Curated OER
Weather Maps and Prediction
Young meteorologists read basic weather maps by learning about the symbols that are associated with them. This two-day lesson has some excellent demonstrations and activities to get youngsters thinking about the weather in scientific...
Curated OER
Computer Olympics
Young scholars compete to achieve excellence in math facts, writing terms, problem solving, and writing skills on the computer. In this Computer Olympics lesson plan, students practice the skill of drill and practice in order to succeed...
Curated OER
The Basics: Earth Science
Students define terms and watch a segment from a film. In this scientific theory instructional activity students work in small groups and draft a theory that was discussed in the program.
Virginia Department of Education
Hurricanes: An Environmental Concern
Hurricanes, typhoons, and tropical cyclones are the same type of storm, but their names change based on where they happen. Scholars use a computer simulation to learn about hurricanes. Then they hypothesize ideas to prevent hurricanes...
Virginia Department of Education
Predator-Prey Simulation
Do your pupils have the misconception that environmental predators are "bad" and harm smaller creatures? The simulation explains, in detail, the important role predators play in maintaining a stable ecosystem. Through web-based research,...
Physics Classroom
All Work and No Play Lab
Don't let the term, "slotted wood board" detract you from the value of this experiment. Class members tie a string to a cart and, with even horizontal force, drag it up an inclined plane. The objective is to compare the work done with...
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
The Making of the Fittest: Got Lactase? The Co-evolution of Genes and Culture
Got milk? Only two cultures have had it long enough to develop the tolerance of lactose as an adult. Learn how the responsible genes evolved along with the cultures that have been consuming milk. This rich film is supplied with a few...
Safe Drinking Water Foundation
Water Pollution
An introductory lesson to a unit on water pollution, young environmentalists are asked to brainstorm examples of pollutants in water. This lesson will help develop a sense of what water pollution is and where the pollutants come from.
National Wildlife Federation
I Speak for the Polar Bears!
Climate change and weather extremes impact every species, but this lesson focuses on how these changes effect polar bears. After learning about the animal, scholars create maps of snow-ice coverage and examine the yearly variability and...
California Academy of Science
Building Better Buses: Transportation Design Challenges
Scholars learn about a series of three challenges when they design a bus system for a small town. They determine the bus routes and then figure out the best type of fuel to use before considering the cost of going electric. Learners...
Curated OER
Applied Science -Physics (4A) Post Lab
Fourth graders explore the history of electricity. In this electricity instructional activity, 4th graders review the connection between electricity and magnetism. They do a research project on the history of electricity.
Code.org
Algorithms Detour - Minimum Spanning Tree
This optional lesson introduces the class to the idea of a minimum spanning tree. The activity focuses on determining an algorithm that will find the most efficient path in a network to transfer data.
Code.org
The Need for Algorithms
Pairs work through two scenarios that require them to generate an algorithm. The first activity requires pairs to define a common language to use; the second comes with the language. The pairs then must determine how to code the...
Code.org
Practice PT - The Internet and Society
Speaking of the Internet. The culminating lesson for the unit on the Internet challenges pupils to prepare short, two-minute speeches on an issue facing society. The pupils chose from three topics that connect the Internet and...
Curated OER
Talking Trash
Define vocabulary related to global waste. Creative thinkers review and illustrate terms for the Global Garbage Picture Dictionary. They play a vocabulary game in which co-operative skills among players in encouraged. A great way to...
Curated OER
Jumping Frogs - A Lesson on The Scientific Method
Young scholars use origami frogs to experience the scientific method. They define different scientific terms. Also they test a hypothesis and draw conclusions from observations to go through all the steps of the scientific method.
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Cracking the Code
Some interesting reading on the history of barcodes opens this technology lesson plan. Readers find out how engineers contribute, and then they gather into groups to discuss possible improvements to our current UPC barcode system. Know...
Code.org
Sending Numbers
Binary graphing ... bit by bit. Pairs work together to develop a protocol in order to send the points of a graph. One partner sends the points and the other receives them and tries to recreate the graph. The pupils use the rubric to...
Chicago Botanic Garden
Calculating Your Carbon Footprint
Unplugging from technology for one day per week will decrease your carbon footprint—are you up to the challenge? Part two in a series of three allows individuals to explore their personal carbon footprints. By first taking a quiz at home...
Kenan Fellows
Electricity: Sources, Usage, Challenges, and the Future
What does the future of energy look like? Junior engineers collaborate to discover a solution to the global energy crisis during a very hands-on activity. The unit focuses on learning through collaboration to develop a deep understanding...
California Academy of Science
The Heat is On: Cause and Effect and Climate
The higher the number of letters in the final word for the National Spelling Bee, the higher the number of people killed by venomous spiders. Obviously, those two facts correlate, but no causation exists. Scholars view data based on...
Code.org
Practice PT - Encode an Experience
Encoding What I did Last Summer. Class members develop a way to encode a personal experience using a top-down approach to determine components and sub-components of their experience They then pick one portion of the experience and go...
Curated OER
Coming to Terms
Students explore the rainforest. In this environmental instructional activity, students work in small groups to conduct online research of various topics having to do with the rainforest. The groups construct a large poster to illustrate...
Curated OER
The Basics:Life Science
Middle schoolers explore concepts in life science using segments drawn from Discovery Channel. In this life science lesson, students participate in discussions about the food chain. Middle schoolers create a poster to...