Curated OER
Characteristics of Snakes and Turtles
Students examine the characteristics of snakes and turtles and compare/contrast reptiles with mammals. They watch a video, answer discussion questions, complete information charts, conduct Internet research, and create a habitat diorama.
Curated OER
Deep Jungle: New Frontiers
Students watch a series of videos and observe the different plants and animals found in the rainforests. In this ecology lesson, students discuss how technology helped scientists study the jungle. They create 3D maps of Borneo rainforests.
Curated OER
2D Motion
Students examine the motion of objects in two dimensions. In this dimensional activity students view several demonstrations, complete a worksheet and a lab activity.
Michigan Sea Grant
Fish Identification
Using a dichotomous key, pupils identify characteristics of fish who live in the Great Lakes and explain how these features help them survive. In small groups, class members discover what features scientists consider important and...
Curated OER
What is Plastic?
Students experiment with plastics. In this what is plastic lesson, students make a simple polymer and discuss recycling. Students identify various types of plastics.
Curated OER
A “Scientific” Approach to Buying a Car
Students examine what it takes to purchase a car and the resources out there to help find what you are looking for. In this scientific method lesson students complete different problem solving situations.
Curated OER
Shark Attack
Students study the white shark and the red triangle. In this critical thinking lesson plan students assess the validity of facts about sharks and create a public service announcement either promoting shark or human protection.
Curated OER
Medicine: Then and Now
Students read ancient Greek texts to explore ancient healing practices and compare them to modern-day medicine. They conduct research into modern first-aid practices, using a standard medical reference.
Curated OER
Motion Experiment
Young scholars experiment with the laws of motion. In this motion lesson, students explore Newton's Laws of Motion. Young scholars work in groups experimenting with different objects and observing different types of motion.
Curated OER
Leaf Chromatography
For this leaf chromatography worksheet, students separate the pigments of a leaf using paper chromatography. They answer 4 questions about their results and draw the colors they observe on their chromatogram from the leaf.
Curated OER
A Model of the Rock Cycle
In this rock cycle worksheet, students use different colored crayons to represent different types of rocks. They follow step by step procedures to model the rock cycle with the crayons. Students draw the rock cycle, show weathering,...
Curated OER
Water Quality: Water Filtration
Learners build a water filtration system. In this water quality lesson, students work in groups to construct water filtration units that can purify contaminated water. This lesson is part of a larger unit on water quality.
Michigan Sea Grant
Invasive Species
Learners identify invasive species to the Great Lakes and analyze their impact on the ecosystem. Using photo cards with pictures and facts, young scientists work in small groups to match invasive species with their corresponding...
Michigan Sea Grant
Survival Game
Musical chairs may be a classic game, but Ruffe Musical Chairs is a unique lesson on invasive species! Using the time-honored game, pupils role play the behaviors of the invasive fish called Eurasian ruffe. Learning about this aggressive...
Curated OER
Making Molecules
In this making molecules worksheet, young scholars complete a table of elements with their symbol, atomic number, atomic mass, number of protons, number of electrons, period and group. Students then make models using pipe cleaners and...
Curated OER
Solution Shapes
For this solutions worksheet, students soak a pipe cleaner in hot water and a supersaturated solution of 20 Mule Team Borax. Students leave their pipe cleaner in the solution for 30 minutes and then observe. They put it back in over...
Curated OER
Bioplastics
Students define bioplastics and identify its uses. In this bioplastics lesson plan, students compare and contrast styrofoam to starch peanuts after careful examination. Students understand what biodegradeable means.
Curated OER
Orbital Mechanics
Twelfth graders examine the misconceptions of Newton's laws of motion. In this motion and gravity lesson students interpret data and see the effects of gravity.
Curated OER
Parachutes: Is it Surface Area or Shape?
Students investigate how to make a good parachute. In this physics instructional activity, students observe the motion of parachutes as it falls and measure the time. They collect data and calculate the average descent time for each...
Curated OER
The Siberian Arctic
High schoolers, in groups, research the topics: habitats of northwestern Siberia, reindeer, oil and natural gas, and other threatened regions of the Arctic. They answer specific research questions based on their topic. They use online...
Curated OER
Exploring Indiana's Natural Resources
Fourth graders complete a variety of activities as they study the European exploration of the Midwest, focusing on Indiana. They map the path explorers took, comparing the British with the French. They research why the explorers stopped...
Teach Engineering
Quantum Dots and Colors
Introduce teams to quantum dot solutions with an activity that has them expose solutions to a blacklight, observe the colors, and take measurements. Groups graph the data and analyze the dependence between particle size and...
Curated OER
Ecosystem Services - Water Purification
Students see that ecosystems provide services to people that are essential to life as we know it. Reporters (drops of water) could interview the trees and soil in the surrounding ecosystems for news stories on how they helped keep the...
Curated OER
Model Volcanoes
Learners represent volcanoes with models and sketches. They research volcanoes and plan how to build a model. They, in groups, build a model volcano and cause it to erupt making observations before and after the eruption.