Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Changes Occur When Ice Melts?

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Young scholars explore the physical process of melting. They observe melting ice and answer questions related to energy transfer during phase changes.
Lesson Plan
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Infrared Zoo Lesson 2 Index Dinner in the Dark

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Young scholars discover how certain snakes can find prey using a natural infrared sensor. They think about small prey animals and how a pit viper snake finds them in the forest. Students explore the physical characteristics of the...
Lesson Plan
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Sand Castles: Pre-engineering 101

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students examine how soil holds together and what the effect of particle size and water content is on soil.  For this engineering lesson students complete a lab, record their observations and discuss what they learned. 
Lesson Plan
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Ziplock Chemistry

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students investigate various chemical reactions when creating mixtures in ziplock baggies. In this chemistry lesson, students will recognize various chemical reactions and cite evidence. Safety and assessment strategies are included in...
Lesson Plan
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Online Exploration: Telescopes From the Ground Up

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore a web-based illustrated text and interactive graphics to determine the relationship between the operation of telescopes and light. optics. They work in small groups to become an expert on one of the ten eras of telescope...
Lesson Plan
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Fieldwork: Horizons Under Ground: Digging Through Wetland Soil

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students study the different soil types and describe the different soils in various environments.  In this soil lesson students walk to a reserve and discuss what they saw. 
Lesson Plan
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Mr. Bones

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students play CD-ROM game My Amazing Human Body, and participate in relay game in Phys. Ed. where they put together skeleton on which body parts are labeled.
Lesson Plan
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Flambe Elements

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders discuss atoms and electrons as well as atoic structure. They view atomic structure via the computer. Students watch a demonstration in which the teacher demonstrates glass tubing turning yellow in a Bunsen Burner flame....
Lesson Plan
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Maps and Models

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students study maps of New Mexico examining settlement patterns over time and the location of water sources. They research the history of their community and discover how cultural groups interacted, adapted to their physical...
Lesson Plan
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Photovoltaics and Solar Energy

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Learners experiment with photovoltaic cells and determine the energy use of their appliances. In this renewable energy lesson plan, students calculate the energy emitted by a photovoltaic cell through an inquiry-based lab. They keep...
Lesson Plan
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Ozone and Temperature Data Analysis, South Pole Antarctica

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars discuss the layers of the atmosphere, and the history of the ozone hole. They discuss the chemistry of the ozone formation. Students compare seasonal data collected with ozonesondes. They compare Antarctic and Arctic ozone...
Lesson Plan
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Global Warming: Life in a Greenhouse

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars examine the evidence that scientists have used to support the existence of global warming and the greenhouse effect. How the concepts have been developed and evaluated form the focus of this lesson.
Lesson Plan
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Acids and Bases: Together again!

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students identify principles behind acid-base reactions. They predict factors that may affect an acid-base reaction. Students identify questions and concepts that guide scientific investigations.
Lesson Plan
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Snack Attack: Food Packaging Activity

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students design and create packaging material for food. For this snack attack lesson, students design a package to protect a food item from heat and water. Students consider costs of materials, design, and test the package to see if it...
Lesson Plan
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Soil Treasure Hunt

For Teachers K - 4th
Students explore the concept of soil and decomposition. For this soil and decomposition lesson, students investigate bags of soil. Students then learn how  animals and other organisms help in the decomposition process. 
Lesson Plan
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The Colors of Seasons

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students observe each season and and mark the colors they see.  In this colors of the seasons lessons, students read The Mystery of the Missing Hummingbirds and compare their results and note variations of colors in the different...
Lesson Plan
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Eating Through the Metric System

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders convert measurements in recipes to metric measurements and prepare the food items. They create a metric measurement cookbook.
Lesson Plan
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Hot Air Balloon Design Lesson Plan

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders discuss what they know and what they want to know about hot air balloon using a KWL chart. They then use a wide array of materials to design a hot air balloon that will lift successfully in cooperative groups referring to...
Lesson Plan
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Radioactivity Experiments

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students study the difference between types of ionizing radiation and how elements are transmuted. They determine that radiation is normal and surrounds us. They calculate the amounts of alpha, beta and gamma radiation emitted from a...
Lesson Plan
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Kinetic Molecular Theory

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students analyze and evaluate evidence that matter is made of tiny particles. They observe a series of phenomena involving solids, liquids, and gases to make inferences about the spacing, interactions and relative kinetic energies of the...
Lesson Plan
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Whale Watcher Game Lesson

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students participate in an online whale watching game. They identify the reasons for migration and describe the route. They make predictions on what would happen if the ways did not migrate.
Lesson Plan
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Predator Protector Game

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students take on the role of an Ocean Adventures expedition volunteer member and are charged with protecting three species of sharks from danger in order to defend the balance of nature in the ecosystem. They play an online game which...
Lesson Plan
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Water Wonders

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students explore hydrology concepts. In this environment and biology lesson, students identify and describe macroinvertebrates using a variety of pictures and resources. Students observe and write about a classroom aquarium in which...
Lesson Plan
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Voyage to Kure Viewing Guide

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students complete a worksheet while viewing a video about the oceans. They locate the oceans on a map and identify positive and negative ways in which humans have impacted them. They discuss any questions at the end of the lesson.