Curated OER
Selfless Service and The Giving Tree - Building Ethical Conscience
Upper elementary schoolers investigate philanthropy and selflessness by reading a children's book. In this ethics lesson, they read The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein, and research Mahatma Gandhi's troublesome, yet inspiring, life....
Curated OER
Current Sources of Energy to Maintain a Sustainable Future
In small groups, fourth graders identify different sources of renewable and non-renewable energy. They research the pros and cons of using each of these resources. They rank household appliances according to energy usage and efficiency....
Curated OER
Children's Health on the Decline
Demonstrate the importance of children's health with this cross-curricular lesson, which includes elements from health and science as well as expository writing. Middle schoolers develop realistic and obtainable one week health and...
Teach Engineering
Clean it Up!
Harness the power of bacteria. Scholars see how using organisms that exist in nature can help solve human problems in the process known as bioremediation. They research and discuss several successful examples, such as using oil-eating...
Teach Engineering
How Antibiotics Work
Take two pills and call me in the morning. The first lesson in a short unit of four introduces class members to delivery methods of medicines. The instruction introduces the question of which delivery method is best to get you feeling...
EngageNY
Conducting Research: Analyzing a Variety of Sources to Capture Information about My Insect
From picture to words. Scholars analyze a picture of an ant and then list two facts they observed and any questions that may arise. Expert groups from the previous instructional activity then look at a diagram about either an ant or...
Theodore Roosevelt Association
Roosevelt's Legacy: Conservation
The legacy of Theodore Roosevelt carries through modern American politics, economics, foreign policy, and society. But his proudest and most profound efforts were in the world of conservation, and in preserving the natural beauty of...
Curated OER
Call to Arms: A Service Project
Sick of selling candy and washing cars? How about hosting a Digital Day or a Learning Lunch? The suggestions here make fund raising fun and rewarding. Raise money to preserve important maps and other primary source documents.
Code.org
What is Big Data?
Find out why Big Data is a big deal in the first installment of a 12-part unit that introduces young computer scientists to Big Data and demonstrates how it is useful. In pairs, class members research a big data tool to uncover the...
iCivics
Step One: We've Got Issues
What is the most pressing issue in your community? The resource helps you and your middle schoolers begin the process of doing something about it! Learners compare and contrast two pressing issues in their local counties by reading two...
Curated OER
Rock and Their Properties: Days 2-4
Learners engage in cooperative research projects in order to study about the properties of the three basic rock types and the processes that form them. They plan and develop their products.with the resources for conducting their...
Curated OER
Innovations in Elder Care
Students describe the symptoms and suspected causes of Alzheimer's disease or cancer. They describe current research projects seeking to learn more about or find treatments for either Alzheimer's disease or cancer. Students compare...
Curated OER
Rocks and Their Properties: Day 5
Students demonstrate their knowledge of rock formation processes in varied ways by sharing their cooperative research projects with the class. They generate well-framed questions in response to each presentation.
Curated OER
Exploring Great Salt Lake Ecosystem
Fourth graders determine the Great Salt Lake is a unique, thriving, and diverse ecosystem. They engage in an actual or a virtual field trip. They record field trip, whether actual or virtual, in science lab book or journal and...
Curated OER
Nitrogen Fixation, OR What a Gas!
Students gain skill in the design, implementation, and reporting of a scientific research project using the scientific method. They set up an experiment to determine the effect of adding the Rhizobium bacteria to one group of legume...
Curated OER
What Turns Seeds On?
Students design, implement, and report a scientific research project using the scientific method. They explain the experiment and its findings through poster, essay , or other presentation method.
Curated OER
Scientific Method Goes to the Fair
Students use scientific process skills to solve a problem. In this scientific investigation lesson plan, students investigate a scientific problem, work through the scientific method to form a conclusion. They share their work and...
Curated OER
Presenting Powerful Outlines for Science Fair Reports
Students examine and reflect on the role of science reports in the larger scientific community and become familiar with one scientist's experience preparing a report. They identify key points to build a strong science report and create a...
NorthEast Ohio Geoscience Education Outreach
Ecosystems and Change
Pairs of ecologists select an animal and investigate an ecosystem from its point of view. This simple instructional activity involves Internet research and putting together a presentation of collected information.
Curated OER
Research Project
Students poll the class regarding their favorite pet and then research that pet using Internet research. They create reports including pictures made on KidPix.
Curated OER
The Envelope Please
Students research an animal of the rainforest. They create a computerized claymation to present their research.
Education Outside
Papermaking
Imagine recycling food scraps and using them to make paper. The directions are all here in a seven-page packet that details several paper-making strategies.
Rural Science Education Program
Bees and Flowers – Partners in Pollination
Why are bees so important? After several activities where kids investigate the form and function of flowers, they learn about the different types of bees and label them. They then examine pollen under a microscope and decide which bees...
American Physiological Society
Did I Observe it or Infer it?
Take the mystery out of inquiry! When young scientists learn to use their keen powers of observation to make smart inferences about a situation, they are well on their way to understanding what the scientific method is all about. Using...