Students explore the world of nanotechnology by synthesizing ferrofluids in a series of chemical reactions. In small groups, they follow the procedure to create the ferrofluids using precise measuring techniques. They test the resulting...

Young scholars examine soil from their local environment.  In this garden lesson, students recognize the importance of soil in the garden. Young scholars explore the contents of the local soil.

Students describe the impact of population growth on the environment. They describe how cities affect their surrounding environment and explain how cities are handling growth and its resulting effect on the quality of life. They visit...

Students participate in various air experiments to understand that air is all around us. In this states of matter lesson, students focus on the role of air in the water cycle. Students understand that air is densest near the ground....

Astronomers practice downloading data from a high-energy satellite and translate the data into colored or shaded pixels. As a hands-on activity, they use pennies to simulate high-energy satellite data and they convert their penny...

It's time to go to Mars. Using the provided cards and mat, groups design a mission to Mars. The cards contain information about the different components of the launch and warn about a few mishaps that might occur along the way.

Help your class understand the magnitude of the distance between Earth and Mars with an activity that asks small groups to use balloons to create scale models of the Earth, Moon, and Mars. Class members figure out the distances...

Learn about Galileo Galilei's contribution to modern science with a reading passage that focuses on reading comprehension. After kids read several paragraphs about his life, they answer five questions about the information they have just...

Explore the complexities of reproductive genetic testing respectfully in the learning space. Scientists read articles, view a slideshow, and complete a do-now about genetic technologies. A fishbowl activity allows scholars to discuss the...

Discussion doesn't always need to be spoken. Before you begin The Tempest by William Shakespeare, have kids connect their ideas and experiences to central questions of the play with a silent discussion activity. Once they have...

Students engage in experiment activities, which illustrate that air is made of matter, does take up space, and is very important to our health. This lesson contains activities for a variety of grade levels. A very nice idea!

Students investigate the concepts of shadows and how they are projected with objects different positions in relation to the sun. They conduct an experiment by observing objects in different positions. Then students record the observations.

Students investigate how water goes from a solid to a liquid then back again.  In this experimental activity students conduct their own experiment and see how water changes form. 

Learners conduct a science experiment to determine whether a variety of objects will sink or float. They discuss the concept of density, and then make predictions about whether the objects will sink or float. They then conduct the...

Practice the subtractive sculpture process with your class. They'll discuss the subtractive method, art form and space, then design a sculpture which they will create from a block of plaster. Technical instructions are included.

Learners have to have had some experience with metals prior to using this worksheet. They are given five properties common to five different metals. They create or use a dichotomous key to identify the five mystery metals. Tip: This...

Students examine the energy the sun produces on a daily basis. In groups, they discover the properties of visible and invisible light. They also adjust the exposure time to change the properties of various objects. To end the lesson,...

Students experiment with sunlight and temperature. They study the definition of albedo, or the percentage of incoming sunlight that is reflected, rather than absorbed.

Four lessons introduce elementary ecologists to salt marsh and sandy beach habitats. In the first lesson plan, they place shells and other materials in vinegar to determine if they contain calcium carbonate. In the second lesson plan,...

Middle school chemists visit interactive websites in order to discover what happens to molecular motion when heat is added to matter. They conduct an experiment that demonstrates the expansion of matter with the addition of heat. A lab...

Students observe and experiment with the concept of density. This is done using a simple experiment that helps them to apply scientific principles of observation and proving a hypothesis.

First graders are read a story about the various stages of matter with a focus on gases. Using a ziploc bag, they capture as much air as possible and discuss how it takes up space even though it is invisible. To end the lesson, they blow...

Students explore botany by conducting a sunflower growth experiment. In this plant life instructional activity, students identify the anatomy of a sunflower plant and the essential nutrients it requires to grow. Students utilize compost,...

Students investigate the different heating effects of sunlight. They conduct an experiment that demonstrates the way sunlight strikes the equator, the poles and other parts of the globe.