell operate as a system. Students examine a bicycle and find out if parts were arranged differently, could the system still be carried out. They look at cells as well and see what...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Oceans: A Sensory Haiku

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students create an ocean haiku. In this haiku instructional activity, students use their five senses to write a haiku. Students watch videos about the ocean, make a sensory portrait, and create a class haiku.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Create a Music Carnival

For Teachers 2nd
This outstanding lesson will encourage your students to combine their knowledge of rhythm, pitch, tone and color with their imaginations to create original compositions about animals. They create a music carnival to "Peter and the Wolf"...