National Park Service
Aspect, Treeline, and Climate
Head to the treeline and beyond to examine how this feature of the landscape affects weather and climate, which gives scientists clues about its health. Class members' observations of photographs provide the data...
NOAA
Journey to the Unknown
What's it like to be a deep-sea explorer? Tap into the imaginations of your fifth and sixth graders with a vivid lesson, the second part of a six-part adventure. Learners close their eyes and submerge themselves in an expedition aboard...
Curated OER
Volcanoes!: The Mountain Blows its Top
Students observe two demonstrations to conclude why bulge developed on the north flank of Mount St. Helens and conclude that when the "cap" was removed the pressure inside the volcano was suddenly released causing the violent eruption.
Curated OER
Striking a Balance
Students demonstrate understanding of food chain by assuming roles of animals, playing tag, and simulating feeding relationships.
Curated OER
A Model of Three Faults - Part One
Students construct a fault model using the Fault Model Sheet imbedded in this plan. They create a 3 dimensional model of the Earth, and use dashed lines to illustrate where the fault lies. A discussion of faults follows the completion of...
Curated OER
"Old 300"
Fourth graders combine art and history to assess the importance of the "Old 300." They explore a group of colonists that Stephen F. Austin brought to Texas as the first settlers and then create a time line of major events leading to the...
Curated OER
Boxes & Blocks: Puffer Bellies and Box Cars
Students turn cardboard boxes into outdoor dramatic play. For this early childhood visual arts lesson, students explore cooperative and dramatic play outdoors by challenging children to create a train from cardboard boxes.
Curated OER
Compare and Contrast Photograph Art
Take a trip down Pearblossom Highway with this lesson plan about comparing and contrasting. Using David Hockney's Pearblossom Hwy and another image of the same highway (photograph or other image), students compare and contrast the two...
Curated OER
How Does Your Blue Bonnet Grow?
Students explore the conditions needed to grow Texas Blue Bonnets. For this Blue Bonnet planting lesson, students recognize the differences in Texas Blue Bonnet. Students record their findings in a graphs and analyze their results.
NOAA
A Quest for Anomalies
Sometimes scientists learn more from unexpected findings than from routine analysis! Junior oceanographers dive deep to explore hydrothermal vent communities in the fourth lesson in a series of five. Scholars examine data and look for...
Towson University
Mystery Tubes
How do scientists know they're right? Truth be told, they don't always know. Explore the scientific process using mystery tubes in an insightful activity. Young scientists discover how to approach and solve problems in science, how ideas...
Curated OER
The Perfect Society
Students read "The Giver" by Lois Lowry and then attempt to create their own "perfect society". They work in groups to create a Powerpoint presentation outlining the rules of the ultimate society.
Curated OER
Le Futur
Introduce your intermediate French speakers to the future tense with this plan. The plan is broken up into teacher tasks and student tasks, making it clear and easy to understand. There are also three worksheets included, but only one...
Curated OER
WS 7.1 Kinetic-Molecular Theory of Gases/Pressure
For this kinetic molecular theory worksheet, students summarize the points of the kinetic molecular theory, they answer questions about pressure, and draw diagrams to show how suction cups, drinking straws and barometers work.
Curated OER
Nature Art
In this nature art lesson, young scholars take a nature walk and collect items with different sizes, textures and colors. Students use the items they collect to make a collage.
California Academy of Science
Composting: A Scientific Investigation: California Academy of Sciences
Garbage, recycle, compost: Does it really matter where we put our trash once we are done? By making detailed observations over seven weeks, kids will see which materials break down naturally to become a healthy part of the soil, and...
Towson University
Looking Backwards, Looking Forward
How do scientists know what Earth's climate was like millions of years ago? Young environmental scholars discover how researchers used proxy data to determine the conditions present before written record. Grouped pupils gain experience...
Curated OER
Chemical Change in the Kitchen
Students examine chemical changes to food. For this chemical changes lesson, students make foods and observe the changes. The changes are recorded in an observation journal. Students photograph food they make at different stages in the...
Curated OER
Washing Germs Away
Students investigate germs. In this cross curriculum health and biology lesson plan, students listen to Old Black Fly by Jim Aylesworth and identify ways in which flies spread germs. Students discuss hand washing during a visit by the...
Curated OER
Introduction to the Day and Night Sky
Students explore space science by participating in a sky observation activity. In this astronomy lesson, students define a list of astronomy vocabulary terms and examine star charts of the four seasons. Students gather with their...
Curated OER
Decidedly Different
Fifth graders inquire as to why scientists use observable characteristics, how they sort the characteristics, and why they do so. They write journal entries to be used throughout this unit.
Curated OER
Copy Cat
Students follow the directions as the "cat" guides them in moving creatively. In this observing and listening lesson, students move their bodies while staying in their own spaces. Students then are allowed to move out of their space and...
Curated OER
What Lives in the Forest?
Students investigate nearby forests and record their interactions with trees as well as wild life. In this ecology lesson, students read the book, In the Woods: Who's Been Here?, and attend class observational field trips through...
Curated OER
Weathering
Second graders explore weathering and how the water cycle plays a part in weathering. In this weathering lesson, 2nd graders put gravel and sugar cubes in a jar and shake, simulating weathering. Students use the scientific method to...