Curated OER
Waste Management
Young scholars set up a recycling program in their school. They first estimate the kinds and amount of trash generated and brainstorm ways to reuse the recyclables and create flyers explaining how their program will work at the school.
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Discovering a Law of Space Physics
Learners use data collected by an astronomer to determine the relationship between the time it takes the planet to orbit the sun and the average radius of the planet's orbit around the sun. Students use trial and error to find the...
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The Same but Different Part II
Third graders experiment with beakers of water and balloons to measure the volume of the gas in the balloon. They determine ways to change the volume of air in the balloon which changes its size but not its physical state. By heating the...
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Animals
Second graders explore the ways in which animals differ. They discuss the characteristics of insects and spiders. Students identify the characteristics of insects and spiders. They compare and contrast insects and spiders.
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Evaporation of Alcohol and Water
Students investigate the process that occurs when liquids evaporaate. They test water and alcohol to determine which substance evaporates more quickly and relate the rate to energy changes.
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Tall Tales: Reconstructing A Personal Tell
Sixth graders discover the ways archaeologists examine artifacts and where they are found. After being introduced to new vocabulary, they use artifacts from their own lives and discover what could be told about their life from them. ...
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North or South? Which has a better way of life?
Sixth graders brainstorm what they believe are the causes of the Civil War. They copy the blank circle graph into their Social Studies journals twice once for their prediction and once for the actual. Students list the following...
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Persistence Forecasting
Learners study weather forecasting. In this weather lesson plan, students explore forecasting weather methods and do a forecast. Learners study weather reports and discuss the elements of a forecast. Students study the method of...
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Testing Weather Proverbs
Students study weather proverbs. In this weather lesson, students list weather proverbs and complete the worksheet to test the proverb. Students design an experiment to test the weather proverbs and conduct the experiments.
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Clouds as Art: Torn Paper Landscape
Students create a torn paper landscape and use it to study clouds. In this cloud study and art lesson, students make a background art image from torn paper. Students create a torn paper landscape and use cotton balls to illustrate...
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Clouds and Your Imagination
Learners study and illustrate clouds. In this cloud study lesson, students study clouds and then illustrate what they see. Learners use their imaginations to interpret images from the cloud picture they drew.
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Wind
Students complete activities to study wind intensity. In this wind study lesson, students discuss wind speed and direction. Students then build a kite and windsock to help them study wind intensity. Students learn to use a wind meter for...
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Historical Temperatures
Students research historical regional temperatures for their current season. In this historical weather instructional activity, students conduct weather station and Internet research to learn about historical regional temperatures....
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Maverick
Learners apply probability to real life situation. In this statistics lesson plan, students play poker and make predictions on what hand they will get next. They apply their knowledge of how probability works to make their predictions.
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Introduction to Density
Seventh graders define density in their own words. In this physics lesson, 7th graders solve density problems using its mathematical formula. They explain why some objects flow and some sink.
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"Rikki-Tikki-Tavi"
Students explore nature by reading stories in class. In this animal characteristics lesson, students read the story "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi," by Rudyard Kipling and identify the different animals mentioned in the book. Students review the...
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Weather Forecasting Basics
Eighth graders analyze weather diagrams and weather maps. In this earth science instructional activity, 8th graders explain why it is important to know the weather. They complete a handout at the end of the instructional activity.
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Investigation of Timbre
Students design an experiment to analyze the timbre of different instruments. In this physics lesson, students analyze the missing quality in sound. They discuss their results in class.
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How Can You Study Things You Can’t See Like: Atoms?
Learners simulate how scientists studied things they can't see like atoms. In this chemistry lesson, students predict what is inside the numbered obsertainers. They design a way to investigate what's inside without opening it.
National Geographic
National Geographic: Observing Physical and Cultural Landscapes
In this lesson, students examine photographs of Europe as they learn to distinguish between physical and cultural characteristics of a landscape, and make observations and inferences about the places and people in the photographs. They...
Quizlet
Quizlet: Making Observations and Inferences Test
A test with four multiple choice questions over inferencing, quantitative observation, and qualitative observation.
CPALMS
Florida State University Cpalms: Florida Students: Observation vs. Inference
A tutorial that explores the differences between scientific observation and scientific inference.
Huntington Library
Huntington Library: Learning From Leaves: From Observation to Inference [Pdf]
A lesson plan in which students explore plants from three different ecosystems and make inferences about plant structures and their environments. Includes discussion questions, a vocabulary glossary, and handouts.
Quizlet
Quizlet: 5th Grade: Observation vs. Inference Proficient: Test
This interactive assessment features 6 multiple-choice questions over the terms observation, inference, and prediction with their definitions and examples.