Curated OER
Schooling Fish
Young scholars make fish models. In this fish behavior lesson, students create lanternfish fishsticks, learn how a school of fish live, eat and swim together, examine the predator-prey relationship, and read the book Swimmy to...
Curated OER
Seeing Stars
Students discover constellations. In this astronomy lesson, students discuss stars in the sky and that a group of stars is called a constellation. Students then create their own constellations by dropping stars onto a black paper, and...
Curated OER
The Very Busy Spider
Young scholars determine the best habitat for spiders. In this spider lesson, students listen to a reading of Eric Carle's, The Very Busy Spider. They discuss the spider's habitat before visiting the schoolyard to look for spiders in...
Curated OER
Beach Comber
Learners investigate threats to our oceans by investigating items found on a beach. In this environmental safety lesson, students examine several items found on a beach and identify them as natural, harmful, organic or inorganic...
Curated OER
Mystery Rocks and Minerals
Students review the properties of rocks and minerals. In this geology lesson, students distinguish between rocks and minerals. Students also classify the rocks as igneous, metamorphic, or sedimentary.
Curated OER
Sounds
Students explore the concept of sound. In this sound instructional activity, students explore different sounds and the objects that create them. Students will discover, through several hands-on activities, what vibration, pitch, and...
Curated OER
The Marshmellow Machine
Students invent a pretend machine. In this technology activity, students pretend to make a marshmallow machine. Each student acts out a part of the machine and tells what their job is. Students discuss the importance of technology...
Curated OER
Oobleck!
Students use Oobleck to investigate the properties of colloids. In this Oobleck and colloid lesson, students listen to the beginning of Bartholomew and the Oobleck by Dr. Seuss. They experiment with Oobleck (corn starch, water, and...
Curated OER
Telephones of the Future
Students explore communication. In this telephone lesson, students create a model of what they think telephones of the future will look like. Students list inventions of the past that have led to current technology. Students then create...
Curated OER
Parachutes
Students make and observe the flight of simple parachutes. In this parachute lesson plan, students listen to Henry M. Holden's, Fire-Fighting Aircraft and Smoke Jumpers. They make parachutes out of plastic bags, tape, and strings before...
Curated OER
QuickPlan: Mystery Boxes
Primaries explore the concepts of observation and inference. Given a set of six sealed boxes, children lift, tip, or gently shake in order to make observations about what is inside. The lesson plan gives preparation instructions in...
Curated OER
Owls are a Hoot!
Students construct a food web based on the animals found inside owl pellets. In this owls lesson plan, students research and describe the characteristics of owls as well.
Curated OER
Blast Off!
Students build their own rockets. In this rocket lesson, students create the highest flying rocket they can powered by effervescent antacid tablets and water in film canisters. They listen to the story How to Build a Rocket by Hazel...
Curated OER
Design an Instrument
Learners design an instrument. For this sound, vibration and pitch lesson, students learn about the characteristics of sound, vibration and pitch. Learners design a guitar using the assembled craft materials and demonstrate how...
Curated OER
Lip Balm Chemistry
Students explore density, mixture and solutions in a reaction. In this chemistry lesson, students create their own chap-stick using ingredients they analyze for their chemical contents. They discuss measuring skills, melting points and...
Curated OER
Oobleck
Students explore "matter." In this literacy and three states of matter lesson, students listen to Bartholomew and the Oobleck by Dr. Seuss, then work in groups to explore "oobleck" (cornstarch and water mixture) with their five senses....
Curated OER
Gene Switches- A Model
Learners explore genetic variation within a population. In this genetic adaptation instructional activity, students investigate the reasons contributing to genetic adaptation. Learners collaborate and analyze DNA models. Multiple...
Curated OER
Going Local with Global Warming
Students examine climate change by using recent temperature records. In this data analysis lesson students plot weather data and study the differences between weather and climate.
Curated OER
Natural Disasters
Students read the book "Tsunami!" and discuss natural disasters and how they can prepare. This lesson is much more than a study of tsunamis. The lesson is chock-full of ways to study the Japanese culture across the curriculum. There are...
Curated OER
Young Engineers: Understanding Engineering Through Cooking
Second graders explore different engineering careers. In this math instructional activity, 2nd graders create a winning cooking recipe. They role play a mock cookie sale during the culminating event.
Curated OER
Energy in a Clean Environment
Students identify and describe the different types of energy and how it is transferred. In this energy lesson plan students complete several activities including how to calculate joules, adding up wattage, and create a presentation...
Curated OER
Physics "24"
Students construct a model house or school. For this physics lesson, students research about who wind up clocks work and write an essay about it. They determine the center of gravity of different objects.
Curated OER
Name That Taste
Students analyze taste buds. In this taste lesson, students complete an experiment in groups of four people. Students have four cups with a different substance in each cup. One student dips a Q-tip into each cup and tests on another...
Curated OER
Nano Waterproofing
Students experiment to determine a way to waterproof a piece of cotton fabric. In this scientific inquiry lesson, students use reference worksheets to explore waterproofing and the use of nanotechnology in engineering everyday...