Curated OER
Discovering the Oasis
Fourth graders explore the ecosystem of Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge Complex. In groups, classmates take pictures and research the species of birds and plants in the area. Over a period of time, 4th graders collect temperature...
Curated OER
Investigating daylight
learners investigate a natural factor affecting their everyday lives: daylight. First, they collect data on sunrise and sunset in their hometown, create a Microsoft Office Excel chart to help them understand the data pattern, and offer a...
Curated OER
Precession
Students explain how Hipparchus, around 130 BC, used a shift in the predicted location of a lunar eclipse to detect a slight shift in the path of the Sun around the sky. They examine the elliptical orbit in which the Earth travels around...
Curated OER
Weather Noise
Young scholars listen to sound bytes of various weather sounds. They listen for clues as to what the weather was like when the sound was recorded. Then they write and illustrate what they think the weather conditions were at the time.
Curated OER
Stranded along the Coast
Pupils plot stranding sites onto a map using latitude and longitude as well as compass directions with respect to coastal features. They identify several species of marine animals that might become stranded; distinguish their...
Curated OER
Heritage: For Some Must Push and Some Must Pull
Students discuss modes of transportation of pioneers, listen to one of the handcart stories, build model handcart out of paper, and sing 'The Handcart Song.'
Curated OER
White-Tailed Deer
Young scholars investigate the importance of white-tailed deer and their impact on forest environments. They visit learning centers to simulate being a white-tailed deer and work in groups. After visiting a forest they share their...
Curated OER
Natural Selection Simulation
Students simulate the changes in a natural population of birds or other species. They establish baseline data of population fluctuation for a closed population with a stable food supply. They graph the data to complete their mutations.
Curated OER
Watershed Management
Students investigate the concept of a watershed. They conduct research into the concept using a variety of resources. Students take a field trip to a local watershed to make observations. The outcome is a report concerning the outside...
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Celebrate Maine Cooking!
Students examine and analyze different Maine recipes. After analyzing the recipes, students work in groups to determine what characteristics the recipes posses for it to be chosen to represent the culture of Maine. Students bring in...
Curated OER
Spring Awakenings
Young scholars observe changes in a selected tree bud/leaf during spring. They record changes in the bud/leaf using words, pictures and numbers. They understand that trees adapt to changes in temperature, light, and moisture by sprouting...
Curated OER
Where is Water Found?
Fourth graders examine the amount of water and its distribution on Earth. As a class, they brainstorm a list of where water can be found and classify the places according to salt water, fresh water or glaciers. They estimate how much...
Curated OER
Heritage: What if the Mormons had not come to Utah?
Fourth graders use critical thinking, evaluation, and geography skills to find alternative locations that Brigham Young could have taken the Mormons to settle. They present their findings to Brigham Young and the class with a short...
Curated OER
Sea Surface Temperature Trends of the Gulf Stream
Students explore the importance of the Gulf Stream. Using a NASA satellite images, they examine the sea surface temperature. Students collect the temperature at various locations and times. Using spreadsheet technology, they graph the...
Curated OER
Vocabulary Quiz: Grade Three
In this vocabulary worksheet, students match vocabulary words to the left with definitions to the right, 15 total. Worksheet contains links to additional activities.
Curated OER
Mussel Movements
Students consider the impact of invasive species on local environments. In this ecology lesson, watch the video, Arizona Wildlife Views, which focuses on invasive species. Students develop vocabulary, relate to meaningful comprehension...
Curated OER
Launching Your Ship with Citizenship Lesson 4: Hoisting the Flag
Students discuss the U.S. electoral process and brainstorm solutions to increase voter turnout in their community. In this democratic citizenship lesson, students identify keywords in speech and video related to freedom of speech and...
Curated OER
1Word and Letter Match Puzzle
In this word and letter match worksheet, students match groups of 3 letters to words that contain each set. A reference web site is given for additional activities.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Reasons for the Seasons
A well-designed science investigation that has students examine and graph seasonal temperature data from cities at different latitudes. They describe trends they see, and explain what they think causes these trends. They then identify...
BioEd Online
Bio Ed Online: Reason for the Seasons
In this set of activities, the path the Sun takes in relation to the Earth is tracked by students on two days, with three months in between them. They will develop an understanding of what causes the seasons as they examine the effects...
Utah Education Network
Uen: Reasons for the Seasons
Lesson plan addresses misconceptions about seasonal changes and Earth's orbit through a pre-lesson plan survey and follow-up experiments to scientifically study the answers to questions found in the survey. Includes great teacher...
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: Reasons for the Seasons
Why do some regions experience full-time heat while others are reckoning with frigid temperatures and snow? And why are the seasons reversed in the two hemispheres? Rebecca Kaplan explains how the shape of the Earth's orbit around the...
National Geographic
National Geographic: A Reason for the Season
This site provides a learning activity that can be adapted for all age levels that deals with the seasons. Students are asked to become a "season sleuth" and discover what causes the seasons to change.
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Project Ideas: The Reasons for the Seasons
In this astronomy science fair project, investigate how the earth's axial tilt creates seasons. The Science Buddies project ideas are set up consistently beginning with an abstract, objective, and introduction, followed by a section on...