University of Minnesota
Altered Reality
Fascinate young life scientists by showing them how their brain learns. By using prism goggles while attempting to toss bean bags at a target, lab partners change their outlook on the world around them, producing amusing results....
American Museum of Natural History
Talking to Fireflies
Fireflies are more than just mobile twinkle lights. An online interactive lesson teaches individuals about the light patterns fireflies use to communicate with each other. After they practice the patterns themselves, they could be...
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....
WK Kellogg Biological Station
Sounds of Selection
Do you want a creative and fun way to teach about natural selection? Hop to it by turning your middle school princes and princesses into frogs trying to catch as many bugs as possible in a Hungry Hungry Hippos style game. For high...
Cornell University
Light Waves: Grades 9-12
Explore the behavior of light waves with a lab activity. Scholars build new vocabulary through experimentation and observation. Using different mediums, they model reflection, refraction, transmission, diffusion, and scattering of light.
Curated OER
The Outsiders
Tenth graders complete a variety of activities related to the first two chapters of the book The Outsiders. They define metaphor, simile, idiom, and hyperbole, and take a vocabulary pre-quiz. In small groups, they write a character...
Curated OER
Building Bridges for Young Learners -- Community
Learners compare and contrast communities.They explore factors that influence how people live, the roles of adults and children, and the interaction of people who live and work within a community. The lesson focuses on the country of...
Curated OER
Honoring Holocaust Remembrance Week
Examining a difficult history through contextual foundations, personal stories, and Dr. Seuss.
Brooklyn Museum
Lorna Simpson: Gathered
Lorna Simpson is a photographer who has put together a collection of photos from the 1950s in order to challenge the idea that primary source documents are objective in their portrayal of history. Learners are introduced to Ms. Simpson's...
University of Minnesota
Sheep Brain Dissection
Bored with frog and earthworm dissections? Had your fill of fetal pigs? Anatomy students will be intrigued by the sheep's brain, and you will be prepared with guiding questions, extension activities, and pictures as they dissect one —...
Curated OER
The Value of Behavioral Variation in Homo sapiens
Young scholars look at the behavioral characteristics of their peers from a historical perspective, and realize that, in the larger scheme of a community, these behaviors do have some value, and that a society as complex as ours does...
Curated OER
Anatomy
Fourth graders describe how health behaviors affect body systems, and describe the basic function of major body systems.
Curated OER
Skeletal System
Students identify the components and functions of the skeletal system. They identify and interpret that the skeletal system is the frame for the human body and are evaluated by their behavior and participation throughout the lesson.
Curated OER
Raising an Animal
Students observe reproduction and behavior in several types of animals and nurture a sense of responsibility and cooperation. They then examine external features of several different types of animal groups.
Curated OER
Sunspots: Correlating Sunspots to Active Regions
Pupils investigate sunspots. They use solar imaging from satellite instruments which are currently circling the sun. Students compare images from the satellites and determine the existence of a correlation between the two types of solar...
Curated OER
Pets: Oh Behave
Students develop an understanding of how innate and learned behaviors and the environment determine behavior.
Curated OER
The Value of a Garden
Students will work cooperatively. In this environmental lesson plan, students will start by discussing an article and its questions prior to receiving a handout. There are two versions of the handout depending if your students are AP or...
Curated OER
Favorite Foods
Students explore human health by reading agricultural books. In this dietary habit lesson, students discuss the foods we eat everyday and read two books about our human diets. Students identify the uses our body has for food and identify...
Curated OER
The Effects of "Recreational" Drugs on the Development of Chick Embryos as a Model for Human Embryogenesis
Students conduct experiments on fertilized chicken embryos to determine the possible developmental effects that various recreational drugs (caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, and aspirin) might have on them.
Curated OER
Cooperative Classroom Text Features Activities
Fifth graders examine text features and create a PowerPoint presentation. In this text features lesson, 5th graders go over Kagan Cooperative Learning Structures and text features before they choose one to include in a book and...
Curated OER
World Population Activity II: Excel
Students import UNEP World population data/projections from either the World Population Prospects: The 2002 Revision Population Database - UN Population Division or a text file. They graph this data by itself, and then along with...
Curated OER
Winter Holiday Activities Extravaganza
Students define culture and explore elements that are part of the custom or culture of a place. In this holiday lesson, students identify the cultures they participate in. Students identify the differences in people's cultures....
Curated OER
The Airline Ticket Mystery
Learners use newspapers and television stories to search for mysterious behavior. Using mysteries in the airline industry, they identify the economic concept and the steps to unravel the mystery. They answer a mystery question to help...
Curated OER
Science: Fish Behavior Bingo
Fifth graders, working in groups, observe fish in the Aquademics aquarium and identify the behaviors pictured there on worksheets. They match the pictures showing the behaviors, such as feeding, with the descriptions listed at the bottom...