Michigan State University
In Search of Life
Explore the habitats around you with an activity that takes kids out of the classroom to learn about the local variety of habitats and the living things that call them home. In small groups, scholars investigate their surroundings,...
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Understanding the Epidemiologic Triangle through Infectious Disease
Introduce infectious diseases and the epidemiologic triangle. A helpful resource describes the agent, host, and environment from the three vertices as well as the time factor, which is in the middle. Scholars complete a simple...
LABScI
Acids and Bases: Cabbage Juice pH Indicator
Explore the range of pH using an assortment of household liquids. Scholars create their own pH indicators from cabbage and determine the pH of several liquids. To further their exploration, individuals use the same liquids to create...
Science 4 Inquiry
The Ups and Downs of Populations
Life has its ups and downs ... especially if you're an animal! Biology scholars engage in a population study through an inquiry-based instructional activity. Pupils work together to explore the factors that affect deer populations, then...
Curated OER
How About a Classroom Epidemic?
Have individuals wash their hands with soap and water, give one of them a yeast-covered piece of candy, and then have him shake hands with the person next to him. Handshakes continue down the line until everyone in the class has had...
Curated OER
The Impact of Fishing
Young scholars explore the concept of fishing as it relates to oceans and how some fishing practices can damage the health of the marine ecosystems. In this activity on the impact of fishing, students research the many places in the...
Colorado State University
Why Do Raindrops Sometimes Land Gently and Sometimes with a Splat?
A mouse can fall from large heights without injury! Air resistance is a large influence on small falling objects. In an exploratory lesson, young scholars build a raindrop bottle to compare the falling rate of different-sized objects.
Curated OER
When I Was Young In Appalachia
Young scholars comapre and contrast the lifestyles of the people of the Applachian region with their own community through in-class discussions, creative projects, hands-on activities, food preservation, homemade remedies, home...
Curated OER
Blubber Gloves
The ways that animals adapt to their environments is quite remarkable. In this life science lesson plan, fifth graders take a look at some of the ways that aquatic animals that live in Arctic or Antarctic waters survive. They perform an...
US Apple Association
Apples: A Class Act! (Grades Pre-K–3)
Discover the nutritional wonders of apples and get to know Johnny Appleseed with a plethora of learning experiences that cover subjects math, history, English language arts, health, and arts and crafts. Activities include an apple...
Curated OER
Community and Ecosystems
Students complete a unit of lessons on ecosystems. They participate in online activities, create a diorama, write journal entries, and develop a Hyperstudio multimedia project on a selected ecosystem.
Curated OER
Organisms – Their Needs
Students compare and contrast different organisms characteristics. In this life science lesson, students design an experiment about plants and animals needs. They collect data and write their conclusion about the experiment.
Curated OER
Bird Beak Anatomy
Third graders participate in an activity to determine which tool will work the best to gather food. They create analogies about how the experiment relates to birds. They brainstorm about which adaptation helps or hurts the survival of an...
Curated OER
Munching Mice
Students examine different variables and their effects on weight gain in mice. They consider the validity of relating the results in mice to humans.Finally, they discuss the ethics of using animals in experiments.
Curated OER
What's On Your Plate?
Young scholars keep running record of the activities they engage in and the food they eat. In this lesson on healthy living, students discuss the dangers of anorexia and bulimia, record their activity level and food consumption over the...
Curated OER
What Makes a Healthy Plant?
Pupils predict the effects of water, light, and soil on the development of a plant and then design an experiment to test their predictions.
Curated OER
What's on Your Plate?
Pupils demonstrate the path of food in the body. In this biology lesson, students conduct an experiment to determine how large the the digestive system is. They name the different organs involved in the digestive process.
Curated OER
Water Quality and Temperature
Students evaluate the effects of temperature changes on the metabolic rate of a clam. Conclusion questions are addressed which help students to process and articulate their experiences.
Curated OER
Effects of Bread Sanitary Conditions on Mold Growth
Students examine fungi and where it comes from. In this mold lesson students determine the percentage of fruit juice in a fruit then identify the different types of mold.
Curated OER
The Influence of Carbon Dioxide on the Chemistry of Soda
Students investigate the carbon dioxide content of different sodas. In this chemistry lesson plan, students explain why PET containers are preferable than HDPE for soda bottles. They collect data and graph them.
Curated OER
Animal Migratory patterns
Students use field research and traditional research to identify migrating species of birds as well as their migratory patterns. Students generate a list of questions regarding migration and a plan to research the questions. A field...
Curated OER
Forest Decomposition
Students explore decomposition. Students define and describe components of the decomposition process. Students make a composter in a terrarium. Students record observations and changes weekly, drawing conclusions about the results of...
Curated OER
Water filtration with Plants
Sixth graders explain how soil and plants effect contaminated water in nature. In this filtration lesson, 6th graders work in groups to test biofiltration units. Students determine which biofiltration units work best and how they can...
Curated OER
pH and Red Cabbage Juice
Students review properties of materials and define what pH tells them about matter. In this pH levels lesson, students determine whether materials are acids or bases using indicator substances.