Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water 3: Melting and Freezing

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students understand that most substances may exist as solids, liquids, or gases depending on the temperature, pressure, and nature of that substance. This knowledge is critical to understanding that water in our world is constantly...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Look At Those Leaves!

For Teachers K - 1st
Students observe, measure and sort leaves.  In this leaf lesson students divide into groups and observe the different kinds of leaves. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mapping a Refuge

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students record observations gathered while at a national wildlife refuge. In this lesson on wildlife refuges, students choose an observation spot and record seasonal changes throughout the year.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Causes of Differences in Density

For Teachers 8th - 11th
Students explore how density changes. Students read an article on density. They observe a ball and ring demonstration and discuss the outcome. Students draw models of the demonstration and explain what happened.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sun Seeking Plants

For Teachers K - 1st
Students investigate the story "The Tiny Seed" by Eric Carle. This story is used to introduce the children to the concept that seeds change and grow into plants when conditions in the environment including temperature, light, water and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Weather Watchers

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students study basic meteorology concepts. They build a simple barometer to measure air pressure. They explore the concepts of relative humidity, air convection currents and temperature inversions and to discover their connection to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Watching the Weather

For Teachers K - 3rd
Young scholars examine the weather. They discover the conflict between man and nature caused by the changes in weather and the impact it has upon their lives. Students explore weather folklore. They write a report on the weather. ...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Transformations of Energy

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders investigate the relationship between energy and matter, and measure the mass of various objects. They listen to a teacher-led lecture about potential energy, and in small groups measure the mass of various objects such...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Everyone Knows It's Windy

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students create an anemometer, an instrument that measures wind speed.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Active Wear

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers interpret and analyze data.  For this middle school mathematics lesson, students conduct an experiment in which they investigate which solar collector, black, white, or silver, absorbs the most heat.  Middle...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Air Pressure and Wind

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders study air pressure and learn how it can change the weather. In this air pressure lesson, 5th graders study the given diagrams and complete the experiments to learn how air pressure can change the weather. Students read...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Chemical or Physical?

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders make observations of the reactions that happens between calcium carbonate and various liquids. During the experiment the students determine if there is a chemical change, a physical reaction, or no reaction when they mix...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Heredity, Genetics, Traits

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders study how an embryo develops into a fetus by undergoing many physical changes which they observe on a poster. They examine the metamorphosis of fruit flies as they develop through a series of changes. They record the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Beautiful Caterpillars!

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders investigate the life cycle of the caterpillar. They create a caterpillar habitat and care for it. Students make daily observations that are recorded in a writing journal. During the process of observation the students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Alaska the 'Poster State" For Climate Concerns

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students read an article on Alaska and its climate concerns.  In this research instructional activity students create a poster that contrasts Alaska then and now that pertains to climate change. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Turning Up The Heat!

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate the properties of heat. They explore methods of temperature control and measurement. Through experimentation and activities, students design a high tech tree house. They consider electrical, solar, and natural heat...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Meet the Weather Scientist

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders collect, record and analyze data using simple weather instruments or use weather resources to comprehend weather. They comprehend that scientists are very important people in today's world. Pupils look at cloud types to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

More Bait for Your Buck!

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students determine where to buy the heaviest earthworms as they study invertebrates. They create a double bar graph of the results of the weight data.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Weather and Oceans: Uneven Heating of the Earth

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Learners investigate what causes the heat on Earth.  In this Earth heating instructional activity, students experiment with different heat sources and determine where the Earth gathers the most heat.  Learners explore...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ammonium Nitrate - Heat of Solution

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students quantify the relationship between temperature, energy and heat and define an endothermic reaction. They measure the energy change caused by dissolving one mole of ammonium nitrate in water.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Star Power! Discovering the Power of Sunlight

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students estimate the energy output of the sun. They estimate how much power sunlight the sunlight provides to the earth. They build a simple device to measure the amount of solar radiation the earth receives from the sun.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Guess Your Best

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars discuss situations when it is useful to know exact weight of object as opposed to estimated weight, estimate weight of various items, weigh them on scale using ounces and pounds, and compare their weights on Guess Your...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Quality Monitoring

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students study the water quality of a stream in their area, by measuring the temperature, pH, alkalinity and conductivity. They integrate biology with earth science when using the microscope to study the living organisms in the water.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Secret Agents of Dissolved Oxygen

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students determine the changes in different types of water in a sealed container over time. They investigate how to measure dissolved oxygen, temperature, and carbon dioxide with calculator or computer probe-ware. Students determine the...