American Chemical Society
Forming a Precipitate
Can you mix two liquids to make a solid that is insoluble? Yes, you can, and pupils see this as the lesson uses more than one combination of liquids to form a solid. Through two teacher demonstrations and a hands-on activity,...
American Chemical Society
A Catalyst and the Rate of Reaction
More than 90 percent of chemical products are made using a catalyst. Lesson demonstrates the way a catalyst changes the rate of reaction without altering the chemical reaction. A catalyst doesn't appear as a reactant or a product, yet it...
Curated OER
Energy Activities
Students conduct a variety of experiments related to solar energy, heating, cooling, gravity, physical insulation and wind. They consider how the experiments relate to energy and the consumption of energy and then participate in a class...
Curated OER
Dinosaur! Fossil Rush: Tale of a Bone
Explore 1870s when a "bone rush" led to amazing discoveries, as fossil-hunters risked life and limb in their quest for dinosaur remains. The class uses the attached visual encyclopedia to prep for a discussion on early paleontology. Two...
Curated OER
Life Science: Living Things
Have your class build their vocabulary bank by studying life science terms. Basic terms like organism, cell, unicellular, and vertebrate are included on the definition sheet provided. Demonstrate how to identify different life science...
Will Steger Foundation
The Carbon Cycle - What are its Implications for Climate Policy?
The carbon cycle isn't a bike which produces carbon and this lesson explains why. Through reading and discussion, groups of pupils create visual explanations of the four parts of the carbon dioxide oxygen cycle. Activities...
International Technology Education Association
Make a Pinhole Camera
With a little light and a lot of time, you can create some amazing images. This NASA-related task instructs pupils to build a pinhole camera. The lesson provides suggestions for different pictures to try with the pinhole camera...
Curated OER
Weather
Students explore the earth's atmosphere, weather, and climate. They begin class with a discussion about weather patterns, atmosphere, and the layers of the earth. After the class discussion, students rotate through four stations to...
Curated OER
Scientists Use Web Site to Report Volcano Activity
Students react to statements about volcanoes, then read a news article about scientists monitoring eruptions at Augustine volcano in Alaska. For this earth science and current events lesson, the teacher introduces the lesson with a...
Curated OER
Cracking the Genetic Code
Students examine an article, "Genome 'Treasure Trove'" and participate in a class discussion prior to researching further information in order to write their own feature article on the Human Genome Project.
Curated OER
Straight Talk On Tough Issues
Learners engage in a instructional activity that is focused upon the concept of breast cancer and research is conducted using a variety of reference sources. They reflect upon how different people deal with the tragedy of cancer and then...
Curated OER
Will Smog be a Problem at the Olympic Games?
Students locate China on a world map, then read a news article about pollution in Beijing. In this current events activity, the teacher introduces the article with a discussion about smog and a vocabulary activity, then students read the...
Curated OER
Scientists Find 27 New Species in Caves
Students share their knowledge of creatures that live in caves, then read a news article about new cave animals that have been found in California. In this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a discussion and...
Curated OER
Baby Animals Debut at Zoos
Students determine the names of animal babies, then read a news article about zoo's experiencing animal births. In this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with vocabulary activities, then students read the news...
Curated OER
Ethics of Exploration
Students examine space exploration and its domination by governments as well as the fact that some private businesses want to explore space too. They investigate the ethical questions surrounding a space exploration through research and...
Curated OER
Underground Vault Protects World's Seeds
Students share ideas about keeping things safe, then read a news article about a huge vault built to store billions of seeds. In this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a discussion and vocabulary activity,...
Curated OER
Scientists Breed See-Through Frogs
Students participate in a pre-reading activity, then read a news article about the breeding of transparent frogs. In this biology and current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a question and a vocabulary activity,...
Curated OER
Is That Natural?
Learners examine how they use and waste natural resources. They participate in a class discussion about natural resources, in small groups complete a worksheet identifying ways students misuse natural resources, and create an...
Curated OER
Diabetes: A National Epidemic
Students investigate the disease of diabetes. They observe research results to graph the trends of diabetes to contribute to the problem of being overweight. They explain in class discussion the physiological changes that occur in the...
Curated OER
Shark Attack Odds and the Importance of Sharks
Students examine an ecosystem. In this food web lesson, students discover the importance of sharks and what threat sharks actually pose to humans. They participate in class discussions and work independently on a couple of different...
Curated OER
Introduction to Work
Fifth graders define work, force, and energy and calculate work done using a simple formula. They observe the teacher using an Equi-beam and identify the fulcrum, calculate different work problems, and participate in a class discussion.
Curated OER
Grocery Store Bans Plastic Bags
Students participate in the paper vs. plastic bag debate, then read a news article about one grocery store that is banning plastic bags. In this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the news article with a debate and a...
Curated OER
Spiders Build Giant Web in Texas Park
Students make predictions about a photograph of a humongous spider web, then read a news article about thousands of spiders that worked together to build it. In this biology and current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article...
Curated OER
The Circle of Life: Food Chain
Young scholars develop a flow chart using computer software to show a food chain combination. In this food chain lesson plan, students are first read The Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry, then they create a story map of the...