Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Food Chains, Food Webs, Biomass Pyramids and Cycle

For Teachers 7th - 10th
In this food chains worksheet, students complete a crossword puzzle by placing 16 terms into the puzzle that match the clues given. Students review food webs, biomass pyramids, and the water cycle.
Lesson Plan
Maryland Department of Natural Resources

Eyes on Dissolved Oxygen

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Learn about the factors that affect the way oxygen dissolves in salt water with a chemistry lab. After studying the molecular structure of water, young scientists figure out how aeration, temperature, and organic waste affect...
Lesson Plan
NASA

Making Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Some like it hot! Scholars observe both exothermic and endothermic reactions as part of the carbon dioxide oxygen cycle. First, scientists demonstrate (or watch) a chemical reaction to create pure oxygen using fire for...
Lesson Plan
Cornell University

Atomic Bonding

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Explore the connection of surface area to bonding within atoms. Learners complete lab investigations to model changing surface area with different sizes and concentrations of atoms. A flour fireball demonstration follows the labs to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Eight Lunar Phases, Lunar Rotation and Revolutionary Periods

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders create a slide show to show their knowledge of the eight lunar phases and lunar rotation and revolutionary periods.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Breaking it Down

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers will identify the factors that contribute to erosion and weathering. They will start by differentiating between chemical and mechanical weathering. They then apply what they learned by playing the online jeopardy game. Key...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Industrialization of the American Landscape

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the Chernobyl incident and the resulting environmental health impacts. They explore three different isotopes that were released into the atmosphere. Through inquiry, students determine the difference between types of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Peek into the Lives of Stars!

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students create a model of the birth of a star and demonstrate the stages of the star's lifecycle.  In this star lifecycle lesson, students mix flour and water in a jar to model the birth of a star, then role-play the entire...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Phases of the Moon: Cooperative Learning

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders examine the phases of the moon. In this moon phase instructional activity, 3rd graders listen to a read aloud of The Moon Seems to Change by Franklyn M. Branley and discuss the phases of the moon. They complete a moon phase...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cycles Review

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders discuss the four major cycles of matter. In this general science lesson plan, 8th graders decide which of the four is the most important. They share their opinion in class.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth's Water

For Teachers 4th - 8th
If the majority of our planet is covered with water, why do we need to bother conserving it? With a thorough and varied investigation into the location and types of water on the earth, learners will gain an understanding of why this...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water in the Biosphere

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Environmental explorers examine the campus and take note of living organisms. Introduce them to the biosphere and the questions of the day: How much water can be found in the biosphere? A slide show helps you along, and even contains a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cell Repair and Cell Cycle

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders explore the cell cycle. They view pictures of different stages of mitosis and explain why cells reproduce. They identify the five phases of mitosis: interphase, prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase.
Lesson Plan
Michigan Sea Grant

Food Chains and Webs

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Starting with a simple food chain, young scientists interpret the difference and interrelatedness between herbivores, carnivores and producers. They answer questions related to cause and effect of food chain disruptions, including the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Living Environment

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Young scholars explore the cycles of an ecosystem.  In this environmental science lesson, students work in groups to research the nitrogen cycle, the water cycle, or the oxygen-carbon dioxide cycle. Young scholars prepare a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Food Chains & Food Webs

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders examine how energy is lost through different trophic levels.  For this trophism lesson students construct a food web and view a video. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

State Change

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders explore the physical change of matter. As a class, they discuss their favorite super hero and determine if the hero undergoes a physical or chemical change. Students examine the change of state and phase change. In groups,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Cycle Column

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students use common materials to construct a working model of the water cycle. They then observe and explain evaporation, condensation, precipitation and percolation as aspects of a continuing cycle. Students also complete worksheets and...
Lesson Plan
Science Matters

That’s An Otter Story

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scientists discover how sea otters' habitats have changed due to human impact. Through conversation, video observation, and story reading, scholars identify how human interactions change a specific ecosystem in both positive and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Biological Carbon Cycle

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students learn about the biological carbon cycle. In this carbon cycle instructional activity, students access the web site and mouse over the diagrams to follow the carbon cycle. They read about what happens to humans and plants during...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Three W's: Wind, Waves, and Wings

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students participate in hands-on acticities to understand how native plants and animals arrived on Hawaii from long distances without the assistance of man. They then identify what characterizes a plant or animal as native vs. non-native.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Connect the Spheres: Earth Systems Interactions

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Is everything really connected? Take your class on a walk outside, where they will make observations and write them down on a worksheet. Once they are back in the classroom, learners will work to determine if and how things like birds,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Predator and Prey Game

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers explore the why the balance among producers, predators and prey is necessary in order for an ecosystem to be sustained over time. Through web games and activities, they discover how each component of the food chain works...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Understanding Interactions Among Local Species and the Local Environment

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Young scholars examine the differences between biotic and abiotic factors, explain the difference between habitat and niche and compare how organisms get their nutritional needs.  In this local environment instructional activity...