Curated OER
Can Scientists Discover a Limit to Discovery?
Is there anything left to discover? Evaluate opposing sides of the debate regarding whether or not there is a future for scientific discovery. Middle and high schoolers assess quotations from the articles included to evaluate claims and...
EngageNY
Scientific Notation
Young mathematicians learn how scientific notation is meant to save time. Part 10, out of a series of 15, asks scholars to recognize the correct use of scientific notation and finish by adding and subtracting numbers using...
Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary
Ingenious: Franklin Assembles a Scientific Community
Few Americans have heard of the burgeoning scientific community known as the America Philosophical society, started by none other than Benjamin Franklin. With inquiry, research, and discussion, high schoolers come to understand their...
NASA
The Discovery of Jupiter Radio Waves
Lead your class on a journey to the planet Jupiter and provide them with fun facts in the process. Learners explore radio waves emitted by Jupiter to further understand how this data helps our daily lives. They conclude by discussing...
Curated OER
Accidental Discoveries
Student explore accidental scientific discoveries. For this video-based lesson, students discuss how theories change with new information and evidence. This lesson includes handouts, teachers notes and a Quick Time video.
NASA
Century Timeline
Scholars use the Cosmic Times and the Internet to create a timeline of events from 1916 when Einstein presented the Theory of General Relativity to 2016. Scientific discoveries are the main focus, then pupils add in events from culture,...
Curated OER
A Valid Conclusion? Testing and Reporting on Hypotheses Using the Scientific Method
Young scholars explore importance of accuracy in reporting, focusing particularly on articles documenting scientific discoveries, and practice scientific method by conducting experiments to test and report on scientific hypotheses.
Curated OER
States Of Matter
Delv into the states of Matter. Students engage in the scientific inquiry process to uncover the exciting world of Matter. They watch a series of videos, and conduct experiments in order to collect and analyze data on the various state...
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Meet the Germs
A activity introduces scholars to the scientist, Martinus Beijerinck, the person behind virus discovery. Learners research and complete a graphic organizer that showcases the differences between a virus and bacteria. Small groups share...
American Chemical Society
The Discovery of Fullerenes
Carbon is the most common element on earth, so the innovative discovery of a new type of carbon molecule won the 1996 Nobel Prize. In the ready-to-go lesson, scholars learn about C60 and how it has opened up the entire area of...
Curated OER
Cooking Up the Scientific Method
First graders identify the different steps of the scientific method. In this life science lesson, 1st graders apply this method when conducting a series of hands-on activities. They collect data and write observations in their journals.
Curated OER
Journey of Discovery and Rivers
Learners investigate the rivers encountered and mapped by the Corps of Discovery. They analyze maps, outline and label rivers on a blank map, complete a chart, and answer discussion questions while watching a National Geographic video,...
Curated OER
The Scientific Method Using Mystery Powders
Students use the scientific method to determine physical and chemical properties of unknown substances. In this scientific method lesson plan, students discuss chemical and physical properties of substances as a class after a...
Curated OER
Scientific Inquiry
Sixth graders research the theories on the extinction of the dinosaurs. In this dinosaur extinction lesson, 6th graders view a video clip about scientific inquiry. They work in groups to research the two theories on dinosaur extinction.
Curated OER
Accidental Discoveries
Young scholars view and discuss several video segments and then work in groups to identify several scientific discoveries that were made by accident. They summarize their findings and present them to the class.
Curated OER
Tide Pool Discovery
First graders visit the Discovery Pool, where they use their senses to investigate the different tide pool species. They touch different species. Students describe how each one feels, and what they look like in words. They draw the...
Curated OER
Pond Ecology
A lab activity is a great way to incite thoughtful questioning and scientific processes. Pupils will collect organisms with a Petri dish, make observations, sketch the organism, ask questions, then attempt to identify the specimen...
University of Colorado
Astro-Chronology
Class members play a version of the game Chronology to determine when certain scientific events occurred in history. Teams play until someone has 5-10 events in the correct order.
Curated OER
Evaluating the Strength of Scientific Evidence: The Rediscovery of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker
A happy discovery occurred in Arkansas in 2004: a woodpecker, believed to be extinct since the 1940s, reappeared! Or did it? Middle to high school ecologists examine scientific evidence and use critical-thinking skills to determine...
Curated OER
Discovery Science Library: The Basics Physical Science
Pupils examine friction and gravity. affect four sports. In this scientific discovery lesson, students examine how friction and gravity affect sports. They discuss, write, and illustrate the effect of different forces on various...
Curated OER
Peer Review Meets D.I.Y.: Publishing a Student Science Journal
Peer review of science laboratory reports? You bet! First, learners work in pairs to review a scientific article. Then they trade lab reports for peer review. The end result is the publication of a classroom scientific journal!
Curated OER
Time Line of Astronomy Events and Discoveries
Students work in groups to present a segment of a timeline of events and discoveries in astronomy. For this astronomy lesson plan, students teach their classmates about their section of the timeline.
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Meet the Heros
Vaccine development is the focus of a activity that explores its history, timeline, and how the scientific method aids the process. Following a discussion about Edward Jenner and Small Pox, learners answer questions in their journals...
Curated OER
The Man in the White Suit
Students view and discuss the movie from 1951 "The Man in the White Suit" and how scientific discoveries can sometimes have negative social and economic consequences. They define key vocabulary terms from the movie, watch the movie, and...