Curated OER
Stellar Spectroscopy
Students investigate white light. In this science lesson, students participate in a variety of experiments in which they study light. Students use spectroscopes to view the components of light.
Curated OER
Electricity: Series and Parallel Circuits
Fourth graders explore electricity and electrical circuits. They explore series and parallel circuits using Christmas lights. Students pull lights out of each strand of lights. They observe the results when the light bulb is pulled out....
Curated OER
Water Quality Tests Explained
Students identify the eight tests done to check for water quality. In this ecology lesson, students explain why it's important to test water in rivers. They explore sources of river water pollution.
Curated OER
Solar Matters
Learners design an energy resource wheel and demonstrate how to use it to access information about renewable and nonrenewable energy sources.
Curated OER
Aurora Borealis
Middle schoolers discuss what causes the northern lights and the folklore attached to them. They discuss magnetic fields, and use various common materials to discover if ions conduct electricity.
Curated OER
Energy Detective Worksheet
In this energy instructional activity, students explore their environment to find items that use energy. Students then write a definition of energy. This instructional activity has 1 graphic organizer and 1 short answer question.
Nikola Tesla documentary student worksheet
PBS documentary: Tesla - Master of Lightning; this worksheet will keep the students engaged while watching this excellent documentary about Tesla. The documentary can be found on Netflix or YouTube. It will take two class periods to...
Cornell University
Characterizing a Solar Cell
Young classes are sure to get a charge out of this lesson! Learners experiment with circuits of a solar cell. They practice determining current, voltage, and power for the circuit and maximize the voltage and current of the cell.
Curated OER
Heating and Cooling a Really Large Lizard
Remind your middle school scientists how fox ear size varies depending on the climate they live in; large ears allow heat loss while small ears keep heat in. Discuss how a cold-blooded animal might try to regulate body temperature. Then...
Dick Blick Art Materials
Matisse Prints du Soleil
The sun provides the link between this art and science activity. Kids use sunlight (or light from an artificial source) to produce heliographic prints on fabric or paper.
University of Colorado
Can Photosynthesis Occur at Saturn?
In the 19th activity of 22, learners determine if distance from a light source affects photosynthesis. Participants capture oxygen in straws and find that the amount of water the gas displaces is proportional to the rate of photosynthesis.
Curated OER
Exploring Electricity - Four Activities
These are four classic activities used for instructing upper elementary electricians. The first involves experimenting with the Van de Graaff generator. The second is a series of hands-on experiences with static. In the third activity,...
Curated OER
Energy Efficiency Ambassadors
Students research energy conservation devices. They also create their own light efficiency project and presents their findings on science fair night.
Curated OER
Noncombatancy and the Seventh day Adventist Church
Upper graders investigate how the Seventh Day Adventists are objectors to the practice of war. The lesson covers the Civil War and examines the church's position about the practice of war. The research extends to modern wars and learners...
BBC
Sound and Hearing
First and second graders recognize that sound is generated in a variety of ways, and that it comes from many different sources. They explore tone and volume, realizing that there are different ways to describe sound. Some musical...
DiscoverE
Squishy Circuits
Make electricity flow through Play-Doh. Individuals create animals or other creatures using Play-Doh. The engineering aspect? Eyes that light up and Play-Doh that conducts electricity.
Curated OER
Silhouettes
Students explore the challenges of creating a silhouette. In this silhouette lesson, students learn to produce a silhouette from a projected image. Students compare and contrast the making of a silhouette to a drawing or painting.
Curated OER
Household Conservation/Efficiency
Hook your class up to an online home energy usage calculator so that they can estimate the amount used per month by their families. Then give them Watt meters with which they will measure the power consumption of several small...
Curated OER
It's too loud!
Investigate soft, loud, and dangerous sounds. Little ones put a check next to the sounds that are loud, an X next to ones that are soft, and circle the ones that would require protective ear wear. Tip: Get out a tape player or computer...
Curated OER
Establishing a Strong Authorial Voice
Why do some phrases contribute to a weak authorial voice? The first page of this packet explains what a strong and weak voice sound like, and it lists some common phrases that clutter writing, ultimately weakening it. The second page...
Curated OER
Airbrushing on Silk
High schoolers create artwork by airbrushing on silk. This is a simple beginners project using five colors of paint and two types of stencils: positive and negative. As with all of the art lessons that come from this source, the products...
Curated OER
An Introduction to The Catcher in the Rye
Who is J.D. Salinger? Give your class some information on the famous recluse before reading his only novel, The Catcher in the Rye. His life and works are detailed, and there are even a few slides dedicated to controversies and criticism...
KOG Ranger Program
Match and Lighter Safety
Go over the basics of fire prevention with a instructional activity focused on safety with matches and lighters. With a series of dilemma cards that describe potential fire risks, learners choose the most responsible way to handle...
Curated OER
What was School Like 100 Years Ago?
Focussing on the Edwardian Era culture, learners view photographs of students at school in the past and compare and contrast them to their school now. Learners describe the differences in dress, classrooms, and classes. This could...