Curated OER
Antibiotic Attack
Students examine how antibiotics work and why they are effective. In this antibiotic instructional activity, students discover that when harmful germs get inside the body, the immune system may not be strong enough to fight the germs...
University of Colorado
Space Travel Guide
Neptune takes 164.8 Earth years to travel around the sun. In the fifth of 22 lessons, young scientists create a travel guide to a planet in our solar system. They provide tips for others on what to bring, what they see, and their...
Boys Town
More Tools for Teaching Social Skills in School
Put an end to wasted instructional time with this lesson on responsibility and preparedness. After completing this series of activities students will learn the importance of these social skills not only in the classroom, but at...
Curated OER
The Transfer of Energy 3: Rust and Corrosion
Students research the type of chemical reaction that occurs when metal rusts. They conduct an experiment looking at the rate of corrosion in steel wool. This is lesson three in a three lesson unit on the transfer of energy.
Teach Engineering
How Hot is Hot?
Elementary schoolers identify the three methods of heat transfer: conduction, convection, and radiation. The instructional activity is mostly lecture-based. When the teacher has finished the presentation, groups of pupils get into teams...
Curated OER
The Human-Animal Bond
Youngsters read about the bond between some animals and humans and how animals help us out. Unusual examples are given: honey-guide birds, dolphins that shepherd fish for fishermen, landmine-locating rats, and piranhas that give...
Scholastic
Study Jams! Food Chains
Rhinozilla is Mia's bearded dragon and the focus of this lesson on energy flow in an ecosystem. She uses him to explain the energy pyramid, from producers through third level consumers, and she likens the food chain to a video game. Mia...
National Security Agency
Line Plots: Frogs in Flight
Have a hopping good time teaching your class how to collect and graph data with this fun activity-based lesson plan series. Using the provided data taken from a frog jumping contest, children first work...
National Institute on Drug Abuse
The Brain's Response to Drugs
Marijuana affects the brain differently than inhalants, which have a different effect than opioids. Elementary and middle school classes read about these drugs as well as nicotine, methamphetamine, hallucinogens, and steroids before...
Curated OER
Arkansas: A Natural State
Here is a wonderful lesson on natural resources found in Arkansas which is designed for kindergartners. The lesson could be easily adapted for any state. Some clever in-class activities, games, and a song are included in this...
Curated OER
Simple Machines IV - Wheels and Axles
Youngsters are introduced to the basic principles and uses of the wheel and the axle. They come up with every day examples of simple machines and look into why the wheel and the axle are best-used as a paired machine instead of used...
Curated OER
Transportation Fuels: The Future is Today
Assign each group of 3-4 upper elementary engineers to a different type of transportation fuel. A background information page is provided to get them started with researching their assigned fuel. Each group then produces an exhibit...
K5 Learning
The Astronomy Project
A passage about an astronomy lesson may leave readers starstruck. Fifth graders read about a class's exploration into the makeup of the galaxy and its constellations before answering six questions about the terms and vocabulary...
Endangered Species Coalition
Endangered Species Day Art
Albrecht Durer created a highly textured stamp or print of a rhinoceros. To better understand which animals are near extinction, upper graders create similar prints of endangered animals they've researched. The six-day lesson includes...
Curated OER
Activity Guide for Snow
Create a cross-curricular learning experience around a shared reading of Cynthia Rylant's book Snow. From writing poetry and a singing a song about snow, to creating paper snowflakes and solving math story problems, this resource...
Peace Corps
Celebrating Our Connections Through Water
Water is vital for survival, but how does it help global cultures flourish? Elementary and middle schoolers learn about the different cultures around the world that celebrate water and incorporate it into their festivals or traditions.
Curated OER
Butterfly Lesson Plans
Students study the life cycle of the Monarch Chrysalis. In this butterfly life cycle instructional activity, students study the monarch butterfly life cycle and focus on the fourth stage of the life cycle. Students draw a picture about...
Curated OER
Monarch Chrysalis
Students examine the last stage of the monarch butterfly. In this life cycles instructional activity, students read the book The Very Hungry Caterpillar and study photos of the monarch life cycle. Students illustrate the third stage of...
Curated OER
Potential and Kinetic Energy Lessons
You can explore potential and kinetic energy with these lesson plans and make the playground an outside laboratory.
Curated OER
The Living Earth-Glaciers
Students investigate glaciers. In this earth science instructional activity, students use sandy ice cubes to observe how glaciers change the land. Students list forces that cause changes in the Earth's surface.
Curated OER
States of Matter Lessons
Teachers can give their students hands-on ways to explore solids, liquids, and gases with these lesson plans.
Curated OER
Butterfly Lesson 2 - Monarch Caterpillar
Students study the Monarch Butterfly life cycle. In this Monarch Butterfly lesson, students examine what happens prior to a caterpillar hatching, how often it sheds its skin, and what the caterpillar goes through when it is...
Curated OER
Seasonal Science: Spring Life Science Activities
Spring into science with these great lesson ideas involving butterflies.
Curated OER
Rocks and Minerals Lesson Plans
You can use these hands on lessons to get kids 'rocking' in geology!