California Academy of Science
Color Vision Genetics Evolution Simulation
At one point, all mammals carried only two color receptors, but now most humans carry three. An informative presentation and hands-on activity demonstrate how this evolved through genetics. By participating in the activity, pupils...
Berkshire Museum
Camouflage!: Collecting Data and Concealing Color
Help young scholars see the important role camouflage plays in the survival of animals with a fun science lesson. Starting with an outdoor activity, children take on the role of hungry birds as they search for worms represented by...
Curated OER
Soft Sculpture Birds
Art can mimic life, and animals are always interesting subjects. Learners create large soft sculptures (stuffed) birds using paper, paint, and other basic collage materials. They view images of birds, and discuss bird traits and shapes....
John Lentine
Butterflies and Bugs
Symmetry, line, shape, art, and math are all connected through a fun hands-on craft. Included are instructions to a classic activity, where learners create butterflies to show symmetry in nature and then discuss symmetry in math. It is...
Curated OER
Ocean Exploration: Shapes and Patterns Under the Sea
So many shapes in our vast oceans. Young explorers can discover new shapes in a variety of ways in this lesson. One way is having free exploration with a pattern shape kit handed out by the teacher. Another is by viewing a...
Curated OER
Applied Science - Science and Math (K) Lab
In this shape lesson plan, learners cut out tangram shapes and create different pictures with them. They look at 3-D shapes as well. There is a nice, hands-on component built into this lesson plan.
Curated OER
Patterns
Students create and extend patterns. In this pattern lesson, students learn to identify patterns using multiple senses. Students work at centers in small groups to explore and extend their understanding of patterns.
Curated OER
Sampling Rocks
Here is a geology instructional activity which invites learners to explore a variety of rocks. They find rocks in the schoolyard and classify them according to size, color, and weight, then read the book Everybody Needs a Rock. Good...
Center for Learning in Action
Density
Explore the concept of density within states of matter—gases, liquids, and solids—through a group experiment in which young scientists test objects' texture, color, weight, size, and ability to sink or float.
American Museum of Natural History
What's This? Colorful Creatures
An online resource shows learners some species that are very good at using their camouflage as well as other ways species use their coloring for survival. Interactive and digital, the lesson is perfect as a remote learning resource.
Curated OER
What is It? Susie Sees!
Students explore the five senses. In this cross curriculum five senses lesson, students view an "I Can See Colors" PowerPoint presentation and sort items by color and shape. Students mix primary color paints to create secondary...
Curated OER
A Matter of Pattern
Students will create and predict patterns formed when making paper snowflakes. Students will construct snowflakes understanding that patterns may be predicted based on observation.
Curated OER
Ocean Life
Third graders create an ocean fish environment. In this ocean life activity, 3rd graders create an ocean environment from clay. Students paint their sculptures with realistic colors emphasizing contrast, texture, and patterns.
Resources for Educators
Math & Science Connection
Whether you're using a collection of Dr. Seuss books to teach basic math skills like counting, adding, and subtracting, or exploring the different states of matter by melting a crayon with a hairdryer, a series...
Curated OER
Using Color as Defense
Students explore mimicry and crypsis, participate in hands-on predator-prey activity, and practice calculating averages and graph results in histogram.
Curated OER
Color Dots 2
Students develop simple observations. They observe bleeding of colored inks with water, to understand mixtures, and to make generalized inferences from their observations.
Center for Learning in Action
Properties of Balls
Enhance your states of matter lessons with a hands-on science investigation that compares six different balls' color, texture, size, weight, ability to bounce, and buoyancy.
Center for Learning in Action
Introduction to the States of Matter
Liquids, gases, and solids are the states of matter in which scholars investigate in a lesson plan that offers in-depth information and engaging activities that look into the three states and the changes their properties make when mixed...
Curated OER
Comparing and Contrasting
Students practice compare and contrast skills. In this science and language development lesson, students complete a T chart generating traits of a snail and a clam. Students complete a related worksheet.
American Museum of Natural History
All About Horses
Horses come in all shapes and sizes, but all belong to the same species. Young scholars explore the different traits and connect the information to genetic modification. The interactive gives them the option to read about 18 different...
NOAA
Motion from the Ocean
Create a fish mobile using cardboard and string to hang in the classroom while studying ocean life. Each printable requires pupils to cut out two of the same fish to create consistency on the front and back.
Space Race
Sensory Detectives
Test your learners' sensory awareness with three hands-on activities that ask pupils to use their other senses to identify and describe everyday objects hidden from sight.
Curated OER
Pattern Using Unit Cells
Students explore the pattern of the unit cell. In this science lesson, students color the unit cells on a worksheet and create a pattern using unit cells.
Curated OER
Flipping Butterflies: Triadic Colors and Symmetry
Second graders create symmetrical butterfly wings. In this symmetry lesson, 2nd graders observe butterfly wings and create their own. They make both sides symmetrical and mix primary colors to make secondary colors.