Curated OER
Plankton Parade
Plankton isn't just a tiny cartoon character, it's also a very important food source for animals around the world. Budding scientists discuss the types and functions of plankton, including where they are found, how they are caught, and...
Curated OER
Exploring Learned and Innate Behavior
Young scholars explore the differences between learned and innate behavior among humans and monkeys. They complete an assignment and read articles about two studies, which used similar test methods to show that infants and monkeys share...
Museum of Science
Design a Submarine
Don't just sink the boat. Using a closed container as a submarine, pupils experiment to see what to add to the container to make it float, sink to the bottom, and hover in the middle. After finding one option, learners see if they can...
Curated OER
Simple Circuit: Electric Currents and Circuits
Through inquiry and exploration, 4th graders will learn and understand the functions of open and closed circuits. They will break into 2 groups, define vocabulary, hypothesize how to light a bulb, then test their hypothesis 4 different...
Curated OER
Collect Data Using a Transect Line
Students learn about transect lines through a study of marine debris.  In this marine debris activity, students calculate the items on a transect line and graph them.  Students complete a category worksheet.
Curated OER
Predicting the Future
Students examine how scientists predict the effects of global climate change. In this environmental science lesson, students participate in a discussion about using computer generated data to create climate predictions. Students examine...
Curated OER
The Facts of Life
Students explore the different ways scientists gather information about extinct animals. They  utilize these methods to create illustrated story books about a particular extinct animal.
Curated OER
High School EcoHouse Curriculum
How has the level of carbon dioxide changed over recent years, and what is contributing it? Groups work together to research and present their findings in a creative way. Also built into the lesson is a visit to a sustainable house, but...
Curated OER
Mineral Lab
Eighth graders examine the physical properties of different minerals. In this earth science lesson, 8th graders explain the uses of minerals in their daily lives. They complete the mineral identification table during the lesson.
Curated OER
Keep Cool
Students design an experiment to determine which type of container would be best to use to keep drinks cool on a hot day.  Students test paper cups, styrofoam cups, and metal cans by filling them with ice water and they use a thermometer...
Curated OER
Eratosthenes And Radius of the Earth
Young scholars calculate the radius of the earth. They use the method and data suggested by Eratosthenes. They investigate the interrelationships among mass, distance, force, and time through experimental processes.
Curated OER
Who's New in the Deep Sea?
Students examine the methods and technology that scientists use to study the deep sea and other remote environments.  In this ocean habitats lesson students make observations about organisms from video clips, generate questions and...
Curated OER
The Working of Scientists
Young scholars define and explain the basic concepts of experimental design.  In this scientific method lesson students complete a hands on activity, develop and present proposals to test their explanations. 
Curated OER
The Characteristics of Living Things
Eighth graders explore the characteristics of living things. In this living things lesson plan, 8th graders review as a class the cell theory and the characteristics of living things. They answer questions about how to determine if...
Curated OER
Snow Goggles And Limiting Sunlight
Students investigate the effects of light radiation on the human eyes. They construct a pair of snow goggles that are used to see how a filter can protect the eyes from radiation. Then students explain how the scientific method can be...
Curated OER
Archimedes' Principle of buoyancy
High schoolers use the internet to research Archimedes' principle of buoyancy. In groups, they summarize the principle and share it with the class. They also participate in experiments in which they test the principle and share their...
Curated OER
Identifying Birds
Eighth graders identify and name birds in their school yard by comparing and contrasting pictures of 12 common birds in the Phoenix metro area using the Ecology Explorers Protocol. They formulate questions based on observations that lead...
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
How does Temperature Affect Time in the Pupa Stage?
Learners are guided through the Scientific Method to perform observations about the pupa stage of the monarch butterfly. The results of an experiment are used to make assumptions about growth and development.
Curated OER
Science: How's the Weather?
Fifth graders brainstorm meteorological terms to create a semantic web using SuperPrint.  For each topic, they create instruments, such as barometers or psychomotors, that they use to make scientific predictions about the weather.  After...
Curated OER
Going the Distance
Learners experiment in small groups to answer the question, "Is there a relationship between ramps and speed?" They apply a formula to calculate the speed of the cars used in the experiment, complete the associate lab report, and...
Curated OER
Inquiry in Science Using an Animal Behavior Model
Students observe a planaria without a microscope and with a stereoscopic microscope. They draw the planaria and describe its motion and eating habits. Students research planarias various body systems and behavior. They design an...
Curated OER
The World Of Earth Science
In this science worksheet, middle schoolers examine the topic in order to solidify knowledge covered in the curriculum using puzzles and creative games.
Curated OER
Crunching the Numbers on Dating Violence
Students read about potential violent relationships and beliefs about dating.  In this relationship lesson students use graphs to examine data about healthy realtionshipsand draw conclusions on their results.