Curated OER
Hatching Chickens
Students observe chicks hatching from eggs. For this science lesson, students view a video to develop an understanding of the proper care and needs of eggs and live animals. This is a great precursor activity for hatching eggs in class.
Curated OER
The Genome: Controversy for All Times
Students examine the genome and discuss the ethical and moral issues surrounding it. In groups, they discover the differences between ethics and morals and discuss where the concepts of good and bad come from in society. After reading...
Curated OER
Industrial Revolution in America: Exploring the Effects of the Heat Engine on the Growth of Cities
Eighth graders examine the reasons for the growth of cities in North American. Using the internet, they research the causes and effects of the Industrial Revolution and determine if the growth of cities is a sign of progress. They...
Curated OER
Science and Government: Unholy Alliance or Millennial Bliss?
Students participate in a class discussion about scientific developments since 1945. They discuss the risks to the world that stem from these developments and whose responsibility it is to determine the future direction of scientific...
Curated OER
Earn Points with Technology
Students explore renewable energy by analyzing a diagram. In this fossil fuel lesson, students view a chart explaining the different energy consumption from automobiles and how they impact our environment. Students analyze a point based...
Curated OER
Wright Again: 100 Years of Flight
Aspiring aeronautical engineers demonstrate different forces as they construct and test paper airplanes. This lesson plan links you to a website that models the most effective paper airplane design, an animation describing the forces...
Curated OER
Technology and the African American Inventor
Young scholars research, using the Internet, technological advances that have resulted from the work of African Americans. They discuss and share the results of their research. They complete the assignment by writing an essay how...
Curated OER
Sensational Soil
Fourth and fifth graders explore soil by taking a simulated field trip under the earth. They go to an Internet site that runs a simulation which charges them with finding a source of pollution that could destroy all of Earth's soil, and...
Curated OER
Cell Wall Recipe: A Lesson on Biofuels
Biotech engineers discover that changes in the DNA code for cell wall formation can help create crops better suited for biofuel production. They extract DNA from wheat germ. They decode paper strips with codes and relate the activity to...
Intel
Plugging into the Sun
What's cooking? A sizzling STEM unit challenges scholars to build a solar cooker that can successfully cook an egg. The unit opens with a study of Earth's rotation, the sun's energy, and shadows. Pupils use a compass and thermometer to...
Curated OER
The Great Cafeteria Caper
Students extract DNA from their own hair roots. They run an electrophoresis gel to examine patterns of their DNA along with standard DNA. The experiment is based on a crime scene scenario.
Curated OER
Risks and Benefits
Students research and discuss the risks and benefits of cell phones and driving. They analyze the mechanical and administrative causes of the accident of the Space Shuttle Challenger. They write an essay explaining the risks and benefits...
Curated OER
California's Golden History: 1848-1880
Using a variety of online resources, learners study life and society in California during the gold rush. They use a map to identify area where gold was located, explore pre-selected websites, describe mining practices, and create an...
Curated OER
Creating a Hyperstudio Slide Show
Learners create a HyperStudio slide show. In this technology lesson, students take the report on a hero that they had previously written. They use HyperStudio to create a multimedia slide show to present to their peers.
Curated OER
Break the Code!
Seventh graders crack a code using binary numbers. In this technology lesson, 7th graders explain how binary codes can represent letters and numbers. They create their own code and exchange them with their classmates.
National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network
Help or Hype: The Ethics of Bio-Nanotechnology
Ethical concerns are not always black and white. A well-designed lesson presents learners with scenarios for which ethics may come into question. Scholars learn to consider the different sides of a situation and make an unbiased conclusion.
Curated OER
Photosynthesis
Seventh graders investigate a multidisciplinary unit with an emphasis in using technology in order to engage them. The students perform Internet research about photosynthesis with a written assessment taken from the WebQuest.
Curated OER
The Study of Life
In this scientific research learning exercise, middle schoolers will complete a chart by determining if the statements given are examples of quantitative research or descriptive research. Then students will fill in the blank of 8...
Curated OER
Dinosaur and DNA Days
Biology stars extract DNA samples from beef thymus and then examine its properties. They use enzymes to digest the DNA samples, and then use electrophoresis to separate fragments. Finally, they discuss methods and principles of...
PBS
Stories of Painkiller Addiction: Prescription Drug Abuse Awareness Campaign
The I-STOP law was designed to regulate the distribution and tracking of prescription drugs. After reading an article about its signing and implementation, middle and high schoolers work together to come up with their own ideas for an...
Curated OER
Introduction to Robotics
Learners explore robots as it relates to artificial intelligence and mechanics. In this introduction to robotics lesson, students examine the technology related to design, research the concept of fabrication theory and the application of...
Curated OER
Robotic Arm
Students encounter a real-life robotic arm that may help stroke victims regain control of their environment. The Robotic physical therapy--the new science. They research the history and foundation to this unique alternative to long care...
Curated OER
Natural Cleaners
Learners explore natural cleaners. In this science lesson plan, students gain an understanding of the effects that commercial cleaners have on the environment and teach them to make their own cleaners out of less hazardous materials.
Curated OER
Midnight Dumpers
Students explain how pollution affects ground water. They participate in a simulation to discover the location of an illegal dump. Students explore the monetary benefits, risk and environmental concerns are factors in business decisions.