National Wildlife Federation
Habitat Web
Young scientists weave together an understanding of ecosystems with this fun collaborative activity. Taking on the roles of different living and non-living elements of specific habitats, learners use a ball of yarn to create the web of...
Curated OER
The Martian Chronicles: Concept Analysis
If you're planning on including Ray Bradbury's The Martian Chronicles in your science fiction unit, use a concept analysis guide to frame your instruction. It covers literary elements such as setting, narrative voice, and theme, as well...
TryEngineering
Graphics: Bits and Points
What can a mural teach pupils about computer science? The lesson has scholars create a mural on a wall to learn about bitmap and vector graphics. Along the way, they learn about the graphics coordinate system.
Baylor College
Energy for Life (Energy from Food)
Energy comes in many forms, but how do living things get the energy they need to survive and thrive? In a simple, controlled experiment with yeast, water, and sugar, groups make observations about how yeast reacts with water alone, then...
Concord Consortium
Polarity and Attractive Strength
Teaching intermolecular forces can be quite a stretch! Chemistry scholars experiment with the attractive strength between polar molecules using an interactive resource. Learners test molecules of low, medium, and high polarities by...
Curated OER
Balloon Fun
Pupils conduct an experiment with balloons and skewers. They speculate the reasons for the balloon's reactions to the skewers and write about their observations.
Curated OER
Fun with Plants: Seeds Are Scattered in Many Ways
In this seeds instructional activity, students collect 6 different types of seeds and test them to see how they travel. Students list the ways their seeds traveled, name the plants and then draw a picture of each seed. Students answer 1...
Curated OER
Bubble and Boyle
Even middle schoolers still enjoy experimenting with bubbles! They execute a series of experiments enabling them to distinguish between convex and concave surfaces, explore the properties of buoyancy, surface tension, and density,...
Curated OER
Quality Control at Kality Krunchers Dill Pickle Factory
In a hypothetical scenario, food chemists use titration to concoct a brine solution for producing the crunchiest pickles. They also analyze store-bought pickle juices. In addition to reinforcing titration techniques, the lesson requires...
Sea World
Shark!
Is that a shark? Here's a 10-lesson unit that will have learners expanding their definition of what a shark actually is as they examine different features, habitats, and diets. They explore endangered species, using information cards...
Museum of Science
goREACT
Beginning Boyles and curious Curies can safely experiment with the virtual mixing of elements using this entertaining application.
Exploratorium
Balancing Stick
Have some physical science fun when studying the center of gravity or center of mass. Simply have balancing artists stand a dowel on one finger and keep it from falling over! A lump of clay is added and moved up along the dowel over a...
Curated OER
A Hidden Beauty
Expose the beautiful mystery of bulbs as young botanists learn all about these fascinating plants. They glean information from a short text before observing actual bulbs (consider an onion), and comparing their findings with predictions....
Curated OER
What Class Are You In?
Classifying animals has never been this much fun! Pupils discuss the animal groups, fish, reptiles, amphibians, mammals, birds, and also identify their characteristics. Then, they take pictures of animals and classify them in a group...
Curated OER
Cell Biology
Identify the different cell organelles in prokaryotes. Modelling the cells using Jell-o and candies will be a fun way to experience the cell in a hands-on way (different to using play-doh!). They observe cells under a microscope and draw...
Teach Engineering
Aerogels in Action
Model an oil spill cleanup. An engaging engineering lesson has groups using aerogels to simulate an oil spill cleanup (vegetable oil in water). Along the way, they learn about nanotechnology and hydrophilia/hydrophobia.
CK-12 Foundation
Location on the Earth: Longitude and Latitude
To what degree do learners understand coordinates? Get them some practice in Yosemite National Park in a simple, fun interactive. Pupils explore a map and locate coordinates of popular sights within the park, then answer questions to...
CK-12 Foundation
Coriolis Effect: Flying... South?
It turns out there's a lot more to heading south for the winter for migratory birds! Study the Coriolis Effect with a fun, hands-on teaching tool. Pupils take to the skies as a small red bird bound for the tropics from his frosty home at...
Curated OER
Experience Gravity Free Water
Students complete an experiment with a glass of water and cover the opening with cardboard and turn it over. In this gravity lesson plan, students observe how air pressure does not allow the cardboard to fall and let the water out.
Curated OER
DNA Extraction
Students explore biology by participating in a fun science experiment. In this DNA lesson, students discuss what DNA is and where it comes from. Students utilize two bananas, a blender and a microscope to view the DNA of a banana in class.
GLOBE Program
Calculating Relative Air Mass
Combine math and science with fun in the sun! Scientists build a solar gnomon using reusable materials to calculate relative air mass. Mathematicians measure the pole's shadow and use the data to solve for relative air mass....
Big Kid Science
Create a Milk Carton Camera to Observe the Eclipse!
Step aside, fancy glasses... it's time to create a solar eclipse viewing camera of your own using nothing more than a milk carton.
Curated OER
Plant Part Exploration: Stems
Explore water transport in plant stems using this fun experiment! Your scientists will start by reading Stems by Vijaya Bodach. Then, activate prior knowledge about plant stem functions and water transportation. Demonstrate this concept...
California Academy of Science
Fish Prints
What do a dead fish, conservation, and paint have in common? The answer is a great lesson plan about fish anatomy, fun print making techniques, and unsustainable fishing practices. The class will start by making fish prints with a...