Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring With Photograms

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students observe the interaction between energy absorbed, reflected or transmitted through an object in a photochemical process with a classroom demonstration.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Carbon Adventures Game

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders examine the processes and transformations that occur in carbon pools. They play a game to identify paths taken by carbon through the environment.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Determination of Phosphates

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Young scholars engage in a laboratory lesson in order to increase understanding of the impact of phosphates at the chemical and ecological levels. The lab exercise is completed with the goal of getting them to predict the outcomes and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mystery Polymers

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine how some natural substances are polymers.  In this polymer lesson students complete a lab and give examples of a physical change. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fallout!

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers plot the locations of fallout from two disasters that polluted much of the world's air. They plot the ash fallout from the 1980 Mt. St. Helen's eruption to see what the wind patterns in the United States look like overall....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Where My Peeps At?

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students conduct a series of activity that demonstrates Charles' and Boyle's Law. In this chemistry lesson plan, students determine the relationship among pressure, volume and temperature. They solve problems using mathematical...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Making Paper

For Teachers K - 4th
Learners explore how natural earth materials are processed into a human-made product. They simulate a manufacturing process by making paper. Students review the importance of recycling in preserving our natural earth resources.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Blood, I Presume?

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Learners explain the value of blood in trials.  In this DNA instructional activity students work together to collect and share information and ideas that they come up with after learning how to distinguish blood from other...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dissolving Salt

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders, in groups, complete an experiment/activity in which they dissolve salt in a cup of hot water and then observe what happens as the water evaporates over the next few weeks.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Interactive Periodic Table of the Elements

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers study the different types of metals.  In this investigative instructional activity students watch a demonstration on the effects of temperature on atoms and take a tour through baone matter.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Energy Defined

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders complete activities to study the sources of energy and forms. In this energy lesson, 4th graders discuss the origin of energy and define it. Students participate in several experiments to further study energy including a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Urban Impact on Chollas Creek (California): A Field Study

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students, in groups, take samples from a creek and keep a field journal on their samples. They also perform tests on their samples.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Let's Settle It!

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students investigate and record data about sedimentation rates. They make a sedimentation bottle using aquarium gravel, sand and potting soil. They discuss the sedimentation rates that they see in their bottles.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Awful Eight Lesson Plan

For Teachers 6th - 8th
The pupils list major air pollutants, what causes them, and their effects on people and the environment. Students list ways they can prevent or reduce the types of air pollution mentioned in the play.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sea Ice Research

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students study sea ice and its importance in climate and climate change. They discuss sea ice as a presence of a food source for marine animals in the arctic and complete a lab activity. After completing the lab, they watch a video...
Lesson Plan
Virginia Department of Education

Electricity and Magnetism

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Take charge of your class and provide them with an electrical experience! Individuals investigate the basic principles of electricity and magnetism by creating a model to test electric current and the amount of electricity generated....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lady Liberty

For Teachers 4th - 6th
If you're looking for a fantastic cross-curricular lesson on the Statue of Liberty, then this lesson is for you! Learners watch a Reading Rainbow episode which focuses on the Statue, then gather facts about the creation, construction,...
Activity
Perkins School for the Blind

Conservation of Mass

For Teachers 5th - 12th
How do you teach a student with visual impairments about the conservation of mass? You use tactile models that represent the theoretical concept. Baking soda and vinegar are used to add gas to a deflated balloon. Learners will feel the...
PPT
Curated OER

Proteins

For Teachers 10th - 12th
As long as you have some support information to answer questions that may come up from students, this is an excellent PowerPoint to cover almost all aspects of protein structure and ionization. The sequence of slides has great...
PPT
Curated OER

Exothermic vs. Endothermic

For Teachers 10th
The PowerPoint opens with video footage of the decomposition of nitrogen triiodide and then explains it with diagrams. Graphs of exothermic and endothermic reactions are exhibited, as well as one for the effect of a catalyst on reaction...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Urban Heat Islands: An Introduction to Energy Transfer and Transformation

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Elementary school physical scientists explore kinetic mechanical energy by dropping a golf ball on different surfaces. They discuss how human made materials might react to light differently from nature made materials. This lesson plan...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Unknown Element Project

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students work with a partner to determine the identity of an unknown element based on given descriptions. Groups use classroom textbooks, encyclopedias, and science internet sites to identify their unknown element then write a report as...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Convection Activities

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students conduct a series of hands-on activities to demonstrate that heated air expands and that warm air rises because it is less dense.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Energy Source

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders work in groups. They are given one type of energy to research. Students look through the different magazines or newspapers to identify pictures that show their type of energy. Students glue their pictures to the...