Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Filling the Glass (Water, Air, and Fractions)

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Learners predict which of two glasses is 1/2 full using visual estimation, height measurement, and liquid measurement methods. Mathematical equations to accurately solve the problem are determined and verified.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Science: Wind Power

For Teachers All
Students build models of wind turbines and experiment with different designs that will improve efficiency. Students will understand the use of wind power as a renewable resource.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Miracle Fish: Learning to Design an Experiment

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students develop procedures to explore the behavior of fish.  For this scientific experiment lesson students from a hypothesis, write a question, identify different variables and controls in their experiment. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Race the Track! Jump the Gap

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students record data of using a track system with variables and how those variables affect a ball used in the track. In this track lesson plan, students design their own track in groups, test the ball's rates of speed, and record their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What's The Matter?

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders accurately describe various states of matter, Through experimentation, they change a variable to create a new state of matter. Students record their observations about the way matter is changed and the changes that occur...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Current Thinking About Magnets

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students construct their own magnet and wire device. In this inquiry instructional activity, students investigate the factors affecting the strength of magnetic forces. They manipulate different variable to determine their effect.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Can Sounds Be Different

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders explore energy and motion. They investigate how sound energy moves in waves. Students explore how sounds are varied and how the instruments that make those sounds are built. They observe sounds being produced and predict...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Do You Move Along the Earth?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students determine their own walking and running velocity. In this physics lesson plan, students calculate velocity using distance and time information. They compare human and animal speeds.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Looking Blue

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Young scholars participate in a research project that is exclusively using the internet. The author states that traditional labs are hard to conduct for a light lab. This one uses the internet with the intention that students can...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

An Egg-cellent Osmosis Experiment

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners investigate the problem of osmosis by conducting an experiment. They use eggs with the shells dissolved to tell whether fluid can move across the membranes. The experiment provides high interest for all kinds of students to keep...
Lesson Plan
American Chemical Society

Using the Combining Test to Identify Unknown Liquids

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Once investigators have learned how their mystery liquids interact with water during the preceding activity, they now use their observations to identify them. This is an ideal conclusion to the mini unit on the properties of water. 
Lesson Plan
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PHET

Planet Designer: Retro Planet Red

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
What does the atmosphere on Mars look like? This fourth lesson in the series of five is designed for high schoolers. Scholars apply previous knowledge to add atmosphere to Mars in an online simulation. This comprehensive lesson includes...
Lesson Plan
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PHET

Planet Designer: Martian Makeover

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Mars used to have liquid water, can you make it come back? Use the lesson and simulation to understand why Mars lost its magnetic field, why atmosphere is important, and what gravity has to do with it. This is the third lesson...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Stars and Slopes

For Teachers 10th - 12th
More of a math lesson than physics or space science, high schoolers take a set of data and plot it on a log-log coordinate system. The write-up for day two was never completed, but day one, "Stars and Slopes," is complex and cohesive....
Lesson Plan
PHET

The Dynamic Nature of the Sun

For Teachers 5th - 8th Standards
In this second instructional activity of the series, pupils learn to observe similarities and differences in photos of the sun and record them in a Venn diagram. Then, small groups practice the same skill on unique images before...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Balancing The Day Away In Grade 2

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders sped the day exploring about balance by playing with and making balancing toys. They discover how varying the amount and position of mass affects the toys' balance. Pupils explore gravity and balance while playing with the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plants in Your Gas Tank: From Photosynthesis to Ethanol

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Explore ethanol and how it is produced. Young scientists investigate photosynthesis and fermentation to the concept of conservation of energy and mass. They discuss the environmental and economical benefits of ethanol as a fuel additive.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lead and Mercury Ion Catalase Inhibition

For Teachers 8th - 9th
Students participate in a laboratory investigation in which they observe the effect of temperature and pH on enzyme activity. Students also examine exposure to heavy metal ions and the effect that may have on enzyme activity.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Lesson Plan

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students discuss the importance of water in our daily lives. In this physics instructional activity, students calculate the pressure of water tower systems. They investigate the effect of certain variables using a computer simulation.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

DOWNHILL DISCOVERIES

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Young scholars studykinetic energy, friction, drag and acceleration by relating it to the Winter Olympics.  In this physical properties lesson students create tracks and determine how the course conditions affect bobsled, luge...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Poster Assignment: Sports Chemistry

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders distinguish between chemical and physical properties and changes in matter when given specific examples. They view a video of sports activities. Students chose their favorite sport and design an experiment to improve sports...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Your Weight on Other Planets

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students explore their weight on other planets. In this science activity, students view a presentation about the other planets and complete a worksheet in which they make predictions about their weight on the moon and other planets.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Human Pendulum

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students explore the pendulum. In this physics activity, students investigate how length, amplitude and mass affect the period of a pendulum. The students will engage in an exploratory activity in order to best grasp the concepts of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cold Fronts

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers determine its' direction of movement, and list at least five weather conditions associated with the specific front, given animations of several atmospheric variables during a cold front passage. They list at least three...