Interactive
CK-12 Foundation

Natural Selection: Peppered Moths

For Students 7th - 8th Standards
Can human activity influence the colors of moths? The simulation explains how pollution changed the color of tree bark, which led to the survival of a different variation of moths. It also discusses the shift back as air quality improves.
Lesson Plan
Earth Day Network

Forms of Energy

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Give me a home where electric buffalo roam and I'll show you an ohm on the range. Introduction your classes to potential and kinetic energy, electricity, and renewable resources with a resource that combines observation, direct...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Nature of Science and Technology

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders perform a variety of experiments to observe, form conclusions, and make inferences.  In this experiment activity, 2nd graders experiment based on the result of a pre-assessment. Students share what they have learned.
Lesson Plan
University of Georgia

What's So Special about Bottled Drinking Water?

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Is artesian water designed to be better, or is it just from wells similar to those in the city of Artesium? This experiment looks at many different types of bottled waters, including artesian. Using a soap mixture, scholars test to see...
Lesson Plan
University of California

Heating and Cooling of the Earth's Surface

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Scholars collect data from heating sand and water before forming testable hypotheses about why sand heats up faster. Afterward, they develop and run experiments to test their hypotheses.
Lesson Plan
NASA

Melting Ice: Designing an Experiment

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Sometimes, despite the best laid plans, the unexpected will occur. Learners witness this firsthand as they carefully design an experiment to determine the time needed for ice to melt in salt water or pure water. They uncover facts not...
Activity
Royal Society of Chemistry

The Treatment of Oil Spills—Microscale Chemistry

For Teachers 6th - 12th
When oil spills happen, how is the oil cleaned up? Pupils of polymer science discover an amazing substance that turns oil into a solid during a microscale experiment. Individuals observe oil or paraffin before and after addition of the...
Lesson Plan
Chymist

Landfills and Recycling

For Students 9th - 12th
Examine the nature of landfills through experimentation. Scholars build miniature landfills and monitor changes over a six-week period. Observations allow individuals to draw conclusions about the different types of trash and their...
Handout
1
1
National Science Teachers Association

Safety in the Science Classroom, Laboratory, and Field Sites

For Students 6th - 12th
The best learning environment is a safe learning environment. Remind young scientists about safety rules and regulations in the science lab, the classroom, and the field.
Lesson Plan
Earth Day Network

Conserving Water Through Art!

For Teachers K - 5th
Having fresh, clean drinking water is a privilege many people take for granted. Help raise awareness about the scarcity of water and the importance of conservation by discussing different ways water is used in everyday life. Brainstorm...
Interactive
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

Evolution Begins with the Inheritance of Gene Variations

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Connect Mendelian genetics with Darwinian theories. An interactive lesson lets pupils explore how George Shull used research from other scientists to explore genetic variation. The resource outlines the statistical analysis of genetic...
Lesson Plan
NASA

Things Are Not Always What They Seem

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Science is magic that works. Magical color-changing beads and a coffee can that follows voice commands are just two examples of magic tricks that rely on science. After completing a hands-on activity and an experiment investigating the...
Lab Resource
Royal Society of Chemistry

Acids and Bases—Microscale Chemistry

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Here's proof that small-scale labs lead to big-time learning. Introduce acid-base interactions to middle school scientists through a microscale chemistry lab. Pupils combine a variety of solutions and use indicators to obtain approximate...
Lesson Plan
1
1
Science 4 Inquiry

Journey Through the Spheres of the Earth

For Teachers 5th - 8th Standards
Each of the Earth's spheres interacts with the other spheres in predictable ways. Young scientists explore these interactions through a hands-on activity, graphing, and watching a video. They summarize their knowledge in a video or...
Lesson Plan
NSW Department Mineral Resources

Aboriginal Use of Raw Materials

For Teachers 9th - 12th
What's the difference between base metals and precious metals? Experimenting with natural metals is an interesting way for kids to learn about the world around them. Use a resource that contains over 30 pages of worksheets and...
Lesson Plan
Virginia Department of Education

States and Forms of Energy

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Energy is just energy, right? Explain various forms of energy to your young scientists by using an interactive experiment that contains common objects to demonstrate complex concepts. Pupils conduct experiments for radiant, thermal,...
Lesson Plan
Virginia Department of Education

The Ratio of Surface Area to Volume

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Demonstrate the ratio of surface area to volume in your high school class by using phenolphthalein, gelatin, and an onion. Intrigue the class by leading a discussion on osmosis and diffusion, then making "scientific jello." Participants...
Lesson Plan
Virginia Department of Education

Historical Models of Atoms

For Teachers 9th - 12th
What does the past have to do with today? Young scientists find that answer as they learn more about past chemists and their significant contributions to the field. Pupils use the Internet to research historical figures...
Lesson Plan
1
1
NASA

The Big Climate Change Experiment Lesson 2: The Influence of Climate on Culture

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
No conversation about culture is complete without considering climate. Scholars first view videos of climate witnesses who describe the climate in their regions and how climate change affects their daily lives. They then write essays or...
Activity
Discovery Education

The Time of Our Life

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Mammals are some of the newest organisms to appear on Earth. Young scholars complete an activity that results in a timeline showing the appearance of different types of living organisms. Provided with a list that spans from prokaryotes...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Is the Nature of Science?

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Young scholars distinguish between scientific and everyday meanings of key words-theory, hypothesis, law, fact-and use in context. They recognize the variables that affect observation, data collection, and interpretation. They discover...
Interactive
CK-12 Foundation

Natural Selection: Natural Disasters

For Students 6th - 12th Standards
Can natural disasters alter natural selection? The interactive explores this concept with mice living through a forest fire. As the environment changes, the camouflage also changes. How does this one disaster impact future generations?
Unit Plan
Columbus City Schools

Biome Basics with a Disastrous Twist

For Teachers 7th Standards
Bored with your current biome bag of tricks? This bundle is a bountiful bag of biome fun! Travel the globe with seventh graders and explore the biotic and abiotic factors that define our world's biomes. Then, introduce a little...
Lesson Plan
Cornell University

Glued into Science—Classifying Polymers

For Students 6th - 12th
Explore the unique characteristics of polymers. A complete lesson begins with a presentation introducing polymers. Following the presentation, young scientists develop a laboratory plan for creating substances using polymers. They...