Eighth graders discuss series and parallel circuits and design an investigation to test a hypothesis on total resistance of series and parallel circuits in combination. After discussion, groups design their experiments, run tests, and...

Students discover the ocean life of the San Francisco Bay. In this ocean lesson, students take a Discovery Voyage of the Bay ecosystem through the Marine Science Institute. Also available are inland voyages, ocean labs, and tidepool...

Students investigate the effects of temperature change on phase changes. They explore the effects of changes in freezing point and incorporate the law of conservation of energy. They utilize these concepts to make ice cream.

Students investigate techniques that can be used to observe the development of the chick embryo. They explore the environment in which the chick develops and how it can be manipulated.

Third graders, in groups, complete a science lab in which they perform a blind taste test on eight different foods--some sweet, sour, salty, and bitter. They determine which parts of the tongue "taste" which kinds of foods. they record...

Students use their senses to make observations. In this senses lesson plan, students investigate unknown substances by using their senses for observations. Students identify the number of the substances used, the color, the odor, the...

Students discover how the "drinking bird" functions. In this investigative lesson plan, students discover what makes the drinking bird drink by analyzing relative humidity, temperature, and barometric pressure.

Students investigate their environment by growing plants in class.  In this botany lesson plan, students discuss the lifespan of plants and animals and how they must be cared for continuously over time.  Students grow a plant...

Students investigate the conditions needed for cloud formation and explore how pressure and temperature effect cloud formation.  In this atmospheric pressure lesson students complete a lab on cloud formation. 

Students investigate why some potato chips crumple faster than others. For this physics lessons, students relate the cooking time to potato's fragility. They write a lab report about their findings.

Learners conduct a laboratory experiment designed to investigate the effects of chemicals, soil quality and pollution on seed growth and plant yield. They consider how best to maximize agriculture in the long term.

Students examine the ethics of biotechnology and genetically modifying various organisms. They complete various activities and labs on GMOs and then write a position paper regarding their individual opinions on the subject.

Students investigate light and its energy. They discuss the properties of light, research how much light the moon absorbed on their birthday on a website, complete a graphic organizer, and create a kaleidoscope.

Ninth graders participate in classroom discussions, demonstrations and hands-on laboratory activities about pure substances and mixtures with a focus on common household materials. They investigate: What is a pure substance? What is a...

High schoolers investigate the concept of bioluminescence. They use dinoflagellates in a lab situation to study photosynthesis. They conduct research into the concept using a variety of resources. Also the class is taken on a field trip...

Ninth graders explain how scientists set up investigations. For this scientific process lesson, 9th graders review the principles of the scientific method and use these skills to answer an open-ended question about how to set up a...

Learners describe the characteristics of algae. In this biology instructional activity, students perform a series of experiment to explore algae. They investigate the basic things algae need to survive.

Second graders investigate friction by pulling a cup of marbles across a variety of surfaces, without the marbles spilling out.

Students conduct an experiment with potato cores and a sucrose solution to investigate how salt water fish process water. They develop a lab report of their experiment.

Students investigate scientific measurement. They use a variety of scales to do the job and communicate the results correctly. The teacher uses socratic questioning throughout the lesson checking for comprehension. Students measure some...

Students explore for water on Mars using impact crater morphology. During this lab, students: investigate how to use the equation writing and graphing capabilities in Microsoft Excel, then develop and apply an impact crater...

Eighth graders investigate the concept of force and motion while conducting short class activities. They compare the differences of potential and kinetic energy while rolling objects on a ramp. Students also measure the distance that...

Fifth graders discuss ways that humans pollute our natural water supply. They observe a video about water pollution. Students identify eight different ways water is contaminated. They investigate an oil spill by conducting a hands-on...

Students investigate topographical maps and match actual landforms to them.  In this topographical maps lesson students create "Gilligan's Island" to scale then answer questions about it such as what the highest elevations is and...