Curated OER
Growing Barley for Use in Biosynthesis Experiments
Students attempt to determine the optimum growing conditions for barley. They assess the effects of a number of substances such as ammonium chloride and urea on the plants
Curated OER
Exponential Decay
Students study exponential decay and its application to radiocarbon dating. In this exponential decay lesson, students use candy to model the time it takes for something to decay. Students also graph the data they collect and describe...
Curated OER
Enhancing Students' Problem-Solving Abilities
Students analyze the results of a hypothetical cloning experiment using a restriction endonuclease map obtained from an on-line data source. They answer the question, "How can I tell if the DNA I have obtained from this hypothetical...
Virginia Department of Education
Elements and Electron Configuration
It's electronic! Pupils uncover elements and their electron configurations as they explore mass, groupings, correct charges, and sliding theory. Young scientists learn creative ways to remember various elements and correctly classify...
Curated OER
Climate Patterns across the United States
Students articulate differences between climate and weather using examples in a written statement. Using climate data from across the country, they describe climate patterns for various parts of the United States on a map. Students...
Curated OER
Acid Rain
Students use real-time weather maps to determine the likelihood of acid rainfall in a region. Students apply their understanding of interaction between weather systems, land and air pollution, to address acid rain and the effects on...
Curated OER
Tanker Spills
Young scholars predict the flow of an oil spill and depict it on a map. They explain the predicted route of the oil spill using knowledge of ocean currents in a short presentation to their peers.
Curated OER
Rain Shadows and Sea Breezes
Students plot the average rainfall for a variety of cities in the United States. Using the map, they work together to determine patterns on which toxicants are transported through the air. They determine the impacts of various weather...
Curated OER
Ice Core Clues
Students create a PowerPoint presentation on the information they research about the ice cores and what they tell us about Earth's past. In this ice core lesson plan, students research radioactivity, air pollution, sodium, snowfall...
Curated OER
Our Future - Nuclear Power?
Learners comprehend that there are risks involved with using nuclear power. They write persuasive paragraphs for and against nuclear power. Students analyze the environmental issues and risks with nuclear power.
Curated OER
To Renew, or Not to Renew
Young scholars explore the various types of renewable energy. After reading articles, they discover the advantages and disadvantages of renewable energy. They also explore the challenges to switch over to using more and more renewable...
Curated OER
Air Pollution Over Where?
Students predict the movement of an air borne pollutant using their understanding of air currents. They determine which governments and/or communities should be contacted to be forewarned. They also explore the properties of their...
Curated OER
Polishing the Petoskey
Students polish a Petoskey stone to show how to make an attractive rock display. In this polishing rocks lesson plan, students use sand paper and polishing materials to polish a rock and remove the rock dust. This is to display a nice...
Curated OER
Plate Tectonics
Learners research separate elements of the theory of Plate Tectonics, then share that information with each other, drawing conclusions from the culminated information.
Curated OER
Nuclear Power
Students take on the role of members of a concerned citizens group and discuss the transportation of spent-fuel rods from a local nuclear power plant and the safety issues that surround the power plant. Students work in groups to write...
Curated OER
NUMB3RS Activity: A Matter of Half-Life and Death
Students investigate exponential decay. Students explore the biological half-life of Cesium-137. Students investigate the Goiania Accident of 1987 which is considered one of the worst incidents in the history of the Atomic Age.
Curated OER
Help Wanted: A Lighting Engineer For Popular Rock Group
Students are assigned to groups, and determine each member's role in the group. They will design an experiment to determine a way to produce the three primary and five secondary colors. Students discuss color and mood. They listen to a...
Curated OER
World Wide Winds
High schoolers recognize that global winds move in specific directions in specific latitudes and describe that in a written form. They relate the motion of the wind belts to historical navigation.
Curated OER
Galileo's Battle for the Heavens
Students examine the nature of sunspot cycles and define solar minimums and maximums. In this sunspot lesson plan students construct and evaluate graphs of the current sunspot cycle.
Curated OER
Nuclear Chemistry: How Does It Affect Me?
Eleventh graders study the different areas of nuclear chemistry. In this energy and critical thinking lesson students study radiation, nuclear energy and weapons then divide into groups and create a poster.
Curated OER
Finding the Ages of Rocks and Fossils
Students practice dating fossils. They learn the concept of "deep time"--that earth was formed billions of years ago. They experience excellent hand-outs and virtual age tutorial links.
Curated OER
Excavating the Past
Students discover how palaeontologists conduct a dig for fossils and how they interpret the age of the fossils. In small groups, they prepare a "dig site" consisting of bones, rocks and soil layered in a cardboard box. They switch boxes...
Curated OER
Polishing the Petoskey
Learners select a stone and polish it. Throughout the process they demonstrate an understanding of rocks and fossil formation.
Curated OER
Reactor Incident
Students are introduced to Chernobyl incident and the resulting environmental health impacts they watch a PowerPoint presentation, read articles and discuss what they have gained from these sources.