Students explore animal characteristics by participating in an environment identification activity. In this animal habitat lesson, students discuss a range of different wild life and the ecosystems that they are a part of. Students view...

Students investigate crime scene scenarios to meet standards. In this crime scene scenario lesson, students gather background information during the first week. They investigate topics such as mammals, genetics, bacteria, or fungi. They...

Students investigate methods of pollination for various flowers. In this plant biology lesson, students learn the parts of a flower and form a hypothesis about the method of pollination for the flower. They determine the validity of...

Students discuss the importance of plankton in the ocean ecosystem. In this biology lesson, students identify the different types plankton by observing them under the microscope. They explain how plankton population affect global climate.

Students experiment with photovoltaic cells and determine the energy use of their appliances. For this renewable energy lesson, students calculate the energy emitted by a photovoltaic cell through an inquiry-based lab. They keep track of...

Introduce middle school mineralologists to halite. The opening of the lesson plan involves a video and worksheet to which there are no links. However, you can replace the video with any informational clip that you can find online about...

Young scholars collect and record data. They model specimens. Students identify sex of butterflies. They analyze data. Young scholars make conclusions based on collected data. They compare and contrast the different groups of insects...

Students explore the concept of expressing numbers in scientific notation. In this scientific notation lesson, students understand the importance of using scientific notation by finding real world examples where scientific notation is...

Students participate in a hair analysis lab. Using a digital microscope, students compare and contrast hair samples. They determine if the hair samples are human or animal. After completing lab results sheets, students share their...

Students explore a creek environment. They make observations, identify the living and nonliving factors in the environment and collect a plankton sample to take back to the classroom. In addition, they look at plankton under a microscope.

Students study what happened to the dinosaurs and possible causes of extinction.  In this investigative lesson students create dinosaur eggs. 

Ninth graders share what they know about cells. In this biology instructional activity, 9th graders study different microscopic images of the cell. They draw one and explain to their partner why they chose that image.

Learners create a dichotomous key. In this categorizing lesson, students create a dichotomous key for different types of cereal. Learners classify the cereal into groups such as flakes and cereal with holes. Students discuss their...

Sixth graders identify word parts, such as prefixes, suffixes, and root words by cutting and pasting. After a lecture/demo, 6th graders utilize worksheets imbedded in this plan to gain practice working with these parts of speech.

Students visit a local creek or stream. They collect water samples from the creek and observe and sort the "water critters" they find in the sample, observing smaller organisms under a microscope if necessary. They identify each organism...

Students explore properties of fruits and vegetables using their five senses. In this sensory activity lesson, students study fruit and vegetables through a microscope, using their sense of touch as they are blindfolded, and with their...

Sixth graders create a type of notebook or journal using colored copy paper on which to take notes. They complete research on a certain disease and report on it and then design their own disease causing bacteria or virus. Finally, 6th...

Students use microscopes to investigate the diversity of life that exists in pond water. They then conduct a controlled investigation to study the effect of a pollutant (rice) on a microcosm ecosystem.

Students explore mold, the different types and the health risks that they pose.  In this mycelium lesson students grow different molds and see which type of foods mold the fastest. 

Learners identify the different types of mushrooms. In this biology lesson, students explore different mushroom experiments they can do at home. They discuss ways to extend sliced mushrooms' shelf life.

Sixth graders create podcasts and video public service announcements. In this environmental advocacy lesson, 6th graders study the local watershed and become advocates for their local environment. In the process, they create podcasts and...

Students engage in snow-related activities during the first winter snowfall. After explaining the elements needed for it to snow, they preserve snowflakes on frozen slides and observe them under a microscope. Then, they write diamante...

Students fight off germs. For this technology skills lesson, students create claymation videos with accompanying podcasts that educate others about the H1N1 virus and methods to fight germs.

Learners examine plant and animal cells to observe the organelles present in the cell, to match the function of each to the organelle on a cell model and to build a model of the plant or animal cell.