Teach Engineering
Sugar Spill!
Sugar isn't good for you, but it's great for yeast! Scholars design an experiment to investigate how variables affect the rate of sugar consumption in yeast. The last installment of a nine-part Life Science unit considers how scientists...
Curated OER
Identifying trophic levels and the skeletal system through Owl Pellets
Students identify a food chain sequence. They compare, identify, and record the rodent skeletal parts to a rodent skeletal diagram. Students construct a rodent skeleton from the skeletal parts found in the pellet. They are given the...
Curated OER
BIoluminescence
High schoolers investigate the concept of bioluminescence. They use dinoflagellates in a lab situation to study photosynthesis. They conduct research into the concept using a variety of resources. Also the class is taken on a field trip...
Curated OER
Field Trip - Marine Science Institute
Students discover the ocean life of the San Francisco Bay. In this ocean lesson plan, students take a Discovery Voyage of the Bay ecosystem through the Marine Science Institute. Also available are inland voyages, ocean labs, and tidepool...
Curated OER
What Role Do Forest Play in Continuing or Renewing Our Planet's Resources?
High schoolers explore the interaction between the forest and wildlife. In this forestry lesson, students collect data about forest ecosystems, species of trees, photosynthesis, and interaction of organisms. They prepare a lab activity...
Curated OER
Does the increased use of fertilizers effect biodiversity?
Students conduct a hands-on lab activity in which they analyze a sample of water from a local stream or pond. They introduce a fertilizer solution into the sample and analyze and describe their findings.
Curated OER
Biological Succession in a Microecosystem
High schoolers investigate the concept of biological succession by simulating the process in a microenvironment with various microorganisms. By engaging in a lab, students determine the factors causing succession and learn population...
Curated OER
Testing Water Quality
In this science worksheet, students test the quality of water taken from a local source and test it in a lab for the ingredients present.
Curated OER
Introduction to Dissolved Oxygen and Demonstration of a Simple Test Procedure
Students explain the importance of dissolved oxygen in water ecosystems. They describe the aquatic oxygen cycle and the effect of water pollution on oxygen. They make observations, collect data and draw a conclusion.
Curated OER
Oil + Water + Wildlife = A Real Mess
Learners conduct an experiment. In this environmental protection lesson plan, students explore how oil spills affect living organisms in an ecosystem. Learners work in groups to complete a lab activity and then discuss their findings.
Curated OER
Outta Gas
Students explore practical problems that are related to scuba diving. In this oxygen lesson students complete a lab activity.
Curated OER
Oxygen Factory
Fourth graders examine the interdependence of the oxygen and carbon dioxide cycle in an ecosystem through a laboratory investigation. After a lecture/demo, 4th graders complete the lab in groups.
Curated OER
Finding the Basal Area of a Forest Plot to Determine Stocking Levels
Young scholars use graphs and plots to measure the basal area and stocking levels. In this graphing instructional activity students work in the field the use their data to help them complete a lab activity.
Curated OER
Floods: Rising Waters and You
Students examine the relationship between human-made structures, flood waters and the increasing population through video clips, websites and a lab experiment.
Curated OER
Let's Get Specific
Students explore how different species thrive. For this speciation lesson students research and complete a lab activity.
Curated OER
Molecular Explorations
High schoolers explain the processes for separating DNA from tissue and separating complex mixtures. In this exploratory instructional activity students complete a lab where they extract DNA.
Curated OER
Dissolved Oxygen and Photosynthesis: 1
Pupils are taught that plants produce oxygen underwater, and they design an experiment that test this question. They discuss whether plants give off oxygen, and how to measure this. Students measure the increase in dissolved oxygen over...
Curated OER
Hurricanes and the Importance of Wetlands
Students explain how wetlands minimize the impact of hurricanes. In this earth science lesson, students investigate how different materials affect the steam plume path. They complete their worksheet after the lab.
Curated OER
Biosphere
Learners examine the basic biosphere and its components. In this ecology lesson students complete several experiments including designing a system that is balanced to sustain life.
Curated OER
Erosion
Students examine soil erosion and what causes it. In this soil lesson students complete several experiments on soil erosion and the weathering process.
Curated OER
Digital Video Lesson Plan: Brine Shrimp
Students participate in classroom experiment to gain better understanding of type of environment brine shrimp can best survive. Students then explore effects of common saltwater pollutants on survival of animals in sea.
Curated OER
Changing Planet: Fading Corals
Show the six-minute video, "Changing Planet: Fading Corals," and then demonstrate how calcium carbonate forms a precipitate in the presence of carbon dioxide. Separate your scientists into small groups to gather information about coral...
National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network
Can Small Pollutants Harm Aquatic Organisms?
Nanoparticles have toxic effects on plant and animal life—even though you can't see them. The second instructional activity of a two-part series has young scientists conduct an experiment that exposes plant and animals to nanoparticle...
Curated OER
Owls: Top of a Food Chain
Although written for middle schoolers, there is no reason that a 3rd, 4th, or 5th grader could not also learn about food chains through the dissection of owl pellets. After you introduce the topic, learners complete an owl research...