Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reach for the Stars

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Learners investigate the Underground Railroad. In this slavery lesson, students read books about slavery, the Undeground Railroad, and how slaves escaped the south. Learners develop knowledge about coded songs and constellations that...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Energy in a Clean Environment

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students identify and describe the different types of energy and how it is transferred.  In this energy lesson plan students complete several activities including how to calculate joules, adding up wattage, and create a presentation...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Classification of Intertidal Organisma

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students categorize animals. In this animal classification instructional activity, students group animals by their characteristics. Students break into groups and work together to classify the animals. Students fill out a graphic...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Man's Struggle for Environmental Preservation

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the way all living things are connected to one another. In groups, they participate in experiments in which they analyze the chemical processes through the biosphere and explain the role of energy. They also brainstorm...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Magic School Bus Flexes Its Muscles

For Teachers K - 2nd
Learners learn along with Ms. Frizzle's class. In this Magic School Bus lesson plan, students explore the inside of the human body as they compare the bones and joints of a chicken wing with their own hands and arms.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Baby Animals Debut at Zoos

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Visit to the Vet

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Young scholars discover the important role veterinarians play in the lives of animals.  In this animal safety lesson, students identify parts of veterinarian's job by completing a KWL chart and an online tutorial.  Young...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Arthur's Eyes

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Young scholars learn about the parts of the eye.  In this eyes and vision lesson, students the story Arthur's Eyes and create a KWL chart about eyes.  Young scholars label the parts of the eye, examine the eyes of different...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Now and Then

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students record transformations and their effects within and across cultures. Students study the life of specific people in a former time period and then in the present time period. This teacher focused on the Winnebago tribe, using her...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What is a Shark?

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Learners discuss their knowledge of sharks. In this shark lesson, students read about various sharks and look up shark sightings in an online newspaper. They create Shark-shaped poetry. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Model of a Well

For Teachers K - 4th
Students complete an experiment using wire screening, wires, water, sand, and food coloring to compare the relationship of groundwater to wells. In this water lesson plan, students observe and record what they see after they complete the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Zoo Book for All

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
A visit to the local zoo launches an integrated life science/ language arts research project into the habitat, feeding habits, offspring, lifespan, and other interesting facts about animals. Each group selects two animals to photograph...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Zoo Animal Experts

For Teachers K
As part of an exploration of zoo animals, kindergarteners conduct research on their favorite animal and compile their information. Learners write about their animal in a journal and create a trading card. The culminating activity is a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plastic Pollution

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Learners determine with math concepts how much plastic pollution is affecting marine life. In this plastic pollution lesson plan, students collect scientific data from a field trip to a water treatment plant.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Marine Animal and Plant Adaptations

For Teachers 1st - 6th
Students examine nature by creating their own animals. In this animal adaptation lesson, students define scientific vocabulary terms dealing with adaptation such as sea stars, sea cucumbers and exoskeleton. Students utilize their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

ABC's of Dinosaurs

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students develop an ABC Book using KidPix Productivity software to create a multimedia slide show applying all they have learned about dinosaurs. They participate in a virtual field trip to find information.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sea World Fieldtrip Follow-up

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students create a graphic organizer in preparation for a web page about a specific science-related topic. This lesson is used as a follow-up to a field trip experience and can be adapted for many different subjects.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water: The Liquid of Life

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders complete a lesson on the properties, types and amounts of water on Earth. In groups, they travel between stations to identify water resources in Illinois and pollution sources. They complete the lesson with a field trip...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Graphing Water Temperature

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students graph water temperature using probe software and a Palm on a class field trip to a lake or pond. Emphasis is placed on collaboration with high school science students and the use of ImagiProbe software.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Simplified Botany--Leaf Chromatography

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students investigate the different pigments contained in green leaves by completing an experiment that strips away the chlorophyll and separates the pigments left behind.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Aerogel

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students identify how technology aids scientists in their research. Through discussion, they explain the various ways scientists use Aerogel to aid in their collection of high-speed particles. Through experimentation, students create...
Lesson Plan
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Museum of Tolerance

Immigration Journeys

For Teachers 3rd - 6th Standards
Through the journey of four stories of immigration, scholars complete graphic organizers and apply knowledge to create a visual representation of their findings on a large poster. Third and fourth readers write a letter to their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Becoming Africa's Wildlife

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students take a "trip" to Africa. In this Africa lesson plan, students watch a National Geographic video on animals from Africa. They pick an animal to research, create a poster about, and make a field guide. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bye-Bye Trout Song

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students develop an understanding about what will happen to trout after they are released into the trout stream. In this trout life lesson, students discuss how it feels to release the trout they have cared for. Students also sing a song...