Kenan Fellows
Determining the Effects of a Golf Course on Stream Health
Do golf courses affect the water organisms in nearby streams and ponds? Small groups collect samples of water upstream and downstream from a golf course and analyze the macroinvertebrates found and the stream index values of...
Curated OER
One Sweet Experiment
This resource is designed to be used as a lab sheet when experimenting with the dissolution of sugar in water. It's very nice in that it follows the scientific method of experimentation. There are places for the definition of the...
Curated OER
Splish! Splash! From the Bath to my Glass
An excellent lesson on the water cycle! In it, learners should gain a general understanding of the water cycle, along with how water first falls as precipitation, then ends up coming out of our faucets. This lesson nicely integrates...
Texas State Energy Conservation Office
Nuts! Calculating Thermal Efficiency
Oh nuts! Do macadamias or almonds produce more thermal energy? Energy enthusiasts find out with this experiment. The objective is to demonstrate to your class how the chemical energy contained in foods can be converted into useable...
Curated OER
Don't Just Do It - Talk About It!
Students investigate a scientific problem while documenting their research with a video camera. In this scientific method lesson, students hypothesize over a science question and conduct an investigation to find an answer....
Curated OER
Making Slime: An Exercise in the Scientific method
Students make a polymer but they won't be getting instructions. They'll get materials and they must figure it out on their own and report the actual steps needed back to the teacher.
Curated OER
Socratic Questioning
If you are new to the technique of Socratic questioning, check out this resource that details the five steps in the Socratic method. The examples of each step are drawn from Brave New World.
Curated OER
Paper Airplanes & Scientific Methods
Seventh graders examine how to define scientific inquiry and the scientific method. In this paper airplane lesson plan students research airplanes, take notes then create an airplane trial.
Curated OER
The Importance of Detailed Procedures in Science
Students examine the importance of clear communication in scientific exploration. In pairs, they write clear directions for an everyday activity for their partner to read and follow.
Curated OER
Introducing the Use of Dichotomous Keys to Students
Students are introduced to the use of dichotomous keys as a simple means of beginning scientific observations in nature. They comprehend how to use a dichotomous key. Students distinguish characteristics of a group of organisms. They...
Curated OER
Contaminated Water
Young scholars review and use the steps in the scientific method to complete the experiment. In groups, they research the importance of water to plants and animals in their local area. They examine how water can become contaminated and...
Curated OER
Fractals, An Inquiry: Day 4
Students put their growing understanding of the scientific inquiry process to work. They use paint to implement their plans to experiment with how changing one aspect of the fractal making process influences their appearance.
Curated OER
Method Madness!
Students explain the steps in the scientific method. In this inquiry lesson, students construct a CEENBoT using website directions. They diagnose and fix the problem after the teacher cause it to malfunction.
Curated OER
Jeopardy 8th Grade (Science)
There are so many topics touched upon in this Jeopardy-style science game, that it is difficult to classify! The categories include electricity, matter, ecology, earth and space, and scientific investigation. This would best be used at...
Curated OER
Scientific Inquiry Post-Test
In this scientific inquiry post-test instructional activity, students complete a 7 question matching activity that uses vocabulary associated with the inquiry process. They answer 2 multiple choice questions about independent and...
Curated OER
Scientific Inquiry Pretest
In this scientific inquiry activity, students match words to definitions and fill in the blanks for scientific inquiry. Students complete 9 problems total.
Curated OER
Habitat Choice in Woodbugs
Students investigate woodbugs. In this scientific investigation lesson plan, students explore the steps scientists take when conducting an investigation using live specimens. Students explore habitat preferences for woodbugs in various...
National First Ladies' Library
A Blessing in Disguise
Young scholars study the history of polio as well as a history of modern medicine, the history of alternative medicine and the role of the scientific method in each of these histories. They review the scientific method and research...
Curated OER
Why Cheerios Don't Sink
Students investigate Archimedes' Principle and show how it relates to density. In this Archimedes' Principle lesson plan, students experiment with a beaker of water, a Styrofoam "boat" and a weight. They predict what will happen when the...
Curated OER
Exponents: Scientific Notation
In this scientific notation instructional activity, 9th graders solve and complete 8 various problems related to exponents and writing scientific notation of numbers. First, they write whole numbers, decimals, and other types of numbers...
Curated OER
The Big Bang Theory
Students will use scientific reasoning to formulate ideas about the formation of the universe using the Big Bang Theory. The use of critical thinking skills is part of the activity and the foundation of the scientific method will serve...
Curated OER
Methods of Mystery
Students utilize the scientific method to discover the age of an item. In this historical dating instructional activity, students compare and contrast a 400 year old cabinet to one made within a few years by using carbon dating....
Curated OER
Apply Scientific Inquiry and Scientific Habits of Mind
Students review the components of the scientific inquiry method. In groups, they develop hypothesis on a variety of different topics and design an investigation or experiment to test it. They share their conclusions with the class and...
Curated OER
A Research Project and Article For the Natural Inquirer
Get your class to use the scientific process to solve a scientific problem. They utilize the Natural Inquirer magazine to identify a research question which they write an introduction to and collect data to answer. They use graphs,...