Curated OER
The Life Cycle of the Butterfly
Pupils examine the life of a butterfly. They write a biography from the point of view of a caterpillar using new vocabulary. They use magnifying glasses to examine butterflies and caterpillars.
Curated OER
Nature Art
In this nature art lesson, students 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
Notice and Wonder
Pint-sized zoologists practice the art of observation. They take notes, pictures or written, as they observe an animal for a period of time. This can be done at the zoo, with a visiting classroom animal, or perhaps at the humane society....
Curated OER
Drawing From Nature
Students observe similarities and differences of natural objects. In this observation lesson, students use a magnifying glass to identify the details of objects.
Curated OER
Alphabetical Order
Young scholars complete an online alphabet activity. In this alphabetical order instructional activity, students identify the list of words in alphabetical order. Young scholars discuss ordering using the alphabet and practice with the...
K12 Reader
What Causes Reflections?
Your kids probably use mirrors every day, but do they know how they work? A reading passage about reflection and reflective objects can address both physical science and reading comprehension. Kids read the paragraphs and use context...
Curated OER
Investigating Fingerprints
Pupils study the individuality of fingerprints. In this fingerprint lesson, students determine that each person has a unique set of fingerprints. They rub their fingertips with soft pencil lead and rub the print off on a piece of tape....
Curated OER
Outdoor Observation
Students use observation materials to record what they find outdoors. In this senses lesson plan, students use their five senses to observe things outside. They use a clipboard, pencil, crayons, magnifying glass, and their senses to find...
Curated OER
Take A Meal Worm To Lunch
Seventh graders, using a magnifying glass, observe mealworms in a cup.
Curated OER
The Microscopic World
Students identify magnification by first using a magnifying glass and then with photos taken through a microscope. They complete a handout that leads them through each activity stated. Finally, students use their microscope to view a...
Curated OER
ABC DETECTIVES
Students alphabetize words according to the first letter while pretending to be detectives with magnifying glasses. They also work on their social skills and character development when working with their teams and partners.
Cornell University
Exploring Rocks and Minerals
Investigate the properties of rocks and minerals through a rockin' hands-on activity. Learners test rocks for various properties and, using a guide, attempt to identify different samples. They use various properties including hardness,...
Curated OER
Measuring Permeability of Soil, Sand and Gravel
Students investigate the different materials in their environment. In this geology lesson, students collaborate in groups to examine the differences in sand, soil and gravel. Students utilize a magnifying glass or microscope and record...
Curated OER
Introducing money (Elementary, Mathematics)
Students study the penny, nickel, dime and quarter, one each day for four days, using a magnifying glass to identify the similarities. Then students discuss differences and value and learn a 'rap' to memorize values.
Curated OER
Classifying Rocks and Minerals
Students identify rock types by observing key characteristics. Describe the differences between minerals and rocks. Observe rocks using a magnifying glass and draw shapes and colors of the minerals.
Curated OER
Soil Formation
Seventh graders investigate how soil is formed. They analyze types of soil samples, examine soil using a magnifying glass or microscope, complete a chart, conduct a soil and plant experiment, and construct a soil profile.
Curated OER
Let's Learn About Plants!
After listening to From Seed to Plant by Gail Gibbons, learners take a walk around their school looking for plants. They use digital cameras to photograph the plants, then construct a class book which has the identities of the plants,...
Curated OER
Techno-shapes
Explore the concept of shapes by using tools in Kid Pix Deluxe 4 computer program. This techno-shapes instructional activity has pupils watching a video about shapes, and using the Kid Deluxe 4 computer program to draw shapes. They get...
Curated OER
Forming Plural Nouns
Everyone knows that a noun is a person, place, thing, or idea - but what happens when you have people, places, things, or ideas? Use this SMART board activity to guide your class through plural nouns. Several activities, including making...
Cornell University
Sun or Water? or Both?
Over the course of 10 days, young scientists observe their cups of seed and soil—one that gets sun and water and one that gets no sun and only water. Then they reflect on the results of the experiment to determine if their hypothesis was...
Cornell University
Thinking with the Eyes
Objects are larger (or smaller) than they appear! Scholars use a laboratory investigation to explore the difference between resolution and magnification. The activity allows them to calculate the size of the field of view of their light...
Curated OER
Tomato Exploration
Create tomatoes in 15-20 minutes using this fun and interactive lesson plan! Learners listen to a book about tomatoes (recommendations listed), and focus on the vocabulary word tomato. They count the syllables and practice the plural....
Discovery Education
Perfectly Decomposed!
We all know someone who won't eat the banana with a brown spot, the grape with a dimple, and the apple with a bruise. Scholars use different fruits to explore what happens when fruits really start to decompose. They set up an experiment...
Curated OER
Unidentified (Flying?) Arthropods
Beginning biologists learn the characteristics of the five classes in the arthropod phylum. A student handout lists characteristics to help them identify five specimens. You will need to collect an example of each: arachnida, crustacea,...