Lesson Plan
National Wildlife Federation

I’ve Got the POWER! Solar Energy Potential at Your School

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Should every school have solar panels? The 19th lesson in a series of 21 has scholars research the feasibility of using solar panels at their school. They begin by gathering data on the solar energy in the area before estimating the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Photosynthesis

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students recognize the importance of plants as they perform an experiment involving photosynthesis. Students determine the optimum wavelength of light for photosynthesis by exposing plants to different colors of light, collecting data,...
Lesson Plan
Oregon State

Using Paper Chromatography

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Through the analysis of paper chromatography to separate ink from the pen found at the crime scene, learners analyze the different stains and through calculations determine the thief. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Peat Pots

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Learners place a peat pot in water to observe and calculate the rate of capillarity in a model of a soil. This task assesses students' abilities to make simple observations, collect, record, and represent data, use a data table to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

La Toteca- A Tropical Paradise

For Teachers 7th - 11th
Students collect data on the time of the ferry. In this algebra lesson, students use the data to predict a ferry schedule. They also compute the depth where oxygen would be needed when diving.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Paper Gliders

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders study friction and drag. In this science lesson, 6th graders use different models of gliders and test to see which of the gliders fly the farthest. Students analyze their data and construct a graph.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Probing Under the Surface

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders use a measuring stick to determine the shape of the inside of the bottom of a box, then apply their knowledge to an additional situation. This task assesses students' abilities to make simple observations, collect and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Is Portland, Oregon Experiencing Global Warming?

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students use data to determine if the climate in Portland has changed over the years.  In this weather instructional activity students complete line graphs and study long wave radiation. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Big Is The Playground?

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students calculate the standard and metric measurements of a playground. In this measurement lesson, students use GPS coordinates and graphing calculators to determine the dimensions of an area outside of the school in both standard and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Analyzing Tree Rings to Determine Climate Change

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine how to locate and access data sets.  For this climate change lesson students import data into Excel and graph it.   
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Many Frogs?

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students explore the concept of linear regression. In this linear regression lesson, students find the line of best fit for a set of data pertaining to a frog population. Students use their line of best fit to predict the frog population...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Fabled Maine Winter

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students graph and analyze scientific data.  In this research lesson students use the Internet to obtain data then draw conclusions about what they found. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Is Grandpa Right, Were Winters Colder When He Was a Boy?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students compare current weather data to historic data to see if there is a temperature change.  In this weather lesson students complete a lab activity and determine average changes in temperature, precipitation and cloud cover.
Lesson Plan
Code.org

Algorithms Detour - Minimum Spanning Tree

For Teachers 9th - 12th
This optional lesson introduces the class to the idea of a minimum spanning tree. The activity focuses on determining an algorithm that will find the most efficient path in a network to transfer data. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Reason for the Seasons

For Teachers 8th - 9th
Students compare graphs of their data that was generated on a NASA website.  In this seasons lesson plan students complete a lab activity. 
Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Wheels All Around

For Teachers K - 2nd Standards
Budding mathematicians explore the concept of skip counting. They practice skip counting as they use it to determine the number of wheels that come to school at 3 different times throughout the day. They also create a data graph to show...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar Cell Energy Availability From Around the Country

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students determine areas that are the most likely to produce solar energy by using NASA data.  In this solar energy lesson students analyze plots and determine solar panel use. 
Lesson Plan
Polar Trec

Beacon Valley Weather

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
In Beacon Valley, katabatic winds regularly knock fit adults to the ground. The lesson plan compares the actual temperatures to the wind chill after factoring in katabatic winds in Beacon Valley. Scholars learn to calculate wind chill...
Lesson Plan
Virginia Department of Education

Acid-Base Theory

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Litmus paper, why so blue? A chemistry lesson includes a pre-lab activity, practice calculating pH, an experiment measuring the pH in acids and bases, a titration demonstration, and a titration experiment. 
Lesson Plan
University of California

Hot! Hot! Hot!

For Teachers 7th - 10th Standards
Calories are not tiny creatures that sew your clothes tighter every night, but what are they? A science lesson, presented at multiple levels, has learners experiment with heat, heat transfer, and graph the function over time....
Lesson Plan
National Wildlife Federation

Why All the Wiggling on the Way Up? CO2 in the Atmosphere

For Teachers 5th - 8th Standards
The climate change debate, in the political arena, is currently a hot topic! Learners explore carbon dioxide levels in our atmosphere and what this means for the future in the 11th installment of 12. Through an analysis of carbon dioxide...
Lesson Plan
Mascil Project

Epidemics: Modelling with Mathematics

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
The Black Death epidemic is responsible for more than one million deaths in the United Kingdom. An inquiry-based activity has young scholars explore the rate of disease spread. They then analyze graphs showing data from epidemics such as...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Acceleration Science

For Teachers 9th - 12th
In collaborative groups, physics learners design and create a web portfolio of internet resoucres explaining poitive and negative acceleration, zero acceleration, and positive and negative velocity. This is a terrific assignment for...
Lesson Plan
NOAA

What Killed the Seeds?

For Teachers 7th - 8th Standards
Can a coral cure cancer? Take seventh and eighth grade science sleuths to the underwater drugstore for an investigation into emerging pharmaceutical research. The fifth installment in a series of six has classmates research the wealth of...