Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Seed Dispersal in Tropical Forests
How do seeds get around? It's not like plants can control seed dispersal—or can they? Dig deeper into the amazing mechanisms of seed dispersal observed in tropical plants through interactives, a video, and plenty of hands-on data...
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Genes Get Shuffled When Chromosomes Exchange Pieces
Some genes link to others that have implications for inheritance. A set of resources lead pupils through the history of this discovery. They explain how chromosomes recombine and which parts are more susceptible to this linkage....
Curated OER
Help Save the Polar Bear
Students use ice cubes to demonstrate how the polar ice caps are melting and how it effects the polar bears. In this polar bear lesson plan, the teacher explains how polar bears live on the north pole and how they are having trouble due...
Curated OER
Observing the Growth Spurt
Young scholars notice a growth spurt in their Brassica plants and closely monitor this growth by measuring their plants and predicting the next day's growth based on the pattern of their data. They also read and highlight the objectives...
Curated OER
Solve the Mystery Photo
Students observe a mystery photo and use descriptive language to solve the mystery. In this descriptive language lesson, students use scientific observation to figure out a mystery photo. Students rationalize their thoughts with...
Curated OER
Investigating Animals in Water
Learners observe small animal activity. They identify local water animals and describe the habitats where water animals can be found. Students collect samples to observe in the classroom.
Curated OER
Summer Activities: Let's Try Bubble Blowing!
Students observe as the teacher blows bubbles from a large bubble pipe in order to take note of the colors and sizes of the bubbles. In this bubble blowing instructional activity, students experiment with a variety of bubble-blowing...
Curated OER
Behold the Mold!
Students explore how mold grows on various food items. In this mold lesson plan, students predict how mold will grow on dry vs. wet food items, and chart their observations daily. Children develop a summary to aid them in a summative...
Curated OER
What is Weather?
For this weather worksheet, students photograph and record the weather conditions for a week. Then they list the types of clouds observed and the weather conditions they noted associated with each cloud type. Students also write a...
PBS
Predicting/Making a Hypothesis
Students analyze information from a variety of sources in order to create a hypothesis about the origin of an interesting family artifact.They create alternative hypotheses based upon available information to demonstrate that some...
Discovery Science Center
Kindergarten Observing, Comparing and Contrasting
Although this is a science instructional activity, it can be adapted to help meet Common Core standards in math as well. Starting scientists describe physical properties of objects and explore three forms of water. To address the Common...
Curated OER
When is Dinner Served? Predicting the Spring Phytoplankton Bloom in the Gulf of Maine (College Level)
Students are able to explain the ecological importance of phytoplankton. They describe the components that influence a phytoplankton bloom. Students interpret satellite images in order to correlate buoy data.
Curated OER
Landscape Observation: How Portland Has Changed
Learners read The Lorax and discuss how populations change the environment. Using given photos, students use a Venn Diagram to compare and contrast the Portland of yesterday to present day Portland. They write a comparison paper and...
Curated OER
Cloud Observation and Graphing
Students identify the three major cloud groups. They are introduced to the three main cloud types and spend a week making and recording observations of clouds. Students produce a graph that presents their findings and conduct research...
Curated OER
Recognizing Litter
When does trash become litter? Use this litter awareness lesson to help them understand the importance of trash disposal. Get learners engaged by reading Nancy Loewen's Lady Lulu Liked to Litter (not included). After discussing what...
DiscoverE
Build a Watershed
What's the best way to learn how watersheds work? Build one! Combining engineering, the water cycle, and ecology concerns, the activity is the perfect fit for an interdisciplinary unit. Teams construct a model watershed with simple...
Curated OER
Theobroma - Food of the Gods
Students discuss the history of cacao and its use in the production of chocolate. They analyze actual cacao pods and record their observations. Finally they create a five minute contour drawing of the cacao pod and seeds.
Curated OER
Schoolyard Bird Project
Students observe and count bird sightings around their schoolyard throughout the school year.
Curated OER
Weather Reporting
Students locate a weather map on the internet and explain or predict the weather for the following day. Students interpret the information on the weather map and pick the correct clothing to wear for that day. Students chart and graph...
Curated OER
Hurricanes
Students research the formation and life-span of hurricanes and, after analyzing statistics, try their hand at plotting and predicting the course a hurricane.
Curated OER
The Great Kapok Tree..
Students predict what each animal in the story read says and then compare them. They pretend that a tree was cut down and write a new ending for the story. Students explain why the story is not true and create a Venn Diagram comparing...
W.K. Kellogg Biological Station
Succession: Patterns in the Field and in Seeds
Have you been wondering how to use that natural trail at or near your school? This activity gets kids outside with a purpose: learn about ecological succession through field observations and collecting seed and soil samples. The resource...
Curated OER
A Lesson in Biodiversity: Making Comparisons Between Defensive Mechanisms Utilized by Marine Organisms
If your upper elementary or middle school marine biology learners are going to visit an aquarium, then here is a field trip activity guide for you. It is written specifically for The Maritime Aquarium, but the idea can be adapted to...