Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earthquake Machine

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore plate tectonics by conducting a class experiment. In this earthquake activity, students utilize scrap wood, sandpaper, rubber bands and a sanding belt to create a model earthquake experiment which shakes a nearby...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Smart Decision!

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders use a Decision Making Model to analyze and solve an environmental problem of public concern. Groups review a real life environmental problem, and use a worksheet imbedded in this plan to guide their decision.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Inference Makes the Difference

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore how archaeologists make inferences from artifacts to explore what life was like in the past. In this archaeology lesson, students work in groups and make inferences about an imaginary household based on modern day...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Environmental Action

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Young scholars investigate an environmental problem in order to find and propose possible solutions. The problem is real to add to the engagement of the lesson. This is found through conducting research and then brainstorming is done in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

It's All in the Genes

For Teachers 12th
Twelfth graders investigate the inheritance of traits through several hands-on activities that illustrate the transmission of genetic characteristics. Students study advanced topics including multiple alleles, polygenic traits,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Kernel Power" Ethanol Fuel from Corn

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students study why corn is a biodegradable, renewable resource.  In this ethanol lesson students build models and observe a chemical reaction.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Quality in the Greenhills Stream

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders conduct year long study of water quality over different seasons using variety of probes, including D.O., pH, conductivity and temperature, that are attached to portable technology. Students select three data points in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Let's Go On A Bear Hunt

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students work together to complete a research project on bears. Using the Internet, they answer questions they have about bears and reinforce what they already know. They compare and contrast different species of bears and bears in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dinosaurs

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students research and identify the characteristics of a variety of dinosaurs. They participate in a class discussion about dinosaurs, analyze and examine fossils, and conduct research using a variety of sources to write and present a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Evaporation

For Teachers 1st
First graders explore, analyze, document and study weather and the water cycle. They observe the weather and begin a weather journal. Each student interacts with the concepts of evaporation, condensation and precipitation, clouds,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Invasive Species in the News

For Teachers 11th - Higher Ed
Students explore how invasive species can change an environment. In this critical thinking lesson, students study how invasive animals can change an environments population. They will discuss the implications of an invasive species and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lessons in 'Little Theater' Echo in Students' Lives

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Learners explore the drama of real life. In this journalism lesson, students read the USA Today article titled "Lessons in 'Little Theater' Echo in Learners' Lives," respond to discussion questions regarding the article, and complete an...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"Fall"owing Changes in the Season

For Teachers K
Students create a whole class A-B-"C"eason Book. Each student is responsible for creating a "letter" page relating to changes, adaptations, or other fall concepts. After hard copies of the class ABC books are created, the teachers using...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

FRED the FISH

For Teachers 1st - 12th
Students engage in the study of the human impact on environmental systems (specifically rivers). This instructional activity enhances Students' exploration of a variety of themes or topics.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bite Sized Core Sampling

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students define the origin of rock samples and how surface core samples can tell us about the history and make-up of Mars. Candies are used as a Martian surface sample. Students study the samples and make a hypothesis about the cause of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Finance and Responsible Lending

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students learn the characteristics of economic systems through problem solving, communication and representation. For this financial lending lesson, students use math to solve problems dealing with the economy today, to work with their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Natural Selection: Exploring the 'Ohi'a Common Garden

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders examine natural variation by visiting the Ohi'a Common Garden in Volcano, Hawaii. In this natural selection lesson, 7th graders study background information about phenotypes, genotypes, and phenotypic plasticity before...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Biotechnology

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students introduced to the genre of science fiction and the theme of biotechnology within that genre.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ask the Antlion

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students observe and examine the life cycle of antlions, recording their observations of the live insects in a journal. They view an antlion on a video microscope, draw the body parts, and replicate their experiment at home.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Would Happen If ... A Study of a Scandinavian Glacier

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students read an article about changes is the landforms in Scandinavia. They identify the main ideas. They eliminate or combine to make 4-7 main ideas. Finally students write about what they predict happen share, and discuss.
Unit Plan
National Library of Medicine

Your Environment, Your Health: Air Quality

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Some scientists argue that air pollution now causes more deaths than smoking. The second unit in a six-part series focuses on air quality. Scholars learn what's in the air, how clean the air around their school is, and what they can do...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

On The Go! Forces and Motion

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Students create a car using physics. In this forces and motion lesson, students create a car and test which changes in design change the performance of the car. Students complete a graphic organizer with the different changes...
Lesson Plan
Cornell University

Atomic Bonding

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Explore the connection of surface area to bonding within atoms. Learners complete lab investigations to model changing surface area with different sizes and concentrations of atoms. A flour fireball demonstration follows the labs to...
Website
American Museum of Natural History

Being an Astronomer: Neil deGrasse Tyson

For Students 6th - 12th
An interview delves deep into the life of famous astronomer Neil deGrasse Tyson.