Curated OER
Relative Age Dating
Modeling dough and paper cutouts in science class? Learn about how relative age dating concepts, like the Law of Superposition and cross-cutting relationships, can be used to describe the formation of sedimentary layers.
Center for Learning in Action
Investigating Physical and Chemical Changes
Super scientists visit ten stations to predict, observe, and draw conclusions about the physical and chemical changes that occur when different states of matter—liquid, solid, and gas—are placed under a variety of conditions. To...
Science Matters
Ring of Fire
Over a period of 35 years, earthquakes and volcanoes combined only accounted for 1.5 percent of the deaths from natural disasters in the United States. The 15th lesson in a 20-part series connects the locations of earthquakes and...
Chicago Botanic Garden
Historical Climate Cycles
Scientists use ice core samples to obtain temperatures of the earth from 400,000 years ago! The third of five lessons instructs pupils to interpret historical climate data to see changes over time. In part I, participants interpret...
DiscoverE
Puff Mobiles
You've probably heard of solar-powered cars, but what about wind-powered cars? Scholars build cars that can travel at least six feet. They can only use their breath to move the car—so, obviously, a sail might be a good feature for the...
August House
The Magic Pot
The Magic Pot by Patricia Coombs is the theme of this multidisciplinary lesson plan. Early readers first take part in a read aloud and grand conversation about the story's details. Then, they get to work practicing their skills in...
Curated OER
My Planet Earth
The earth is a delicate and fragile thing; Why not engage your class in a craft project that will make them aware of our environment? Earth Day is celebrated as recycled materials are used to create earth window hangings. Crayons are...
National Science Teachers Association
Paper Car Crash Design
High school physical scientists collide with motion. They work in pairs to design a paper car that will protect a raw egg during a head-on collision. Measurements of distance traveled, time of run, vehicle specs, and photo gate flags are...
NOAA
Make Your Own Volcano!
Make a volcano erupt in your own classroom! Young scientists use household and craft materials to model and simulate the eruption of a volcano.
Curated OER
Density of Liquids
Young scholars apply knowledge about density of solids from previous experimentation to this activity which they investigate the density of liquids. They work in small groups to mix water and syrup, and water and oil to see what occurs....
Curated OER
Chemical Equilibrium
Middle schoolers explore Le Chatelier's Principle. In this lesson about chemical equilibrium, students do an experiment with several different activities . Middle schoolers observe as they do the experiments and understand the outcome....
Curated OER
The Floating Golf Ball
Students explore density by floating golf balls. They explore having their golf balls float halfway in a container of water and discuss density and its realtionship to where the golf balls are floating. After adding food coloring, they...
Curated OER
Earth Science: The Structure of the Earth
Students identify and complete activities about the structure of the Earth. For this Earth structure lesson, students view a Powerpoint about the Earth's layers and complete a diagram. students compare temperatures in the Earth's layers...
Curated OER
Solids, Liquids, and Gases
Learners explore solids, liquids, and gasses and categorize and describe the three states of matter. In this chemistry lesson, students categorize items as solid, liquid, or gas based on the definitions given by the teacher. Learners...
Curated OER
It's All in the Genes
Twelfth graders investigate the inheritance of traits through several hands-on activities that illustrate the transmission of genetic characteristics. Students study advanced topics including multiple alleles, polygenic traits,...
Curated OER
Hurricane Katrina's Floods
In this ecology worksheet, students analyze and interpret flood maps of Hurricane Katrina and complete 8 short answer questions about them.
Curated OER
The Five Finger Exercise
Students understnad the importance of keeping our rivers and streams pollution free by remembering the major rivers of northeast Kansas. The see how the rivers contain particles of every substance that drains into them.
Curated OER
Play Doh Map of Your State
Students create a state map using Playdoh. In this hands-on state geography lesson, students work in groups to form a three-dimensional map of their state using Playdoh made at home following a (given) recipe. Students use four colors...
Curated OER
Pine Cone Owls
Students create pine cone owls. In this visual arts lesson, students use a pine cone, acorns, glue, and feathers to create an owl pine cone. Students may use paint to decorate their project.
Curated OER
Kindness Graffiti Wall
Students discuss acts of kindness. In this character education lesson plan, students use a large sheet of poster paper, tempera paint, and markers to create a graffiti wall. Students write down their ideas of kindness and share their...
Curated OER
Our Sky Clock
Students explore space science by completing a worksheet in class. In this astronomy lesson, students discuss and identify star patterns in the night sky and relate these patterns to the approximate time they appear. Students complete an...
Curated OER
Family Heritage Cookbook
Learners compare favorite family recipes. In this cultural diversity lesson, students interview family members and record favorite recipes. Learners examine cultural diversity through favorite foods.
Curated OER
The Great Archeological Dig
Students explore biology by identifying a diagram. In this cell anatomy instructional activity, students read a story about archeology and conduct a fictitious archeology dig in class in which they search for animal cells. Students...
Curated OER
Underground Pollution
Fourth graders construct their own aquifer. They discover how water travels underwater and identifies sources of underground pollution. They record their observations and discuss the results.