Virginia Department of Education
Freshwater Food Chains
What's in the water? Encourage your class to further explore this question and learn about pond ecosystems, food chains, and food webs as they complete this hands-on activity. They view the environment from a new perspective...
Chymist
Build a Spectroscope
Assist your emerging scientists with construction of their very own spectroscopes. Individuals construct a spectroscope to identify elements used in varying lights within a particular environment. They conclude the activity with a...
Virginia Department of Education
Atomic Structure: Periodic Table
The fifth lesson of seven in the series outlines an in-depth analysis of the periodic table. After direct instruction, pupils take turns practicing in the group before beginning independent study. The assessments include a...
Curated OER
Waters of the Earth - Friends or Enemies
High Schoolers observe the paintings and drawings of Robert Harris, and do a study of the ocean that delves into human and physical geography. Learners make prints, listen to music, create a database, and perform research on a specific...
Curated OER
Pharaoh Mountain Hike: Investigating Adirondack Life Zones
Learners hike a local mountain and examine its life zones. They measure various components at each zone and collect leaf litter at the sites. At the mountain top, students make descriptive observations and complete a handout about the...
Curated OER
Introduction to the Elements of the Water Cycle
The basic elements of the water cycle and how water is recycled through our environment is focused on in this lesson. Your students construct classroom terrariums and learn to make and record observations relating to the water cycle....
Curated OER
How Many Organisms Live Here?
Students observe pond organisms through a sample from a pond. In this pond organisms lesson, students use a pail and scoop from the bottom of the pond to take a sampling. Students analyze the organisms removed from the pond and...
Curated OER
Logs to Soil
Students observe the decomposition of a log and analyze what is happening. For this log to soil lesson, students saw through logs to make a log profile. Students use cards and answer questions related to their log.
University of Minnesota
Chemotaxis Using C. elegans
Have you ever wondered what roundworms are like? Or what they don't like? Explore the sensory preferences of C. elegans through this controlled chemotaxis experiment. Biology class members brainstorm what substances might attract—or...
Curated OER
Observation
Students practice observation skills by discussing physical attributes of family artifacts. They determine what characteristics of an object are considered important details.
Curated OER
Diversity in Insects
Second graders examine bug photos from across the world. In this biodiversity lesson, students use a field notebook to make observation of insect photos. The class gather on the floor to investigate a mock field of...
Curated OER
Navajo Pottery
For this Navajo pottery worksheet, students conduct an experiment using various samples of earthen material. Students are required to collect at least three samples of dirt. Students can make observations about the texture of the sample...
Curated OER
Desalination: Creating a Solar Still
To better understand how solar power can aid in creating desalinated drinking water, the class creates a model still. They will build a model of a solar still, make observations, and discuss how the process works. While the idea behind...
Curated OER
Process Skills Review: Observation, Inference, and Predictions
A simple activity asks science learners to define five terms and identify five statements as predictions, observations, or inferences. This would be a supportive assignment when introducing elementary-levle scientist to inquiry practices.
Curated OER
Crickets Guided Discovery
Sixth graders investigate insect anatomy by analyzing a live cricket. In this insect science lesson plan, 6th graders discuss their knowledge of insects and describe their characteristics from memory. Students observe live...
Curated OER
Activity Plan Mixed Ages: Sunny Science
Young scholars develop problem-solving, observation, and critical-thinking skills. In this early childhood lesson, students explore the topic of the sun as they notice shadows and light.
Curated OER
Earthworms and Making a Wormery
Students explore the environment by researching insects. In this earthworm lesson, students utilize soil and plexiglass to build a see through wormery in which students can observe the worms at work. Students identify the benefits of...
Curated OER
Science of Money
Students observe oxidation reaction in the lab using copper pennies. In this chemistry activity, students examine a $1 dollar bill and record their observations. They explain how to identify counterfeit money using the iodine test.
Curated OER
Our Five Senses Affect Food Choices
Students read My Five Senses: A Lion's Tale. In this five senses lesson, students understand the relationship between their five senses and how they affect their food choices. Students write journal entries about their senses and the...
Curated OER
Making Objects Move
Students will make many discoveries about how and why objects move. They will explore and manipulate the motion of objects and the forces required to control that motion (pushing, pulling, throwing, dropping, rolling, and so on). This...
Curated OER
Observations & Chemical Reactions
Students conduct a series of experiments in which they explore chemical reactions. They detect chemical changes by observing how physical properties change when two different chemicals are combined. They list and describe the reactants...
Curated OER
Make A Thunderstorm!
Students create a thunderstorm by putting ice cubes and food coloring into a container and observe what happens to the food coloring. In this thunderstorm lesson plan, students discuss the cause and effects of thunderstorms and then...
Curated OER
Hide and Seek Science
Students examine macro-invertebrates in order to better understand their link to the food web. Working in groups, they record observations of several areas of a stream or river, collect samples from the river bottom, and identify the...
Curated OER
Name that animal
A great way to classify organisms, is by counting the number of legs it has or how it moves. Little ones count the legs on five different creatures, then match the leg count to the proper animal name. Tip: Have them come up with other...