Curated OER
Egg Carton Coral
Young scholars use egg cartons to construct models of coral colonies showing
many aspects of the coral's natural history - including the structure of
coral polyps and the coral colony's colonial life style.
National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network
Scale Models
With instructions to adapt the activities for any grade K-12, any teacher can incorporate the concept of scale into the classroom with a simple, yet effective lesson.
Curated OER
Dating a Volcanic Eruption
Students discover the various ways in which tree rings can give information. After a brief disucssion of concentric tree rings, they use cross section cut outs of tree rings to identify the time and type of various naturally occuring...
Curated OER
Animation Flip Books
Learners investigate examples of animation made from a flipbook technique in order to learn how to create their own flipbook and to learn how this process looks like an animated cartoon. In this animation lesson, students will observe...
Curated OER
Filter Feeding in Reef Sponges
Students investigate the role of sponges in our oceans. In this biology lesson, students create a diagram visualizing how sponges bring food into their bodies through a filtering process. Students discuss the connections between...
Curated OER
The Basics of Biochemistry
Science teachers can introduce basic chemical concepts to biology students.
Curated OER
Use Concept Maps to Teach the Transfer of Energy
Practical tips, lessons, and ideas for teaching the transfer of energy.
Curated OER
How Does a Green Plant Grow?
Students of all ages can explore the question "how do seeds grow?", design an experiment to answer the question, predict the outcome of the experiment then conduct the experiment.
Curated OER
What a Waste!
Fourth graders explore the kidney, bladder, and function of the excretory (urinary) system.
Curated OER
Knowledge Quiz: Bacteria
In this bacteria quiz instructional activity, learners complete a set of 10 multiple choice questions covering a variety of concepts related to bacteria. A reference web site is included for additional resources.
Curated OER
The Skeleton Within
Fourth graders explore the bones, joints, and other attributes of the skeletal system.
Curated OER
You Have Nerve!
Fourth graders investigate the nervous system and how it communicates messages to and from the brain.
Curated OER
Characteristics of Living Things
Students examine the characteristics of living things. They list the differences between living and non-living things, explore areas around the school, and create a Venn diagram for items found in the school areas.
Curated OER
How Does a Green Plant Grow?
Students examine how a seed grows, and design an experiment to explore this concept. They make predictions, conduct the experiment, record the results, and interpret the results.
Curated OER
Candy DNA Model Lesson
Students explore DNA structure using materials such as Twizzlers, small colored gumdrops and/or toothpicks.
Curated OER
Rotten Truth
Students complete activities to study decomposition. In this decomposition activity, students work in pairs to observe a decay buffet experiment. Students keep compost bag journals. Students define and discuss the process of decomposition.
Curated OER
Organs and What They Do - Lecture
Students read information about the internal organs and body systems. In this organs and systems lesson, students read descriptions of the heart, lungs, stomach, small and large intestine, and liver and gall bladder. Students study...
Curated OER
Com-Post With Us? Learn About Recycling While Having Fun
Students examine the importance of recycling to help the environment. In groups, they make a compost bin on the school grounds recording how the material changes from week to week. They collect other materials for recycling like cell...
Curated OER
Parasites: Our Tiny Companions
Students consider parasites that seek human hosts. They prepare nutrient agar plates and cultivate samples of bacteria taken from their own bodies. They experiment with disinfectants and soaps to determine which method kills the most...
Pennsylvania Department of Education
Plant and Animal Adaptations
Fourth graders identify behavioral and structural adaptations to plant and animal life. In this unit overview, 4th graders discuss the importance of variation and adaptation in a species survival. This is a unit overview and does not...
Curated OER
Applying the Laws of Inheritance
Biology and mathematics can be integrated through a study of Mendelian Genetics.
Curated OER
The Human Memory
This is a well-designed, creative lesson to help students learn more about the human memory. Working in pairs, students complete tasks and gather data. Excellent websites for resources are also provided.
Curated OER
Discovering the Forgotten Kingdom Protista
Protists, like algae and mold, are sometimes overlooked for classroom study, but they are astonishing in their diversity and importance.