Curated OER
Sizing Up the Supersize Croc
Learners examine and compare traits of humans and crocodiles. In this crocodile lesson students use a ratio to estimate the height of a person and compare that to a crocodile.
Curated OER
Astronomy
Students examine a medieval manuscript on astronomy and create their own books based on modern discoveries in astronomy. In this astronomy lesson, students compare astronomy knowledge in the middle ages to today and research modern...
Curated OER
Timely Tolerance
Eighth graders work together to focus on an oppressed group of society. Using the information they gather, they create a museum exhibit to educate their community on the group. They present their PowerPoint presentation to the class to...
Curated OER
University of California Botanical Garden Field Trip
Students explore plant species and the climates and conditions in their environment. They explore this living museum on the Garden's thirty-four acres to encounter over 13,000 plant species from around the globe.
Curated OER
Impressionism
Eighth graders conduct Internet research as well as visit museum Web sites to become acquainted with the period of Impressionism. After completing their research, they sketch ideas for a landscape painting in the Impressionist style...
Curated OER
Rock Art and Ritual
Students explore, examine and determine what kinds of rock art motifs are likely the product of ancient ritual descent. They identify connections between rock art symbolism and Native American ritual practices. Each student also views a...
Curated OER
Narrow Road to the Interior
Students investigate the life and work of the Japanese poet, Matsuo Basho as the Japanese poetic forms are studied. Nature, symbolism, and history are probed as the lesson is developed.
Curated OER
Cultural Corner- "Mexico"
Young scholars use print and electronic resources to gather information about Mexico. They present a mini-museum to share with students, parents, and other interested classes around the district. They present their information in a video...
Curated OER
African Ceramic Portrait Vessel
Students create a piece of art inspired by traditional African pieces.
Messenger Education
Snow Goggles and Limiting Sunlight
Why would someone need contact lenses that offer UV protection? With a 28-page packet full of instruction and worksheets, learners discuss solar radiation and its potential harm to eyes. They make snow goggles similar to ones hunters...
Curated OER
Fossil Find
Students investigate the practice of digging for fossils. They participate in a mock dig of fossils using real bones and other artifacts. Then students dig through sand in order to go through the simulation. Students make observations...
Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics
Space Travel Guide
Looking to take a trip? Why not go to space? Here, scholars take on the role as travel agent to create a guide to their favorite planet including travel tips and sightseeing recommendations.
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...
Curated OER
Critical Stance Lesson 1: Which Style Fits?
Students analyze the elements of style for a work of art and compare it with the elements of style for a piece of writing. They read selections of the same story, and select the writing style that best fits the style of the painting,
Curated OER
Mammoth Extinction
High schoolers explore various hypotheses concerning the extinction of the woolly mammoth.
Curated OER
Butterfly 1: Observing the Life Cycle of a Butterfly
Students observe and identify the characteristics of the life cycle of a butterfly.
Curated OER
Little Oyster: Ceramic Lesson
Children will love researching and then creating a bottom dwelling mollusk of their own. They watch clips describing the ocean ecosystem and how oysters fit into their environment. Next, they research what oysters eat and how they look....
Curated OER
AIDS, HIV and other Microbe Matters
This series of lessons contains sensitive material. Please review to ensure that the content is suitable for your class. It begins by discussing what microbes are. Scholars are then asked to review a few online resources and answer...
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
Teaching with Collections
Students examine collections. In these real-world collections lessons, students examine and describe buttons and shells. Students will then sort, classify, and graph items according to various indicated descriptors.
Curated OER
A Tale of a Whale: And Why It Can Be Told
Middle schoolers examine the characteristics of particular whales. In this whale characteristics lesson, students discover the methods scientists use to track whales and attempt to match the unique pattern of callosities themselves. A...
Curated OER
A Basin Filled With Time
Students use fossil leaves and a mathematical formula to study climate change. In this climate change and fossil lesson plan, students determine the differences in temperatures during two different times during the Cenozoic era using...
Curated OER
Dinosaurs are for the Birds
Students use the Internet to see photographs of fossils from dinosaurs. They read articles about dinosaurs and birds and what they had in common. They also examine a dinorama site in which they discover why some dinosaurs needed feathers.
Curated OER
Beautiful Butterfly Tiles
Third graders create a butterfly drawing that includes the elements of art and principles of design. They create artwork that can be made into ceramic tiles to be installed around the classroom doorways in our new addition.