Students explore mechanical and chemical weathering at stations. They articulate some mechanisms of chemical and mechanical weathering through exploration in a lab. Students stations describe how chemical weathering differs from...

Students study exponential decay and its application to radiocarbon dating. In this exponential decay lesson, students use candy to model the time it takes for something to decay. Students also graph the data they collect and...

Students investigate soap, how it is made and its structure. In this soap lesson, students observe a demonstration of soap being made. Students observe the properties of soap and how soap performs in "real-life" situations like cutting...

Students compare and contrast the Big Bang Theory and the Cyclic Universe Model. They explain basic properties of the univers which make life possible. They evaluate ideas about the origin of the universe as to their scientific value.

Students calculate the diameter, radius and area of a circle. In this geometry lesson, students investigate the different ratios of a circle. They calculate the surface are of each circle.

Investigate how mobile phones impact their lives through this technology instructional activity that has students discuss the history of the cell phone and research how cell phones are being used in third world countries. Students create...

Students explore the concept of ecological footprints. In this environmental stewardship lesson, students calculate their ecological footprints and consider how to reduce them.

Students gain factual knowledge of the nature of industrial waste at on their school site. They gain process knowledge of the laboratory techniques and collection procedures for wastewater samples.

Students work together to design their own experiment to test developed hypothesis about the minerals in water. As a class, they discuss the main components of water quality and describe the chemistry behind the hardness assay. They...

Students explore latent fingerprinting. They observe a supervised demonstration of the process that real-life crime scene investigators sometimes use to identify latent fingerprints. In addition, they brainstorm ways to improve the...

Students study seawater and how temperature and salinity influence it.  In this oxygen lesson students complete a lab activity on dissolved oxygen. 

Students explore the concept of environmental stewardship. In this science lesson, students investigate the impact of oil spills as they discuss historical spills. Students use problem solving skills to brainstorm clean-up methods.

Middle schoolers examine their understandings about energy concepts by completing an online survey. Students participate in a class discussion about their uses of resources and the differences between perpetual, renewable, and...

High schoolers recognize the benefits of ethanol and study photosynthesis.  For this ethanol lesson students complete an experiment that shows the procedure that starch can be hydrolyzed by salivary amylase. 

Young scholars study the term photodegradability and how it applies to the 6-pack loop ring.  In this materials lesson students test photodegradability of the 6-pack plastic ring.

Eighth graders examine how humans affect various ecosystems. In this ecology lesson, 8th graders discuss different ways that contaminants enter the stream. They explain the consequences of eutrophication in lakes.

Sixth graders research Lake Superior and its ecosystem. Students investigate the lake's cycles of mixing and stratification and how these cycles affect the biology of the lake. This lesson plan contains five days of activities.

Students examine how mining and other industry operations can lead to acid runoff.  In this mining activity students study weathering and complete a lab on it. 

Students investigate the important components for a healthy trout habitat. In this fish habitat instructional activity, students discuss how the aquarium will simulate a trout's environment in nature. Students complete a trout...

Learners experiment with various foods to determine fat and starch content. They rub jam, peanut butter, bananas, and other foods in a small circle on a piece of paper, and observe the results. If there is a high fat content in the...

Students examine the rule of "like dissolves like." They define and describe solutions and solubility models on molecular liquids, ionic solids, and molecular solids.

High schoolers, after observing the elements of a local watershed, explore the need to protect watersheds as water resources for the future. They examine the factors involved with a watershed: geology, ecology, and the effect of man's...

Students practice dating fossils. They learn the concept of "deep time"--that earth was formed billions of years ago. They experience excellent hand-outs and virtual age tutorial links.

Students read the Who We Are Section on Calfee Designs Webpage and discuss carbon usage. They work in pairs to look up the minerals diamond and graphite then create a chart on the properties of each mineral then compare how they differ...