Curated OER
Pulse
Students determine a baseline pulse rate then chart the changes in rate with exercise. They describe the changes and develop a rationale for their observations. The task assesses students' abilities to make simple observations, determine...
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Photos from the Past
Pupils observe and interpret historic photographs of water in New Mexico. They record observations, draw inferences, and compare water in New Mexico's past with water today. They create a class book or exhibition of the photographs with...
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Nanaotechnology: Small Science, BIG DEAL!
Students read an article that introduces them to the science and applications of nanotechnology. They discuss the the everyday examples of how nanotechnology is and can be used. In small groups, they observe and make inferences about...
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Taxonomic Keys
Seventh graders create their own dichotomous key. In this biology instructional activity, 7th graders classify animals based on their observable features. They explain how to use their dichotomous key.
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Inquiry Lesson About Color
Students investigate the color choices artists make in their work, and to practice the scientific process of predicting, observing, inferring, and interpreting. This activity's purpose is to prepare students for a museum visit.
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Every Breath You Take
Students explore the nature of the air we breathe by observing petri dishes that have accumulated particulate matter from the atmosphere. Students make mathematical calculations and inferences about the effect of this matter on...
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Orientation of the Earth in Space
Students hypothesize the location of the sun in the sky at diferent times of day and at different latitudes. They perform several experiments to provide evidence for their hypothesis. Experiments including observing the sun's position at...
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Scientific Inquiry
Middle schoolers make inferences about what activities occur at different places in school. They form a hypothesis as to how space is used. They simulate how archeaologists explore past people by designing and conducting a research project.
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Geologist and Core Sampling
Third graders observe a cupcake and attempt to answer each question on the observation page. They write three sentences that explains how a geologist takes core samples of the earth's surface. Students make sketches and write...
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Plotting Wind Speed and Altitude
Students construct, read and interpret tables, charts and graphs. They draw inferences and develop convincing arguments that are based on data analysis. They create a graph displaying altitude versus wind speed.
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Being Nosy About Our Neighbors
Students use the scientific method to explore the effect of size on impact cratering. They compare images of landforms on Earth to those of other planets to compare surface processes. Students infer the geologic history of another...
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Baggie Science
Students work in groups and observe chemical reactions inside zip-lock bags. They use all of their senses, except taste, to observe the reactions.
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Cloud Forecast
Students record weather observations and research online weather data. In this weather observations lesson, students study the cloud cover for several days and record their observations in a chart. Students identify the cloud types and...
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Seeing Sound and Sonar
Young scholars grasp how underwater animals can "see" using sound waves. They practice making inferences, and build a conceptual understanding of sonar radar.
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In Your Own Backyard
Young scholars observe organisms in their habitat and record their observations. They then draw conclusions about the organism's habitat needs and food sources.
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Hatching Brine shrimp
Second graders investigate the life cycle using brine shrimp as an example. They conduct observations by watching the shrimp hatch out of cysts. Students design simple experiment to structure an observation. The experiment is approved...
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Best of the Solar System
Students visit a site which provides images to be analyzed. Notes are taken and planets are named based on observed features and observations. Using peer review, they try to determine the identity of the planets. They are free to browse...
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Inner Space Cavern Cave Field Activity: Drip Rate Analysis
Young scholars compare drip rates at several different locations throughout a cave. They observe, first hand, the heterogeneity in flow paths present in karst aquifers such as the Edwards aquifer.
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Air-Plant Interaction
First graders observe, measure, and predict the growth of bean seedlings. They construct graphs of their findings after altering the temperature of the air for the seedlings. They deduct what would happen if the temperature was much lower.
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How Does it Affect Plants?
Middle schoolers examine the effects of acid rain on plants. They observe the growth of seeds and the health of different plants for a month. They share their findings with the community.
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How does the Amount of Light Affect a Photogram?
Students observe pictures of themselves using film and discuss how they think the image is processed to produce a photograph. They are introduced to photogram paper comparing it to photograph paper but understanding that no film is...
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Science: Testing Water for Toxicity
Students investigate the potential toxicity of water samples using California blackworms to test water quality. They observe the worms' behaviors in different water samples and determine which sample has the highest toxicity. At the...
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Looking at the Community Tree
Third graders review the characteristics of living and nonliving organisms. As a class, they observe a tree and describe the interactions between the living and nonliving organisms surrounding it. To end the instructional activity,...
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Weather Instrument Use and Application
Eighth graders measure temperature, wind speed and pressure using Skymaster SM-28. In this earth science lesson, 8th graders collect data and record observations taken from outdoors. They explain why numerical values are different in...