Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Investigating Our Past: Where Did Humans Come From?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Investigate the theories of human evolution. In this research based lesson, learners research and discuss how geographic isolation, interbreeding, generalization, and specialization are factors in the history of humans. Groups work...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Modern Physics, New Phenomena

For Teachers 9th - 12th
For this physics worksheet, students examine some of the historical theories of physics through the completion of 11 questions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Modern Physics, QM

For Teachers 9th - 12th
In this physics worksheet, students examine the theory of quantum mechanics through the answering of the nine questions. The answers are accessed through the links by each question.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wind Power

For Teachers 9th - 12th
What a wonderful way to explore wind power! Through this lesson plan, learners get a background in the history of wind power, create their own wind turbine, and the test their designs. This is a terrific way to tie scientific principles...
Lesson Plan
1
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Science 4 Inquiry

Musical Vibes with Palm Pipes

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Ancient people used musical pipes as early as the third millennium BCE. Young scientists explore the workings of musical pipes to better understand the relationship with frequency, length of pipe, and sound waves. They determine the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

History of the Periodic Table

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students sort a group of manipulatives and then explain their organizational system to the class. They discuss the work of scientists trying to organize the elements into a system that made sense and the development of the periodic table.
PPT
Curated OER

The Age of Reason and Enlightenment

For Teachers 10th - 12th
A presentation that truly covers the age of reason and enlightenment. Nearly every facet, event, and key player in 18th Century Age of Enlightenment is covered. The information is clear, easy to follow, and lends itself well to note...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Physics of Flight

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Three activities allow young flight engineers to understand the 4 principles of flight (weight, lift, thrust, and drag), to construct a glider, and to create a propeller. Multicultural history and literature are integrated by reading...
Lesson Plan
1
1
University of Colorado

Astro-Chronology

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Class members play a version of the game Chronology to determine when certain scientific events occurred in history. Teams play until someone has 5-10 events in the correct order.
Lesson Plan
PHET

Mapping the Field of a Dipole Magnet

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
High school scientists build their own magnetometer and use it to map the field surrounding a bar magnet. Excellent background resources is included, as well as a diagram of how to build the magnetometer.
Lesson Plan
PHET

The Dynamic Nature of the Sun

For Teachers 5th - 8th Standards
In this second lesson plan of the series, pupils learn to observe similarities and differences in photos of the sun and record them in a Venn diagram. Then, small groups practice the same skill on unique images before presenting...
Interactive
American Museum of Natural History

Light, Matter and Energy

For Students 6th - 12th
Let Einstein's work shine the way. Pupils read about Einstein's iconic equation, E=mc^2, using a remote learning resource and see how ideas from other scientists such as Kepner, Curie, Galilei, and Newton led to its discovery. They...
Lesson Plan
Center Science Education

Paleoclimates and Pollen

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Demonstrate for your earth scientists how plant pollen of the past has become part of sedimentary deposits, providing clues about ancient climates. Then give them simulated sediment layer samples to analyze for different types of paper...
Unit Plan
New York City Department of Education

Egypt

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
This six-week unit encompasses all subjects with a focus study on world history and the development of ancient civilizations. As gifted and talented students dive into the interesting yet challenging topic of Egypt, they...
Lesson Plan
NOAA

History's Thermometers

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
How is sea coral like a thermometer? Part three of a six-part series from NOAA describes how oceanographers can use coral growth to estimate water temperature over time. Life science pupils manipulate data to determine the age of corals...
Lesson Plan
NOAA

Biological Oceanographic Investigations – Signals from the Deep

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill directly impacted an area of the Gulf of Mexico the size of Oklahoma. A marine biology lesson plan looks at the impact of an oil spill on the deeper parts of the ocean. Scholars download actual data...
Lesson Plan
National Geographic

Battery Lesson Plan

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Not really just a lesson plan, but a series of activities, reading handouts, and teacher's guidelines for conducting a class mini unit on the battery. Physical scientists focus on the history of the cell battery, experiment with...
Lesson Plan
NASA

Gravitational Waves

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Young scientists participate in a hands-on experiment to explore Einstein's theory of relativity in a creative manner. They investigate various waves and compare their characteristics as they discuss how each wave is created....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Urban Ecosystems 4: Metabolism of Urban Ecosystems

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students discover that material and energy uses by a city come from outside the city boundaries. They realize that the pathway of these material is linear instead of cyclical as they are in natural ecosystems.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

History's Thermometers

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Ancient coral beds give scientists clues to past ocean temperatures in much the same way that tree rings indicate historical weather conditions. High school scientists examine coral oxygen isotope ratios and plot the data as a function...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dining Out With Fishes and Birds of the Hudson

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
While this lesson focuses on the birds and fish found on the Hudson River, it could be adapted for use in any classroom. Using a vocabulary list, learners explore the meaning of words like adaptation, habitat, barbel, and more. Then,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Milestones of Flight

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students identify significant milestones in the history of flight. In this aviation history activity, students study various resource materials and construct timelines of significant achievements.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Ups and Downs of Technology

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers create a visual timeline of skyscrapers built in the past 20 years. In this physical science lesson, students research important facts about the building. They discuss the challenges architects face when building...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Historical Development of Magnetism

For Teachers 12th - Higher Ed
Students discuss the history and importance of magnets to the world. In this magnetism lesson, students write an essay of a world without magnets.  Students may research addition information to add details about uses of magnets.