Curated OER
Roller Coaster Fun
Third graders review the effects of gravity on how objects move. In groups, they design a roller coaster and share it with their classmates. Using materials given to them, they build their roller coaster and let a ball roll on the...
Curated OER
A Dinosaur Scavenger Hunt
Students explain what a fossil is, learn six dinosaurs and tell one characteristic about each, then describe verbally what a dinosaur might have looked like.
Curated OER
Baking Soda and Vinegar Volcano
Students construct a volcano using baking soda and vinegar. In this earth science instructional activity, students explain the reaction that takes place when these two chemicals combine together.
Curated OER
Science: The Age of the Redwoods
Students discover how to estimate the age of redwood trees. They measure the trees' diameters by using string to calculate the circumferences. Students conclude by discussing the science of dendrochronolgy.
Curated OER
Fun with Ecology
Students explore their environment. Given a question and a scenario, they conduct a field study of a designated area. In that area, they count and tally the number of insects that are present.
Curated OER
Density Balloon
Students experiment with density using a mylar balloon and hair dryer in an experimental setting. The concept of density is often confusing to students and this activity gives them an introductory insight into the concept in a fun way.
Curated OER
Fun With Electromagnets
Fifth graders construct their own electromagnet out of copper and nails. They discover what objects could be used for magnets. Finally, 5th graders discuss how electric currents are formed.
Space Awareness
Meet Our Neighbors: Sun
The sun isn't just a ball of yellow! Young scientists learn about the features of the sun using a hands-on modeling activity. They build models of the sun using common household items to represent sunspots, solar prominence, and the...
Curated OER
Do Touch!
Students explore the sense of touch. They investigate unknown solids using the sense of touch. Pupils use their senses of touch to match feely gloves. Students explore body parts, by tracing their hands and feet on paper. They create a...
Curated OER
All Mixed Up!
What happens when solids are added to liquids? After reading an informative paragraph about solutions, learners answer six true/false questions regarding solutions, and what substances will dissolve into liquids they are mixed with. A...
Scholastic
Lesson Three: The Earth, Movement in Space
If you feel like you're standing still, you're wrong! The Earth is constantly rotating and orbiting under our feet. Demonstrate the Earth's movement within the solar system with a collaborative activity. With a candle or lamp in the...
Curated OER
Nature Art
In this nature art lesson plan, students take a nature walk and collect items with different sizes, textures and colors. Students use the items they collect to make a collage.
NASA
Marsbound! Mission to the Red Planet
It's time to go to Mars. Using the provided cards and mat, groups design a mission to Mars. The cards contain information about the different components of the launch and warn about a few mishaps that might occur along the way.
Curated OER
What is Water?
Students examine water's properties. They participate in hands-on activities to show the properties of water.
Curated OER
The Impact of Fishing
Students explore the concept of fishing as it relates to oceans and how some fishing practices can damage the health of the marine ecosystems. In this instructional activity on the impact of fishing, students research the many places in...
NASA
Modeling the Periodic Table
Imagine a race to complete a puzzle where each person has the same 50 pieces, knows they are missing other pieces, and must figure out how everything fits together. The winner gets fame, listed in books for years to come, and a financial...
Code.org
Star Wars: Building a Galaxy with Code
Welcome to the code side. The interactive lesson plan introduces coding in a game format with familiar characters. Young computer experts learn to develop code to control the interaction of the characters in the game. The activity ends...
Curated OER
Heritage: Line Dance is a Pattern!
Line dancing is the repeating of a pattern of steps, done to music. Teach youngsters how to line dance and they won't feel so awkward when they grow up. Let them experiment with creating their own patterns and teaching their classmates....
Curated OER
Wetland Pictionary
Students create a game for reviewing vocabulary. They make cards with definitions of the words. Then the cards are used to play the game of Pictionary or a modified game. The teacher could have the students generate their own game in...
Curated OER
Ignoring Friction - Not This Time!
Students discover the factors affect friction. Students, working in lab pairs, complete various experiments in order to discover what factors effect the amount of frictional force a block has as it is pulled across different surfaces.
Curated OER
Radioactive Beans
Students investigate radioactive atoms. In this radioactive beans lesson plan, students experiment with split peas and beans to determine what happens when a radioactive atom decays.
Curated OER
The Earth Around Us: Air, Water & Soil
Students build an air cannon and study air mass. In this air cannon lesson, students create and shoot an air cannon and observe what happens. Students answer critical thinking questions about air mass and air cannons.
Curated OER
Simple Machines
Fourth graders examine a machine and how its parts work together. In this simple machines lesson, 4th graders work in groups to study different gadgets, analyze how the parts of the gadget work and draw sketches of the gadget. Students...
Curated OER
"Eggsploring" Engineering!
Put a new twist on the egg drop by turning your students into aerospace engineers!