Biology Junction
Plasma Membrane – Gateway to the Cell
Just as skin covers your body limiting what can go in and out, plasma membranes cover cells to do the same. Scholars begin with a presentation that gives overview of the structure and function of plasma membranes. Then, they learn how...
Biology Junction
Plant Diversity
Ginkgo trees existed for more than 350 million years, and, at this time, only one species still remains. While plant diversity generally increases over geologic time, some interesting exceptions occur. Young scientists learn about plant...
American Museum of Natural History
Thinking in the Three Dimensions
Discover different dimensions with paper folding. Pupils first read about zero, one, two, and three dimensions, and then learn about the fourth dimension, time. They then use origami to create models of shapes in three dimensions and use...
PBS
Season Seeking
It's a time of change. A hands-on activity engages young scientists in a lesson highlighting the change of seasons. They brainstorm indicators of season changes in nature and then look for them. Next, they record observations in a field...
Curated OER
Bridges- Design a Bridge
For this bridge design worksheet, students answer 5 general questions about bridges. Students follow the directions to construct 4 types of bridges with paper and test them for strength.
Curated OER
Olympic Metrics
Students study metric measurements related to Winter Olympic events are converted to their U.S. equivalents. (Younger students use an online metric converter; older students use a formula to calculate the measurements.) Work sheets are...
Curated OER
Nebraska's Wild Weather
Students examine the weather in Nebraska. Using this information, they describe the cause and effect relationships in the environment based on these changes in weather. They write various types of poems with weather themes and share them...
Curated OER
Science: When Autumn Leaves Fall
Students conduct Internet research to discover the reason why leaves change color in autumn. On a nature walk around school grounds, they collect leaves of various colors and shapes over a three-week period. finally, students select...
Curated OER
Homes And Villages
For this crossword worksheet, learners demonstrate prior knowledge of colonial homes in the U.S. by completing a crossword. There are 18 words which fit into this puzzle that has no word bank.
Curated OER
Why is the Sky Blue?
Students explore diffusion or scattering of light. In this physics instructional activity, students explain why the sky is blue and sunsets/sunrises are red.
Lesson Planet
New Books for Black History Month
Suggested books to help students better understand African American history.
Curated OER
Customized Topographic Maps and Models
Students explore the information depicted on topographic maps. They construct a 3-D topographic map of a local area. They go on a field trip to the depicted area and compare the 'real world' with their models.
Curated OER
Hand Vase: Ceramics
Ceramics can be a wonderful medium. The class creates fun and funky hand shapes vases inspired by Aboriginal art forms. This would be a great project to do just before Mother's Day.
Curated OER
Snow Paintings
Students work with water and food coloring as their medium to paint snow. They mix primary colors to make new colors while they decide on appropriate for their snow paintings as they relate to the curriculum.
Curated OER
Motivating the Students
Teachers explore various ways to motivate students. They consider star charts and effort charts to create a point system for motivation. They explore setting goals, progress markers, questionnaires, feedback sheets, and personalizing...
Curated OER
Aerospace/Aeronautical Engineering: Build a Paper Airplane
Learners brainstorm what it is like to fly on an airplane and discuss the parts of a plane. Students construct a paper plane of their own, decorate it, have a competition, and discuss the importance of each part of a plane and the role...
Curated OER
The Mole
This compact collection of slides explains the history and use of the mole unit. Relative atomic mass, as John Dalton understood it, is explained. Avogadro's number is also introduced. The mole, or the unit for the amount of a substance,...
Curated OER
Multiple Variables in an Equation
Young mathematicians apply problem-solving skills to equations that have more than one variable. They will work through the process to problem solve and discover the solution.
Curated OER
Sink It
Introduce your class to the concept of sinking and floating. In groups, they classify objects after making predictions about which materials will sink or float. They record their results and create graphs and charts to share with the class.
Curated OER
Series or Parallel?
Physics classes that are studying electricity connect photovoltaic cells into both series and parallel circuits. Inquiry and critical thinking come into play as learners try to determine which circuit is more productive. They associate...
Curated OER
Sink/Float Discovery bottle
Investigate which items float and which ones sink using this resource. Learners participate in an activity in which they investigate this phenomena. Then they describe the experimental process, and learn how to display their results.
Curated OER
Static Electricity
In this electricity worksheet, students read about static and current electricity and then draw pictures of an electric cell and circuits. Students draw 3 pictures total.
Curated OER
Alphabet
Primary learners will make posters, trace letters, and eat letter cereal, all to learn about the alphabet. They will also go on a scavenger hunt around the room looking for letters. This resources has lots of ideas for bringing about...
Curated OER
Enchanting Egypt
After reading the Magic Tree House book Mummies in the Morning, learners talk about Ancient Egypt. They identify the plot, characters, setting, etc., explore vocabulary terms, and construct a pyramid. This will motivate your class to...