A wonderful lesson on the development and impact of mechanized farming! History or agriculture classes learn the historical background of the United States' food production by creating a pamphlet with information on the cause and...

Nanofibers can be made through electrospinning or force spinning in order to reduce the negative impact on the environment. Pupils study the role of fibers and dye on the environment through a series of five hands-on activities. Then,...

Galapagos Penguins are the only penguins on earth that live north of the equator (in the wild). In this last lesson plan a discussion on how the Galapagos islands developed their populations and diversity sparks the introduction. Two...

High schoolers investigate the concept of biological succession by simulating the process in a microenvironment with various microorganisms. By engaging in a lab, students determine the factors causing succession and learn population...

Students build an understanding of the dynamics and composition of the atmosphere and its local and global processes influencing climate and air quality. They analyze air masses and the life cycle of weather systems.

Students investigate their environment by growing plants in class.  In this botany lesson plan, students discuss the lifespan of plants and animals and how they must be cared for continuously over time.  Students grow a plant...

Students study Arthropods and their characteristics.  In this organisms activity students explore the success of Arthropods and answer questions. 

Fifth graders investigate how a pond ecosystem can change into a prairie or grassland ecosystem. They observe a small pond ecosystem in a two liter soda bottle, and examine and record changes over a two-week period of time on a worksheet.

Students explore marine animal adaptation. For this introductory ocean life biology lesson, students access prior knowledge by participating in a whole class "thought swap." Students form two lines, respond to a prompt from the teacher...

Third graders create a KWL chart about water. For this environmental science lesson, 3rd graders demonstrate how much water on Earth is usable. They act out the different stages of the water cycle.

Students observe and care for eggs and chickens. For this life cycles lesson, students recall facts about chickens and how they hatch. Students read the article Hatching Eggs in the Classroom and observe the life cycle of the chicken in...

Students investigate the development of the geologic time scale. Also, to introduce them to the major time periods in earth's history, as well as to the role fossils play in helping us understand this history.

How do chains of islands form? Young oceanographers explore the mountains of the deep in the final installment in a 13-part series. The interactive compares types of seamounts based on their overall height and height under the water, as...

Students compare the climate and organisms found in different environments, then give examples of how plants and animals adapt to their environment. They design an animal who adapts using camouflage to a made-up environment.

Students graph data of sea turtles hatching rates from Watamu/Malindi Marine National Park and Reserve in Kenya.  In this math lesson, students use real life science data to calculate mean and median values. Students use...

Students explore the skills and information needed to complete a science fair project. They follow guidelines to create an document their science fair project.

For this community distribution worksheet, students will review 5 terms associated with biomes, ecosystems, and communities. Students will then match 11 terms as either relating to marine biomes or land biomes. This worksheet has 5 fill...

First graders examine diagrams of butterflies printed from the stated website and follow directions to make a model of the butterly life cycle. They then participate in a WebQuest to observe the life cycle stages of a butterfly.

Third graders investigate the life cycle and development of butterflies. They complete an online WebQuest, and write journal entries about their research information. Students create a poster, and observe real Painted Lady larvae...

Young scholars examine forest organisms, features of some of the different types of forest, classify organisms based on the type of forest they come from, and explore how certain species are connected with other, particular species...

Students investigate the recycling process. In this recycling lesson, students read the article The Recycling Process After Collection and discuss the advantages of recycling. As an extension activity, students simulate the molding of...

Students create a multimedia presentation as a culmination of a plant unit.  In this hyperstudio lesson,  students research from assigned sites and create a Hyperstudio stack.  Students write a cinquain. 

Students view video showing recent field work on a twenty two-year study of finch beaks on a small island in the Galapagos, showing natural selection clearly operating in the wild.

Students figure out how to design their own space station. They take a tour on the International Space Station to see what living there is really like, and how lessons learned on the ISS help pave the way for future space tourists.