Curated OER
Science: Evidence for Global Warming
Young scholars examine the evidence for global warming and its causes. They analyze mean temperature data of a location for two twenty-year time periods (1891-1910 and 1981-2001). Students also assess atmospheric CO2 concentrations and...
Curated OER
Curious Clouds
Second graders explore clouds. They read The Cloud Book by Tomie dePola. Students sort the cloud pictures into three categories. Students create a graph using the cloud pictures. They use Excel to create a bar graph.
Curated OER
Ice Cream Lab
I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream! Even high schoolers enjoy making ice cream. This laboratory exercise has them record the temperature changes throughout the process of liquid becoming solid, graph the results, and...
Curated OER
Pizza Possibilities
Middle schoolers create and interpret line plots, bar graphs, and circle graphs. The lesson assumes mastery of conversions from fraction to decimal to percent, construction of angles, and at least an introduction to graphs displaying data.
Curated OER
And You Thought Gasoline Was Expensive!
Students carry out a cost analysis. In this comparative math lesson, students compare the cost of equal measures of gasoline to mouthwash, house paint, fruit juice, white-out, and other liquids.
Curated OER
Blast the Fats
Students examine the fats found in foods. In this nutrition lesson, students identify the types and amounts of fats found in foods as they research food labels and the Internet. Students classify the fats and record their data.
Curated OER
The Hudson's Ups and Downs
Even rivers have tides. Older elementary schoolers will discuss the Hudson River and how weather, water craft, and the ocean cause tidal fluctuation. They will examine a series of line graphs that depict tidal fluctuation, then analyze...
Curated OER
Time Management
Young scholars record their daily activities and graph the results using the educational software program called Inspiration. This lesson is intended for the upper-elementary classroom and includes resource links and activity extensions.
Curated OER
The Air Up There
Students observe the weather over a period of two weeks. They gather local weather data and calculate the mean and average figures from the data. They prepare a graph with their observations.
Curated OER
Introduction to Graphical Representation of Data Sets in Connection to Cellular Growth
Students practice graphing relationships between variables by studying topics such as exponential growth and decay. They conduct a series of numerical experiments using a computer model and a variety of physical experiments using mold,...
Curated OER
Graphing Practice
Students study the ways to graph values. In this graphing lesson plan students read graphs and use a rubric to decide how well each is constructed
Curated OER
Atomic Candy
Mmmmm! Radioactive "candium!" Nuclear physics or chemistry classes use M&M'S® to demonstrate the process of radioactive decay. Individuals pour out a bag of candies and record the number that fall M-side-up to represent the number of...
Virginia Department of Education
Average Atomic Masses
Facilitate learning by using small objects to teach the principles of atomic mass in your science class. Pupils determine the average mass of varying beans as they perform a series of competitive experiments. They gather data and...
Curated OER
Temperature and the Earth's Atmosphere
Earth science super stars visit the National Earth Science Teachers Association's interactive website to glean information on the layers of the atmosphere. Data tables are provided for them to record what is collected. This assignment...
Curated OER
The Effects of Temperature on Rate
Students create predictions on what they believe happen to reaction rates when temperature is raised. They use hot, cold, and room temperature water for this experiment and observe the differences. They graph their observations and...
Minnesota Literacy Council
Scientific Method
Here is a resource with a descriptive approach to explaining the scientific method. It's simple, but effective for both introduction and reinforcement of this concept.
Rainforest Alliance
Forests of Guatemala
With 90 percent of its land area covered in forests, Suriname, a country in South America, contains the largest percentage of forests throughout the world. Here is an activity that brings classmates together to learn about the...
Virginia Department of Education
Radioactive Decay and Half-Life
Explain the importance of radioactive half-life as your high school biologists demonstrate the concept by performing a series of steps designed to simulate radioactive decay. Pupils use pennies to perform an experiment and gather data....
Virginia Department of Education
A-Mazing Plants
Have your young scientists questioned why plants grow a particular way? Through this learning opportunity, scientists gain firsthand knowledge about how plants develop and various factors that affect rates of growth as they bring plants...
Virginia Department of Education
Weathering of Limestone
We all know limestone weathers, but what affects the rate of weathering? Young scientists investigate the physical and chemical weathering of limestone (chalk) through experimentation. First, they conduct trials with different-size...
STEM for Teachers
Temperature and Bounce
Take part in a fun experiment and hold an impromptu bouncing contest with your class. Young scientists heat and cool balls before bouncing them to determine whether temperature changes affect how they bounce. The set of STEM lesson plans...
Virginia Department of Education
Permeability and Porosity
Covering both permeability and porosity, scholars perform a hands-on experiment testing various soil types. The material includes a pre-lesson worksheet to help focus pupils on the task at hand.
Curated OER
Awesome Animals
Students collect data from classmates about their favorite animal. They use the ClarisWorks graphing program to enter data, graph results, and interpret data.
Curated OER
Mountain of Ice
Students graph and analyze chemical concentrations from ice core data. In small groups they prepare their graphs using colored pencils, and discuss the results.