Curated OER
Create a Butterfly Mobile
Students construct a butterfly mobile. In this visual arts instructional activity, students use rice paper, watercolors, a coat hanger, and wax paper to create a unique butterfly mobile. Students use photographs of butterflies to...
Curated OER
We Are All In This Together
Students complete a variety of activities centering around insects. In this insects education lesson, students read People by Peter Spier and discuss the similarities and differences among people. Students gather and explore materials...
Curated OER
Seed Dispersion of Strawberries and Dandelions
Learners investigate how seeds are dispersed on land. In this plant biology instructional activity, students use a dissecting microscope to study strawberry seeds and dandelion seeds, they draw what they see, then create a hypothesis on...
Curated OER
What is the Rainforest?
Students investigate rainforests. For this rainforest lesson, students brainstorm on a KWL chart about what they already know about the rain forest. Students are shown pictures of the rain forest and describe what they see in the photos....
Curated OER
The Greatest Show on Earth: The World's Smallest Animals
Students create instruments to capture different types of insects. In this The Greatest Show on Earth: The World's Smallest Animals lesson plan, students compare the attributes of certain insects and record the data on a chart. After...
Curated OER
Seed Germination
Students explore the process of seed germination. In this botany lesson, students complete an experiment with seeds. Students observe soaked and dry seeds. Students allow the seeds to germinate and make observations during this time....
Curated OER
States of Matter
Young scholars examine the properties of solids, liquids, and gasses. In this states of matter lesson, the teacher guides students through a series of experiments to illustrate each state of matter and how matter changes from one state...
Curated OER
Building a Terrarium System
Students create their own terrariums. In this ecological model lesson, students create terrariums using soil, seeds, pebbles, and two liter bottles. Students compare the elements of a terrarium to a food web.
Curated OER
Soil is a Filter
Learners examine how to take the impurities out of eater. In this exploratory activity students complete an experiment on how to filter drinking water.
Curated OER
Insects!
Students explore the diet of insects. In this "insects" biology lesson, students take a nature walk and collect various natural materials they think may be eaten by insects. Students sort and classify these materials into three diet...
Pennsylvania Department of Education
Cycles, Systems, and Webs
Fourth graders review the parts of the plant and their functions. In this plant lesson, 4th graders recognize that plants must transfer energy to make food. Students understand the interdependence of organisms in an ecosystem.
Curated OER
Dirt: Making Dirty Water Clean!
Fourth graders study soil and water. In this water lesson students work in groups and use a filter to clean water.
Curated OER
Predator, Predator, Don't East Me!
To prep for a lesson on predator/prey relationships, get kids up and moving. This game is based on the game 'Red Light, Green Light' but employs the concept of predator vs. prey. This is not a full lesson but could be useful as an...
Curated OER
Desalination: Creating a Solar Still
To better understand how solar power can aid in creating desalinated drinking water, the class creates a model still. They will build a model of a solar still, make observations, and discuss how the process works. While the idea behind...
Curated OER
Reviving Celery
The classic in-class demonstration using celery dipped into water with food coloring is the highlight of this biology lesson plan. Young scientists discover that organisms are made up cells and have distinguishing characteristics. After...
Curated OER
Magnetic Discovery Bottle
Young scholars examine how to conduct simple investigations and use simple equipment to gather data. In this magnet lesson students decide what types of objects are attracted to magnets.
Curated OER
Race the Track! Jump the Gap
Students record data of using a track system with variables and how those variables affect a ball used in the track. In this track lesson plan, students design their own track in groups, test the ball's rates of speed, and record their...
Curated OER
What Holds a Substance Together?
Students observe how substances are held together by bonds. In this physics lesson, students demonstrate how a substance is held together by ripping newspapers and stretching marshmallows. Students complete a data sheet.
Curated OER
The Nutrients Public Transportation System
Students investigate the human circulatory system by experimenting with hoses. In this human body instructional activity, students create a system of hoses simulating the circulatory system which they utilize to pass objects through....
Curated OER
Science Inquiry Lesson: Mapping Project
Students explore the methods of creating maps. They create a map of Animas River Park using a compass and measuring tape, develop a single map from the team map sections, and devise another map of the Animas River Park using a GPS unit.
Curated OER
Machines at Work
Students discuss how simple machines have made our lives easier and construct a compound machine. In this machines lesson plan, students watch a video on machines, look at websites, and follow task cards in order to make a simple machine.
Curated OER
Magnetism
Learners study magnetism. In this science lesson, students participate in an activity to discover how electrons in a magnet move. Learners identify items around the classroom that are magnetic.
Foundation for Water & Energy Education
What is the Water Cycle? Activity A
Hydrologists create a concept map about how water is used and a sentence strip defining water and describing its unique properties. Small groups work together to fill a small milk carton and compute the mass of water inside. The next...
Curated OER
Radioactive Beans
Students investigate radioactive atoms. In this radioactive beans lesson, students experiment with split peas and beans to determine what happens when a radioactive atom decays.