Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Air: It's a Gas!

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Young scholars investigate the properties of air through hands-on activities in conjunction with the demonstrations in a 3-2-1 Contact Video.
Unit Plan
Curated OER

Earth: The Water Planet

For Teachers 6th
Students elicit data on the water cycle, ocean topography, and island formation in this six lesson unit. The ocean floor and the properties of water are examined through a variety of discussions and hands-on experiments.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Discovering Planet X

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students investigate the movements of the planet Pluto. Students participate in a hands-on activity to record data similar to the movements of the planet Pluto. Students compare their data to that found on a website.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cell Division and Differentiation

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders investigate about mitosis, meiosis, and cell differentiation and their purposes and implications in the development and functioning of multicellular organisms. Students use individual journals and a variety of hands-on...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Making Energy "trails"

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students explore ten different stations that demonstrate either chemical, kinetic, or mechanical energy. They examine the way energy is transferred during each station's hands-on activity. Stations include vinegar and baking soda,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Targeting an Action

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students explore how the brain how the brain infers the position of a moving target. They investigate how the brain can fine-tune its motor control over the muscle groups that will perform the intended action. Students participate in a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Working of Scientists

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students define and explain the basic concepts of experimental design.  In this scientific method lesson students complete a hands on activity, develop and present proposals to test their explanations. 
Unit Plan
Rural Science Education Program

Bees and Flowers – Partners in Pollination

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Why are bees so important? After several activities where kids investigate the form and function of flowers, they learn about the different types of bees and label them. They then examine pollen under a microscope and decide which bees...
Lesson Plan
Virginia Department of Education

Work and Power

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Assist your class with correctly calculating the values for force, work, and power as they determine the amount various activities require. They gather data and participate in a group discussion to compare results upon conclusion of the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

It All Began With a Bean

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students explore human anatomy by participating in hands-on activities. In this digestive system lesson, students read the book It All Began With a Bean and discuss the process of food digestion in our body. Students utilize soda...
Lesson Plan
Virginia Department of Education

Electricity and Circuits

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Electrify your classroom as you lead pupils through a series of steps to demonstrate basic principles of electricity and magnetism. They design a simple circuit and test this for static electricity and current electricity. Next,...
Lesson Plan
Discovery Education

Cushion It!

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Sugar cubes, collide! Groups design protection systems using bubble wrap to protect sugar cubes from being destroyed by falling batteries in the STEM lesson. They consider how the experiment relates to collisions in real-world...
Lesson Plan
Pyro Innovations

Beach Exploration

For Teachers Pre-K - K
Little ones will absolutely love this lesson. It's all about the beach and what they can find while sifting through the sand. A large bucket of sand filled with hidden items is brought into the classroom. Learners will discuss what kinds...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

When Ants Fly

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Here is a great lesson on constructing line graphs. Learners identify common characteristics of birds, ants common needs of all living things. They also write a story from the perspective of an ant or a bird that has lost its home and...
Lesson Plan
Berkshire Museum

Backyard Rocks

For Teachers 2nd - 6th Standards
You don't have to travel far to learn about rocks, just step outside, pick up a stone, and begin investigating. After taking a class walk around the school grounds collecting rocks, young scientists practice their skills of observation...
Lesson Plan
Virginia Department of Education

Formulas and Percent Compositions of Ionic Compounds

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Try not to blind anyone with science by following the safety rules. The lesson encourages scholars to form an ionic compound from magnesium and chlorine. Then they determine the empirical formula and determine the mole ratio and percent...
Lesson Plan
Virginia Department of Education

Energy and ATP

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Take charge of your biology class by using this exciting analogy to relate the ATP process with batteries. Pupils use batteries and rubber bands to simulate the phosphate bonds between molecules in the body. They measure the distance in...
Lesson Plan
Teach Engineering

A Good Foundation

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
It takes a strong foundation to build a house and a stronger one for a bridge. This resource presents the effects of geology and soil on bridge foundations. Working in groups, the class investigates the interaction of shallow and deep...
Lesson Plan
Serendip

Introduction to Osmosis

For Teachers 6th - 12th
A chicken egg is a very large cell—perfect for investigating osmosis! Scholars conduct an experiment with vinegar and eggs that helps them understand the process of osmosis. They follow the activity with an in-depth look at osmosis...
Lesson Plan
Virginia Department of Education

The Law of Conservation of Matter

For Teachers 9th - 12th
The Law of Conservation of Matter can be complex for young scientists to fully grasp. Use this experiment to help simplify the process as pupils perform two experiments to determine mass: one that melts a substance and the other that...
Lesson Plan
Virginia Department of Education

Organisms in Symbiosis

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Searching for an activity that allows emerging biologists to explore symbiosis up close and personal? Pupils collect samples and view lichens through a microscope and conclude with a discussion about the relationship they have...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Severe Winter Weather

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students, in groups, investigate and demonstrate the science behind the development and characteristics of winter storms by creating a weather report.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Animals Kingdom

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students are introduced to the classification system of animals. In groups, they set up an aquarium in which they must maintain throughout the year. They also observe earthworms and how they react to various stimuli and research the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Transparency: Accountability

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students study the concept of "Question Time" as it relates to the ministers and the federal Parliament. For this accountability lesson, students investigate accountability in the federal Parliament. Students role-play to arrive at...