Curated OER
Science-Observation Skill Builders
Pupils explore observation while making connections between observation skills and careers (like how farmers observe the weather). They view a variety of nature photographs on the computer and practice their observation skills by...
California Academy of Science
What's on a Penny?
As a lesson plan on scientific observation, have your class investigate the features of a penny and a nickel. Working in pairs, they practice writing detailed descriptions using their senses and a ruler to gather information. This is an...
Curated OER
Answering Carnival Questions with the Scientific Method
Through the use of a Reading Rainbow episode, clever in-class games and activities, and an ITV Series video, second and third graders engage in a study of the scientific method; what it is, and how scientists use it. This well-designed...
Chicago Botanic Garden
Recognizing Change (Observation vs. Inference)
What is the difference between making inferences and making observations? Young climatologists refer to a PowerPoint to make observations on each slide. They record their observations in a provided worksheet before drawing a...
Berkshire Museum
Nature Journaling: Experience the Outdoors Through Writing and Drawing
Step into the great outdoors and develop young scientists' skills of observation with a nature journaling lesson. Given a specific focus or goal, children practice making and recording observations of nature through written descriptions...
Curated OER
Riding on a Pendulum
A comprehensive resource gets fourth grade physical scientists making observations about the period of a pendulum and then applying knowledge to a playground swing. Through seven different stations, they will record observations and...
Mr. Science
The Scientific Method
First, ask a question and then, do research. Next, form a hypothesis, and conduct an experiment. Make observations, gather and analyze data, and then state a conclusion based on the results. This is the scientific method, and here is a...
Berkshire Museum
Adopt a Schoolyard Tree
Help young scientists connect with nature and learn about trees with a fun life science instructional activity. Heading out into the school yard, children choose a tree to adopt, taking measurements, writing descriptions, and drawing...
Baylor College
They're Everywhere: Bacteria
Totally gross out your class with the eighth instructional activity in this series on food science. Explore the microscopic world of bacteria by taking swabs of different classroom objects and growing colonies in petri dishes. An...
Curated OER
Learning Scientific Coral Terminology
Students explore properties of coral. In this scientific observation lesson plan, students investigate properties and characteristics of coral. Students write statements describing the coral using observation words.
Curated OER
The Importance of Observation
First graders practice observing items in small areas. In this scientific observation lesson plan, 1st graders complete a worksheet that shows a child looking at a small patch of grass. They make a list of items that the child sees. They...
Virginia Department of Education
Scientific Process and Experimental Design
The scientific method keeps you from believing only what you want to believe — it expands your mind. The lesson introduces the eight steps in the scientific process and how to design an experiment to biology scholars. Live insects...
Curated OER
Modeling changes to Ecosystems Part 1
Students record changes in an ecosystem. In this science lesson students make a hypothesis about changes in a terrarium. They record their observations. The students conduct an experiment to test their hypothesis.
Omaha Zoo
I Like to Move It
What do lemurs do best? They move! Lemurs like to jump, run, hop, and climb and it's your class's job to document seven fun lemur behaviors. The class starts by discussing why lemurs are considered primates, and then they isolate seven...
Curated OER
Environmental Studies: The Environment Rocks!
Rock exploration, so exciting! After reading the book Everybody Needs a Rock, the class makes sandwiches to better understand that the Earth is made in layers. They then use a description of the 3 types of rock to conduct an observation...
Curated OER
Scientific Method- "The Big Ahah"
Students experiment with water, dropper and a coin to study the scientific method. In this scientific method lesson plan, students are in groups, each with a coin, water and a dropper. They investigate how many drops of water can fit on...
Curated OER
Introduction to the Scientific Method
Students recognize and follow the steps of the scientific method to complete an experiment. In this scientific method lesson, students use inquiry tools to measure objects. Students record their data.
Curated OER
Scientific Method
Students examine the steps of the scientific method. They define related vocabulary terms, view a PowerPoint presentation, and apply and identify the steps of the scientific method for an online experiment scenario.
Curated OER
Principles of Flight: Gyrocopter and the Scientific Method
Students explore the concept of the scientific method. For this investigative lesson, students investigate which direction the blades will spin on a gyrocopter. Student will practice using the scientific method to complete the...
Curated OER
Forming a Scientific Investigation
In this scientific investigation instructional activity, students conduct scientific investigations on what happens to the speed of a marble when the height of a ramp is changed, what happens when you add salt to water, and 3 other...
Curated OER
How Do We Use Scientific Inquiry To Solve the World's Problems?
Ninth graders examine how a scientific investigation is performed. They read and discuss examples of various scientific experiments, design an experiment involving fast growing plants, and create graphs and charts to present their...
Curated OER
Dissolving Gobstoppers
Students design their own experiments . They study the scientific method and determine what a testable question is. They distinguish between questions that are testable and those that are not. They identify variables, make and understand...
Curated OER
Sound Observations
Learners explore sound waves by conducting an experiment in class. For this sound frequency lesson, students utilize a tuning fork in class and identify which objects in class create different sound pitches on the fork. Learners conduct...
Perkins School for the Blind
The Mystery Box - Making Observations and Collecting Data
Making observations and collecting qualitative and quantitative data is a vital skill all scientists need to practice. Help your scientists with partial and no sight learn how to use their other senses to make observations for...