US Environmental Protection Agency
Building an Model Aquifer
With almost half of Americans relying on groundwater supplies, it is more important than ever to protect aquifers from possible contaminants. Working in small groups, young environmentalists explore this problem as they create an aquifer...
ARKive
Endangered Animal Easter Eggs
I love any lesson that addresses more than one subject area. You and your class will discuss endangered animals; each child will choose one animal and then create a decorated egg to represent their animal. After the eggs are decorated,...
It's About Time
Where are the Volcanoes?
Middle school geologists map the volcanoes closest to themselves, learn about map distortion, and infer possible future volcano locations. A focus on latitude, longitude, and volcanoes beneath the ocean helps connect the lesson.
Curated OER
And Now, the Weather...
Learners collect and analyze data. In this middle school mathematics/science lesson, students collect temperature reading over a 24 hour period. Learners analyze the data for mean, median, maximum and minimum.
Curated OER
Eruption
Young scholars conduct an experiment simulating an underwater volcano based on reading The Magic School Bus Blows Its Top. They create a desktop volcano eruption demonstrating where magma comes from and how lava flows.
Curated OER
Food for thought
Cake has to be good for something, right? Different foods are used by our bodies in different ways. Learners will first read about what fats, proteins, fruits, and vegetables do for the human body. They will then put each of food shown...
Curated OER
Related Lessons Break It
Students brainstorm about the kinds of things that they use at home and school each day. They consider the types of materials out of which these things are made. Keep a list of their repsonses on a large sheet of paper or on the blackboard.
Curated OER
Green Transportation System
Consider the effects of green transportation. In this environmental stewardship lesson, determine how transportation has changed throughout history and then collaborate to solve New York City transportation issues.
Curated OER
Tracing Highs and Lows in San Francisco
On a topographic map, pupils identify the scale bar, north arrow, and contour interval. They then locate a hill on the map and make note of the contour lines. Students then locate other places with similar contour line patterns....
Curated OER
What Happens to Our Bodies When We Get Sick?
Seventh graders explore ways in which they become sick. They find out ways that there bodies fight off bacteria. Students watch a video from the Magic School Bus series:"Inside Raphie." After reviewing video students can openly discuss...
Curated OER
Hummingbird Nests
Now here's a hands-on activity that little ones are sure to love. Using melted chocolate, coconut, and jelly beans they'll be able to shape tiny nests perfect for tiny birds. Kids love getting their hands dirty and the tactile experience...
Curated OER
Your Eyes Saw My Unformed Body: closing lesson
For those who teach and believe in Intelligent Design, this lesson is perfect. Religion learners read and discuss Psalm 139: 1-18, and present their cell representation in class. They then watch a speech by Louie Giglio about the protein...
Curated OER
Benefits, drawbacks of alternative healing
Students discuss alternative healing techniques, then chart the potential benefits and drawbacks of alternative health therapies. They design symbols representing alternative healing techniques.
Curated OER
The Tilt of the Earth And the Seasons
Fourth graders measure the change in the size of their shadow over time. They visit a fixed structure and record the date, the time, and the measurement of the length of their shadow. They do this over the course of the school year. They...
Curated OER
Earth Materials - Geology and Plate Tectonics
Not going into depth on any one topic, this Earth science presentation skims the crust. It touches on the materials that construct the crust and then moves into plate tectonics. This is a useful and colorful note-taking guide for your...
Perkins School for the Blind
Friction
Friction is a force that can be felt, which means that learners with visual impairments can experiment to feel and understand the concept of friction. They slide a rock along a smooth table, and then they slide a rock across sandpaper,...
Curated OER
Now You See It, Now You Don't
High schoolers determine their eye's blind spot. In this biology instructional activity, students explain what causes this visual deficiency. They give real life applications of this concept.
Curated OER
Now We Teach Six Rs
Learners explore recycling. In this ecology lesson, students sort classroom garbage into items that can be reused, reduced, or recycled. Learners brainstorm ideas for reusing items and discuss ways to celebrate Earth Day at home.
Curated OER
Snell's Law (And Then Some)
Students conduct an experiment to test Snell's Law using a block of lucite and a ray box. They measure the light rays as they impinge upon the block. Students are also asked to draw the situation of the lab or create a model of the...
Curated OER
The Impact
Learn about the destruction of the rainforest by analyzing statistics. Young learners make an original line graph showing destruction in the rainforest. Additional activities include making a collage, sequencing Dr. Seuss' The Lorax,...
Curated OER
Measurement of Volume
Students measure the volume of a clear container using a candle and sand. In this measuring volume lesson plan, students time how long a candle stays lit in a clear glass container. They fill it with sand and find the volume and then use...
Curated OER
Airplanes and Airports: How To Take Off Without Ever Leaving the Ground
Students plan an airport visit. For this Airplanes and Airports lesson, students observe the people, activity, and machinery at airports. Then students compare the characteristics of their observations at the airport. Students make...
Curated OER
Circulatory System: The Beat Goes On!
With schools focusing on physical fitness activities, now is the perfect time to teach students about the circulatory system.
Curated OER
Professor of Ice
For this environment experiment worksheet, students complete 3 experiments using ice. First they label each experiment and respond to the four questions given. Then students do the 3 experiments as stated, considering what the...