Cell phones are likely made of gold—at least part of them! An interesting lesson explains the conventional and not-so-conventional uses of the popular element gold. From the Inca empire to modern-day technology, learners discover gold...

Students study how being exposed to a harmful microbe doesn't automatically make them ill. They discover the lines of defense against microbe invaders and explore the roles of skin and mucus membranes, white blood cells, and lymphocytes...

Students discover how to "read" tree rings to determine the date of a volcanic eruption and the effects an eruption has on plant growth. After a lecture/demo, students utilize a worksheet imbedded in this plan to date an eruption.

Pupils discover the importance of healthy eating. Using food nutrition labels, they read and examine the nutritional value. Students collect the data on a spreadsheet and create a graph. They analyze the media influences on product...

Students discover the various ways in which tree rings can give information. After a brief disucssion of concentric tree rings, they use cross section cut outs of tree rings to identify the time and type of various naturally occuring...

Students discover how to find authoritative resources. In this research skills lesson, students examine strategies for using the Internet effectively to research global development issues.

Students are introduced to the relationship between light and vision. In groups, they participate in experiments to discover how different wavelengths are divided in the visible spectrum. They record their answers and discuss their...

First of three lessons, this is a great start to a unit on energy. As you demonstrate, learners discover different types of energy and how it is converted from one form to another. They then focus in on the generation of electricity by...

Students examine and research the organs of the respiratory system. They participate in a vocabulary card matching game, create a graphic organizer, and participate in an experiment titled, Floating on Air.

Students investigate how complex functions arise in biological systems through the creation of several paper structures to accomplish various tasks such as remaining suspended in air for the longest time, making the loudest noise and...

Students are introduced to different types of owls and owl pellets. They list several adaptations that benefit the owls. Students identify the various species of owl that live in Wisconsin. Students discuss owl pellets and identify the...

Learners examine and research the human digestive system and what happens to the food we eat. They read the article, The Passage of Food, participate in an experiment with crackers, and write a paragraph summarizing the function of the...

What do you have in common with a fruit fly? About 60 percent of your DNA. The resource, divided into two units, is intended for grades four to eight and another for high schoolers. Both units include eight lessons covering the...

Learners comprehend that karyotyping is a process in which chromosomes are cut from an enlarged picture and arranged in decreasing order of size. The cells to be viewed are first chemically treated to increase the number of dividing...

Young scholars discover how viruses effect living organisms. Focusing on HIV, they explain why it is unique and how it attacks the immune system. They simulate the spread of viruses through an experiment using water containing sodium...

Students examine a variety of injuries that can happen to the human body and discover the process of maintaining healthy bones. After discussing the process of bone repair following a break, they draw the process in cartoon style and...

Seventh graders explore the connection between genetics and heredity by examining the cellular structure. Among the numerous activities to engage students are drawing DNA molecules, vocabulary puzzle sheets, and predicting possible...

Students examine the facts of blood and discuss the different parts of blood and their function. They discover different people have different blood types and where they can go to donate blood.

Students investigate the growth of trees. In this tree growth lesson, students discover that trees make a ring each year they live. Students use new voabulary such as bark, phloem, and cambuim to talk about tree parts. Students create a...

Fourth graders experiment to discover which items are conductors and which items are insulators.  In this insulators and conductors lesson, 4th graders experiment and create a T-Chart.  Students are assessed on the correctness...

Fifth graders find examples of magnets in or around their homes and make a list. They discover that some motors use magnets and make a simple motor using magnets, a battery and copper wire. They add to their magnet list.

Students examine the genome and discuss the ethical and moral issues surrounding it. In groups, they discover the differences between ethics and morals and discuss where the concepts of good and bad come from in society. After reading...

Students conduct an experiment. For this fish lesson, students discover how fish cells respond to fresh and salty water and if temperature effect the movement of a fish's gills. Students also identify the characteristics of a fish.

Fifth graders discover how blood moves around the body.  In this circulatory system instructional activity, 5th graders feel their pulse before and after exercise.  Students count their heart rate. Students use the scientific...