Curated OER
Losing An Island
Students examine carbon dioxide and determine the impact of greenhouse gases on the earths spheres. In this pollution instructional activity students complete a lab activity to see the impact of gases on the environment,
Curated OER
Echo Location
Students participate in a role-playing activity that demonstrates how whales use sound as an adaptation to their environment.
Curated OER
The Guest Investigator Puzzle
Students conduct a brief astrophysics lab matching the EUVE spectra of various kinds of "mystery" stars with the spectra of known stars taken at Extreme Ultraviolet and optical wavelengths to determine their type.
Curated OER
Stratigraphy and Cross-Dating
Young scholars interpret archaeological strata using the law of superposition. They apply cross-dating to determine the age of other artifacts.
Curated OER
Rocketry in Motion
Students investigate why a balloon flies in one direction as air escapes in the opposite direction, which helps them understand the nature of rockets and fireworks. Individually and in teams, students conduct research to create a...
Curated OER
Lunar Life Support
Students design and build models of nine life support systems which are crucial to our successful settlement of the Moon. Each team must define the requirements of their system, exploring how these requirements are currently being met on...
Curated OER
Frogz
Students perform jumps and leaps from one lily pad to another to add to a study of frogs.
Curated OER
States of Matter
Students categorize items into one of the three states of matter. They participate in a demonstration in which they represent particles of matter. Finally, they complete an experiment in which they "race" top see who can make acetone...
Curated OER
Furbearers of Illinois
Students study fur bearing animals of Illinois. They research a specific furbearer (it's habitat, diet, current hunting regulations regarding the animal, conservation organizations that help the animal, etc.) and give a presentation on...
Curated OER
Insect Biology and Ecology: A Primer
Young scholars explore insects and closely related organisms. They examine the growth and development of a lady beetle. Students classify insects and organize them. They investigate pest management.
Curated OER
Hide & Seek Butterflies
Students examine a variety of butterflies and discuss how they believe they get their color variations. In groups, they brainstorm the advantages and disadvantages of their color schemes. To end the activity, they watch butterflies in...
Curated OER
Riparian Zones Grades 4-8
Students examine and analyze the Riparian Zones found on the edges of streams and lakes. They assess why those are such valuable ecosystems and then conduct actual field research on riparian zones and conclude by drawing conclusions from...
Curated OER
Birds of Wisconsin
First graders explore the job done by ornithologists. They role play identifying the characteristics that make a bird a bird. They discuss what makes each bird species unique. Students are introduced to Wisconsin's most common and rare...
Curated OER
STEREO Watches the Sun Kick up a Storm!
In this solar storm worksheet, students use images of a solar tsunami to determine the size and speed of the wave. This worksheet has 5 problems to solve.
Curated OER
Create your own thermometer
Students participate in an activity where they build a calibrated thermometer. In this thermometer instructional activity students complete this activity and take notes.
Curated OER
A Model of the Sun's interior
Young scholars create a three-dimensional model of the sun. In this solar system lesson, students design a scale model of the sun using plasticine.
K12 Reader
What Is Gravity
This cross-curricular reading comprehension worksheet asks kids to read a short passage about gravity and then to answer questions about the article.
Curated OER
Action-Reaction! Rocket
Young scholars construct a rocket from a balloon propelled along a guide string. They use this model to learn about Newton's three laws of motion, examining the effect of different forces on the motion of the rocket. They measure the...
K12 Reader
Solids, Liquids, & Gases
Solids, liquid, and gas, the three states of matter, are the subject of a cross-curricular reading comprehension exercise that asks kids to first read an article about these forms, and then to respond to a series of questions based on...
Teach Engineering
Protecting Our City with Levees
Teams use the design process to design, build, and test a model levee to protect the town from a wall of water. A handout provides a price list for the materials learners can use to build their levee within a budget.
Curated OER
Aqua-Thrusters!
Students construct their own rocket-powered boat called an "aqua-thruster." These aqua-thrusters will be made from a film canister and will use carbon dioxide gas - produced from a chemical reaction between an antacid tablet and water -...
Curated OER
Up, Up and Away
Tenth graders experiment with gravity and air pressure. In this geometry activity, 10th graders build their own kits and fly it. They investigate the questions: what keeps a kite in the air and what are some important factors when flying...
K12 Reader
Forms of Matter
In this forms of matter worksheet, students read a 4 paragraph article about forms of matter, then complete a set of 5 short answer comprehension questions.
Curated OER
Prairie Populations
Eleventh graders practice the Quadrat Survey Technique to analyze the biodiversity of a local plant community. They compare its biodiversity with the documented changes in biodiversity of the tallgrass prairie over time.