Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Chromosomes

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students study chromosomes and how molecular half life affects them.  In this chromosome lesson students complete several lab activities on calculating half life, and cracking alkanes. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Atoms Work

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Students explore the concept of atoms and how they combine to form molecules and compounds. In pairs, they read an article on how atoms work and discuss the main points. They draw atoms and write a paragraph about their elements.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Wonderful World of Polymers

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders investigate the concept of polymers. They discover unique properties and how polymers are natural. The lesson contains sufficient background information for the teacher. Students examine different types of materials and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wondrous Water

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore the different properties of water. They experimenting with different activities, each one explaining a different property of water. Students read an article "Small, Ues, But Might: The Molecule Called Water." and then...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Animals of the Fire Ice

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students study ice worms  and describe how they interact with other species.  In this methane hydrate activity students study ice worms and hydrate shrimp to learn their behavior and can participate in an optional activity.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Giants of the Protozoa

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students describe and define xenophyophores.  For this protozoa lesson students divide into groups and complete a lab activity. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Survival Science: How Evaporation and Condensation Can Save Your Life!

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders demonstrate how scientific principles can be used to provide resources in an emergency situation.  In this evaporation lesson students view a demonstration on a solar still and see a brief PowerPoint presentation. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Modeling DNA Structure

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Learners build their own DNA molecules using candy. In this science lesson, students build DNA molecules using licorice and gumdrops. The lesson includes the use of streaming videos from the teacher's domain.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lab Experiments in Nutrition

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Looking for authentic hands-on nutritional experiments? High schoolers will perform experiments to test for the presence of vitamin C in several solutions as well as the effect of caffeine on Daphnia. They will also consider the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Genome: The Secret of How Life Works

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explain how DNA directs the production of proteins.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Nature Of Dissolving Processes

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students examine the rule of "like dissolves like." They define and describe solutions and solubility models on molecular liquids, ionic solids, and molecular solids.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dissolved Oxygen Lesson

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students investigate what dissolved oxygen is and why it is important to aquatic life and what factors influence levels of dissolved oxygen in a lake. They study how to use MS Excel to make charts to show trends and correlations.
Lesson Plan
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NOAA

The Biogeochemical Cycle

For Teachers 9th - 12th
The biogeochemical cycle ... no physics? The fourth installment of a 23-part NOAA Enrichment in Marine sciences and Oceanography (NEMO) program introduces the biogeochemical cycle by having pupils simulate movement between Earth's...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Staying Young with Vitamin E

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Investigate how Vitamin E is used to prevent cell aging. Young scientists coat the surface of apples and bananas with oil, Vitamin E, and water. They place each in a petri dish and cover them to observe oxidation over time. They answer 8...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What is Soap?

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students investigate soap, how it is made and its structure. In this soap instructional activity, students observe a demonstration of soap being made. Students observe the properties of soap and how soap performs in "real-life"...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Energy Extravaganza

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders study how cells and organisms acquire and release energy through photosynthesis and cellular respiration. They explain that living organisms use matter and energy to synthesize a variety of organic molecules and they will...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

PA Watersheds, Many Ways to the Sea

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers examine the water cycle and the factors that interact with watersheds.  In this watersheds lesson students describe the purification process, trace the flow of infiltrate water through aquifers, and research the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduction to Biomolecules

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Learners are introduced to biomolecules and their roles in livin systems. They are introduced to the "Elements of Life." Students write down and define the "Elements of Life." They are asked why they think those elements are essential...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Atoms and Elements: An Introduction

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers are able to discuss the difference between a proton, a neutron and an electron. They also can explain the difference between an ionic and a covalent bond. Students know the main structure of atoms and molecules. Student...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Carbon: Structure Matters

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars 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...
Interactive
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

Living Things Share Common Genes

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Everything evolved from a common ancestor, but how did modern plants and animals develop so many more genes? Scholars use an online interactive to learn about the process. They begin to understand common genes with an animation, multiple...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Photosynthesis

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students are introduced to the process of photosynthesis. In groups, they test the effects of the lack of sunlight on plant leaves and compare the results with their hypothesis. They note the characteristics that plants and animals share...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Succession in the Classroom

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students investigate their environment by growing plants in class.  In this botany lesson, students discuss the lifespan of plants and animals and how they must be cared for continuously over time.  Students grow a plant in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Air and Water in the Environment

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders participate in a three part lesson in which they identify and describe forms of moisture in the environment. Part one of the lesson involves the three stages of the water cycle, part two focuses on creating humidity by...