Curated OER
Middle Ages Cross Curriculum Project
Middle schoolers complete several projects on the Middle Ages. In this world history lesson, students complete language arts, social studies, math, and science projects. Some of these include: comparing a teenager's life now to that in...
American Chemical Society
Changing State: Evaporation
Why do experiments require a control? Guide scholars through designing an experiment to see what they can do to evaporate water faster with a lesson that stresses the importance of controlling all variables. The second activity...
LABScI
DNA Structure: Gumdrop Modeling
DNA molecules hold the secrets that make us unique. The fourth of 12 lessons explores the structure of DNA by building candy models. After building the models, young scientists break their models to begin the process of DNA replication....
American Chemical Society
Temperature and the Rate of a Chemical Reaction
Putting glow sticks in the freezer makes them last longer, but why is that? Lesson focuses on how temperature impacts the rate of a chemical reaction. It begins with a teacher demonstration, then scholars design their own experiments...
Curated OER
Snow Globe Family
Kindergartners sequence the parts of a story using a snow globe as a setting. They will listen to Snow Globe Family and retell the parts of the story noting the beginning, the middle, and the end. Then they will make their own snow...
Cornell University
Predicting Chemical Reactions
Prove the Law of Conservation of Mass through a lab investigation. A well-designed lesson asks groups to combine materials and monitor indicators for chemical reactions. Measuring the mass of the reactants and products allows individuals...
National Gardening Association
Migration Mishaps
Elementary ecologists pretend to be migratory hummingbirds. They fly between wintering and nesting grounds, trying to reach a habitat haven. In a musical-chair fashion, some birds will miss out, and are removed from the game. To further...
Curated OER
Little Red Hen
Learners thresh wheat. For this comprehension and comparison lesson, students read the Little Red Hen and retell the story based on the beginning, middle and end. Learners get a wheat stem, predict the number of seeds in their seed head,...
Curated OER
Winogradsky in a Bottle: Beginning a Winogradsky Column
Students study changes in the environment using a microscale experiment. In this environmental science lesson, students construct a modified "Winogradsky Column" to observe bacteria activities. They record observations and formulate a...
Polar Trec
Mini-Ocean Bathymetric Mapping Research Cruise
Middle or high schoolers transform into oceanographers in a week-long simulation. To begin, each group follows directions to create a model of the ocean floor with specified features. Next, the groups prepare to set sail on a research...
Curated OER
Insects
It's a fact: kids love bugs! With this instructional activity, young learners explore reading informational texts and conducting research while learning about their favorite insects. Spark learners' interest by reading a book about one...
Curated OER
DNA from the Beginning Study Guide
Students complete a study guide using a website which is an animated primer on DNA, genes, and heredity. The Web site is organized around key concepts. The web links and study guide are included.
SeaWorld
Marvelous Manatees
Here is an interesting lesson on the manatee for your upper graders or middle schoolers. A game is played where learners work together to complete a successful manatee migration. It's a board game, and all of the game components are...
Curated OER
Dear Peter Rabbit
Write dear old Peter Rabbit a letter with this lesson plan. First, youngsters listen to the story Peter Rabbit and analyze the story elements. Then they complete a story map graphic organizer in order to write a letter to...
Curated OER
Hurricane!
Students model the effects of wind speed and water depth on the height of waves during a hurricane. For this meteorology lesson, students use a flexible straw and a 9X 13 baking dish to measure the differences in wave...
Curated OER
Understanding Oceans
Students investigate how ocean currents affect our world. For this ocean currents lesson, students perform an experiment to show how cold water is near the poles and warm water is near the equator. Students use water, food coloring,...
Curated OER
Preserving Buds and Blooms
Students learn how to preserve flower buds and blooms. In this gardening lesson, students explore the methods of air drying, using drying agents, and pressing plants to preserve them.
Curated OER
Making Recycled Paper
Students explore the advantages of recycling paper. In this environmental lesson plan, students produce recycled paper by ripping up paper and putting it into a blender with water to create a mixture. Students use their recycled paper to...
Curated OER
Kansas Crops: From Seeds to Food
First graders explore U.S. geography by researching food production. In this agriculture activity, 1st graders identify the process of crops from a seed to a plate and discuss the importance of farmers in the production of such crops....
Curated OER
Adopt a Manatee
First graders engage in a writing activity about manatees and use e-mail to contact representatives about important issues. This would be a very exciting, and meaningful lesson for a first grade writer!
Curated OER
Endangered Species Animal Masks
Students research endangered animals. In this animal science lesson, students visit suggested websites to learn more about endangered animals and create animal masks. Students need glue, cardstock, string and feathers to construct the...
Curated OER
Building a Biome
Students investigate how plants grow in different biomes. In this biomes lesson plan, students plant sees of impatiens, lima beans and rye seeds in egg cartons. When the plants begin to grow they simulate the assigned biome conditions...
Curated OER
What is the Evidence for Evolution?
Students identify one object that would tell the story of their lives. In groups, they determine what can and cannot be told from objects left behind. After watching a video, they compare and contrast chicken bones to human bones. To...
Curated OER
Rate Determining Step and Catalysts
Students investigate the rate determining step in a chemical reaction and how catalysts effect reactions. In this rate determining step and catalyst lesson, students work in groups to perform 5 tasks. They rotate each task and time how...