Curated OER
The Science and Technology of Food
Students examine the guidelines the United States Department of Agriculture places on food. In groups, they create a list of the foods they consume and discuss the political and environmental implications of purchasing the food. They...
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Theater Game: "The Good, the Bad, and the Bountiful"
Young scholars play a game to demonstrate the detrimental effects of an algal bloom on the environment. In this microorganism instructional activity, students discuss microbes and algae. They dramatize the effects of an algal bloom using...
Pennsylvania Department of Education
Animal Classes and Their Ecosystems
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...
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CSI Podcasts
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...
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Plant Pollination
Middle schoolers 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...
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Plankton / Phytoplankton
Students discuss the importance of plankton in the ocean ecosystem. For this biology lesson, students identify the different types plankton by observing them under the microscope. They explain how plankton population affect global climate.
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Photovoltaics and Solar Energy
Learners experiment with photovoltaic cells and determine the energy use of their appliances. In this renewable energy lesson plan, students calculate the energy emitted by a photovoltaic cell through an inquiry-based lab. They keep...
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Show Me the Halite!
Introduce middle school mineralologists to halite. The opening of the lesson 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 halite...
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Alfalfa Butterfly/Caterpillar Lifecycle Investigation
High schoolers collect and record data. They model specimens. Students identify sex of butterflies. They analyze data. High schoolers make conclusions based on collected data. They compare and contrast the different groups of insects...
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Crime Scene Investigation: Hair Analysis Lab
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...
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Scientific Notation
Learners explore the concept of expressing numbers in scientific notation. In this scientific notation instructional activity, students understand the importance of using scientific notation by finding real world examples where...
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Pond Water
Young scholars 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...
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Where Are The Dinosaurs?
Students study what happened to the dinosaurs and possible causes of extinction. In this investigative lesson students create dinosaur eggs.
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Cells=Life!
Ninth graders share what they know about cells. In this biology lesson, 9th graders study different microscopic images of the cell. They draw one and explain to their partner why they chose that image.
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Classification of Cerealites
Students create a dichotomous key. In this categorizing lesson, students create a dichotomous key for different types of cereal. Students classify the cereal into groups such as flakes and cereal with holes. Students discuss their...
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Common Prefixes, Suffixes, and Roots
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.
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Wacky Water Critters
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...
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Exploring Food with Senses
Students explore properties of fruits and vegetables using their five senses. For this sensory activity lesson, students study fruit and vegetables through a microscope, using their sense of touch as they are blindfolded, and with their...
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Diseases
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...
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It's a Small World After All! (Pond Microcosms)
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.
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Mold
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.
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Mushroom
Students 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.
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River Reflections
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...
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Science: Suddenly Snow
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...