Curated OER
the Naturalist's Notebook
Third graders, after brainstorming what they already know about trees and what effect the seasons have on them, create a model of a hollow log. They participate in a young naturalist's notebook writing activity while walking outside...
Curated OER
Central Park Field Trip
Students visit the park to observe signs of spring in the forest and pond environments. In this field trip activity, students explore the park for various items
Curated OER
Life Science Observations: Living vs. Non Living Things
Learners investigate the difference between living and non-living things. In this life science lesson, students discover the different characteristics of living things and the natural or human created non-living things....
Curated OER
Water, Water, Everywhere!
Students complete a WebQuest. In this water cycle lesson, students investigate the cycle through a WebQuest activity. Students research the water cycle through Internet resources and create a documentary video of their process.
Curated OER
Dead Trees Alive! Nature Notebook
In this tree worksheet, students find a dead tree or rotting log, describe it and look for signs of living things near it and all animals they find below it.
Curated OER
Project Jukebox
Students analyze an interview with the Climate Change Project Jukebox in order to help them undertand how to use a concept map. In this writing and climate change lesson, pairs of students log onto the Internet site for Climate...
Curated OER
Autumn
Take a walk through the forest as the leaves change color and fall from the trees, making way for a new ecosystem cycle to cycle through. An inquiry-based lesson plan examines how the process of decomposition eliminates tons of...
Curated OER
Science: The Shape of Clouds
Students observe cloud formations during a trip outdoors prior to reading Tomie dePaola's , "The Cloud Book." Using cotton, they make models of the four main cloud shapes and mount them on blue construction paper. As an ongoing project,...
Curated OER
Cruise Conditions Graphing & Statistics
Students monitor weather conditions for an eighteen day period at a specific location. The temperature of both air and water is taken and the mean, median, and mode calculated. Differences between the highest and lowest recordings are made.
Calvin Crest Outdoor School
Survival
Equip young campers with important survival knowledge with a set of engaging lessons. Teammates work together to complete three outdoor activities, which include building a shelter, starting a campfire, and finding directions in the...
Curated OER
Forest Succession
Students research environmental change and why forests cannot stay the same for long. In this environmental growth lesson, students discuss the life cycle of a tree and examine tree cookies to discover the age of these specimens....
Curated OER
Trees: Are They Thriving or Surviving?
In this trees survival lesson plan, 8th graders discuss what trees need to grow, brainstorm things that could adversely affect tree growth, and compare characteristics of thriving trees vs. surviving trees. Students learn about the...
Curated OER
Apple: Seed to Tree
Students grow seeds of an apple and learn about Johnny Appleseed. For this apples lesson plan, students map Johnny Appleseed's travels, learn how he got his name, compare different Johnny Appleseed books, and grow apple seeds themselves.
Curated OER
Frogs: Fact or Folklore
Students discover how frogs are adapted to their environment. They view and discuss a Discovery Channel video on frogs and the myths surrounding frogs. In small, groups they compile data on frogs from the internet to create a Frog Fact...
Curated OER
Second Grade Science Textbooks
Second graders create their own science textbooks. They work in small, cooperative science teams to plan and create their textbooks. In addition, they photograph their group work, projects, materials and specimens, and other images.
Center for Innovation in Engineering and Science Education, Stevens Institute of Technology
Ciese: Wonderful World of Weather Project
If you're studying the weather, this is an excellent project for students to develop their understanding of how weather is measured. They will use real time data from their location as well as from around the world to learn about weather...