Curated OER
Classifying Plants and Insects
Art and science come together in a lesson based on Flower Still Life by Ambrosius Bosschaert the Elder. Learners classify plants and insects in the painting by color, leaf shape, size, reproduction, and season of bloom.
Curated OER
Star Light, Star Bright: Exploring How Stars are Classified
In this star classification activity, middle schoolers are given laminated star charts to make observations about stars. They work in groups to classify groups of stars based on different characteristics. For each group of stars they...
Curated OER
Classifying Candy I
Students explore the observable properties of matter. They develop two binary classification systems using concrete objects. based on two different properties of the concrete objects.
Curated OER
Collecting and Classifying Pollen
Students collect and analyze pollen from different species of plants. In small groups, they classify pollen according to shape, size and physical characteristics. They draw the basic anatomy of flowering plants and create a dichotomous...
Curated OER
Classifying Vertebrates
Second graders study animal characteristics and classification. For this animal characteristics and classifications lesson, 2nd graders determine how to classify vertebrates which include mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and fish....
Curated OER
Classifying Conundrum
Fourth graders identify plant characteristics from different environments and communicate that information in different ways. They use a simple scheme to classify Utah plants and animals and make observations and record them in a...
Curated OER
Weather Observation Journal
Students record weather for a period of one month. In this weather lesson, students observe weather for one month on a large pictograph. Students record clouds, wind, temperature and any other weather conditions they observe. Students...
Curated OER
Observing and Classifying Rocks
Fourth graders examine various types of rocks and record their properties. They collect rocks at home and bring them to school where they are mixed and distributed to groups of students. After writing their observations on...
New South Wales Department of Education
History of Plant Classification
Bamboo, the fastest growing plant in the world, can grow up to 35 inches in one day! Pupils learn how plants historically have been classified and determine if these traits are appropriate to use in this 17th lesson of 20. They will also...
Science 4 Inquiry
The Classification of Living Things
It's a classification sensation! Demystify why we classify using an inquiry activity that helps your class sort things out. Groups begin by classifying a variety of shoes before they research organisms and design their own dichotomous...
Virginia Department of Education
Metamorphic Rocks
Rocks can bend? Pupils investigate how heat and pressure produce metamorphic rocks by modeling them using clay, and then categorize samples based on observable characteristics. The lesson ends with a metamorphic rock identification...
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Sorting Finch Species
Don't just tell your class about Darwin's finches ... show them! Sort some of science's most famous birds using an interactive lesson. Learners try their hand at classifying finches using song, sonogram, and beak appearance, as well as...
Curated OER
Quadrilateral Clues
Fourth and fifth graders work in pairs explore quadrilaterals. In this problem-solving lesson, learners participate in hands-on activities that require them to identify, describe, compare, and classify quadrilaterals. This is meant...
Curated OER
Frost Depth Study
Students complete activities to study the frost and frost depth. In this frost study lesson, students use frost tubes to study and measure the frost at their school. Students measure the frost in the tube and enter their data online to...
Curated OER
Classifying Materials
Students collect data and make observations on how given element samples respond to the field of a magnet and they calculate the density of the samples by finding the mass and volume.
Curated OER
Sorting
A lesson plan on classification and sorting is here for you. Elementary schoolers participate in an interactive computer game in which they sort books by theme. They take a trip to the library to observe and discuss how books are sorted,...
Curated OER
Classifying Rocks
A well-designed lesson plan on rock classification awaits you. In it, fifth graders are divided into groups. Each group is given a box of rocks which they must sort into two categories. They use the "Rock 'n Roll Rule," in making their...
Cornell University
Glued into Science—Classifying Polymers
Explore the unique characteristics of polymers. A complete lesson plan begins with a presentation introducing polymers. Following the presentation, young scientists develop a laboratory plan for creating substances using polymers....
Teach Engineering
Rocks, Rocks, Rocks: Test, Identify Properties and Classify
Time is growing short. Teams work together to identify physical properties of rocks in order to determine the properties that would best suit their cavern shelter design.
K-5 Math Teaching Resources
Triangle Pack
With so many different types of triangles, it can be a challenge for young mathematicians to keep them all straight. Luckily this set of printable triangles is here to engage children in comparing and sorting triangles by their...
EngageNY
The Decimal Expansion of Some Irrational Numbers
Develop a definition of irrational numbers through an exploration of square roots. The 11th lesson in this series of 25 asks scholars to estimate the value of a square root. Learners observe as the estimation extends further and further...
Curated OER
Classification
Students gather and classify samples of a given item (rocks, fossils, seeds, etc.) They discuss various ways of classifying and that there are many different ways that are acceptable.
Curated OER
Suspended Particulates lab
Students observe differences between suspended particulates and a solution, and classify common atmospheric gases and particulates. They explain what they think the word suspended means. Students observe the differences between what...