Curated OER
Sand Explorations
Students experiment with different samples of sand from Maui leeward and windward beaches. They create a sand map to suggest at least one contributing factor for the formation of each beach sample. They test the samples to determine...
Curated OER
Little Auk Survival Challenge
A bird's life is one of danger and intrigue as it struggles for survival in sometimes harsh environments. To understand how difficult surviving in the wild can be, children play a simulation game where they act as little auks, birds from...
World Wildlife Fund
Arctic Food Chain
Explore the food chains that support Arctic ecosystems. A class discussion on interdependence and the different roles plants and animals play in ecosystems provides students with the knowledge to complete a worksheet asking them to...
Polar Trec
Swan Savvy
Just like so many other birds, swans migrate during the cold winter months. Your class can gain a better understanding of migration and bird life as they act out some of the activities common to the tundra swan. They make a nest, sit on...
Space Awareness
Meet Our Neighbors: Moon
Since a field trip to the moon isn't possible, bring the moon to young astronomers! Participants use everyday materials to create models of the moon and represent the features on its surface. The materials serve as a tactile as well as a...
Curated OER
Falling Leaves Poetry Spinners
Why settle for autumn leaves as classroom decorations when you could use autumn poetry? After taking a nature walk and collecting fall artifacts, including seed pods and fallen leaves, learners demonstrate the movement of the season with...
Polar Trec
Family Polar Fun Day
Family fun days are great for connecting home and school life, building strong parent/teacher relationships, and engaging students in a fun and social way. Here are several activity ideas to help you and your class run your own Family...
Project WET Foundation
Discover Our Ocean
A very informative interactive presents ocean zones, estuaries, hot water vents, phytoplankton, coral reefs, sea turtles, kelp forests, and all things that thrive in the ocean.
Curated OER
The Class Trip
Mrs. Moore's class is trying to earn money for a trip to the science museum, but how much more do they need? Solve this problem with your own class as they develop their ability to model real-life situations algebraically. As an added...
Curated OER
Plants
One slide reviews the main plant parts and most of the remaining slides address seven plant processes of life. This is a different approach to introducing the life of a plant. Three tasks are assigned to viewers on the last slide, making...
Curated OER
Water Cycle
Young scientists explore Earth elements by conducting an experiment. They define water vocabulary terms such as condensation and precipitation. In addition, they conduct a water experiment in which they build a terrarium, so they can...
Curated OER
Water is Life, Water is Poetry Seminar
Students participate in a discussion about water and create water-inspired poetry. In this poetry lesson plan, students demonstrate a memorable experience involving water by constructing a poem.
Curated OER
Science All Around You
Students visit and explore a Hands On Science Center (HOSC). They participate in a variety of self-guided table exercises and observe as scientists demonstrate various scientific principles.
Curated OER
Butterfly Life Cycles
Students study the butterfly life cycle. In this interdisciplinary life cycles instructional activity, students study the life cycle of a butterfly, their migration habits, and the culture of the region in Mexico where butterflies...
Curated OER
Salmon Homing Instincts
Students identify the stages of the salmon life cycle. In this fish instructional activity, students experience first hand what it would be like to be a returning salmon attempting to identify a home stream by smell.
Curated OER
Digging up the Dirt on Soil Microbes
Students are introduced to the idea of soil as a habitat for many different organisms. They are introduced to the links between the biological adaptations of an organism and the physical demands of its habitat. Pupils are introduced to...
Curated OER
What Does it Take to be a Survivor? Part One
Young scholars explore marine animal adaptation. In this introductory ocean life biology instructional activity, students access prior knowledge by participating in a whole class "thought swap." Young scholars form two lines, respond to...
Curated OER
What Do Plants Need?
Learners experiment with plants. In this plant lesson, students research the needs of plants. Learners determine if all plants have the same requirements for growth. In small groups, students experiment with different plants.
Curated OER
The Scientists’ Way
Students summarize the steps of the scientific method. In this life science instructional activity, students explain the importance of varying only one variable at a time. They analyze possible flaws in their experiment.
Curated OER
Organisms – Their Needs
Students compare and contrast different organisms characteristics. In this life science lesson, students design an experiment about plants and animals needs. They collect data and write their conclusion about the experiment.
Curated OER
Trash Traits: Marine Debris, Litter, Ecology, Oceans
Learners perform experiments to examine whether trash can float, blow around, or wash away. The effects of these characteristics on the presence of marine debris in the environment are then discussed.
Curated OER
Life In Space: The International Space Station
Students learn about the International Space Station. In this space lesson, students learn about the structure, operations, and experiments that go on in the International Space Station.
Curated OER
All About Teeth
Chomp chomp! Learn which teeth perform which tasks with a thorough activity on molars, incisors, and canines. Based on descriptions of each kind of tooth, fifth graders label a diagram that points to particular teeth. They then color in...
Curated OER
Science-Related Field Trips That Won’t Break the Bank
Try some of these tips to put a new spin on the old field trip favorites.