Curated OER
Where Are the Dinosaurs?
Students explore what the dinosaurs were like. In this dinosaur lesson, the teacher peaks student curiosity about dinosaurs. This lesson would be a great starting point for a dinosaur unit since it primarily engages student interest and...
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Sea Floor Spreading II
Students import ocean bathymetry data from text files. They then graph these observations along with model predictions to assess the model's ability to simulate observed topographic features of the North Atlantic. Students use Excel to...
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Frames of Reference: The Basics
Learners learn the concept of frames of reference in physics. They examine how two frames of reference, each moving with respect to the other with a constant velocity v (constant speed, constant direction).
Curated OER
Zigzag Seeds
Students observe the effects of gravity on seeds. Students place seeds in various orientations and record their growth to determine how gravity affects the seeds' growth.
Curated OER
How Things Fly
Middle schoolers conduct a series of hands-on experiments that help them explain the role of lift in fixed-wing flight. They observe the flow of air and water around several surfaces and then consider the dynamics of airflow around an...
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Noblesville Fall
Learners explore their interest in meteorites. They review the story of the Noblesville meteorite in 1991 and brainstorm how they would feel, what they want to know and what they would do next if they were the boys who discovered the...
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Polarized Light
Students study polarized light and explain how they know it is polarized. In this polarized light lesson plan students complete a lab that shows them how light can be polarized.
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Moving Magnetic Filaments Near Sunspots
In this sunspots worksheet, students observe two images taken by a solar observatory over a certain amount of time. Students determine the changes in the pictures and then calculate how fast and in what direction the particles are...
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Frozen Film
Students are introduced to the topic of light interference through this hands-on activity. They observe how light reflects off two surfaces and then meets to form an interesting variation of color on a film surface.
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Student Weather Journal
Students recognize different types of cloud patterns and associate these patterns with certain types of weather. They predict the weather for the next 6 to 24 hours. They then improve their observation skills as they check on the weather...
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Pressure in Fluids
Young scholars study the properties of fluids under different circumstances. In this pressure fluids lesson students view a demonstration, complete an activity and describe what they learned.
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Astronomy: Picture Time
Young scholars investigate how to tell time by observing the placement of objects in the sky. Researching on the Internet, they locate the time for sunrise and sunset, the time the full moon rises, and the difference between clock and...
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Birds of Wisconsin
First graders explore the job done by ornithologists. They role play identifying the characteristics that make a bird a bird. They discuss what makes each bird species unique. Students are introduced to Wisconsin's most common and rare...
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The Workers
Students observe the axis of a graph on the board and add the title and axis labels. They plot two points on the graph and join the two with a line and work to describe the story in each of the graphs.
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Water Above the Ground
Students create a river drainage basin using a plastic tub, sand and a pitcher of water. They simulate the flow of water through the basin then add chocolate syrup to model what would happen if stormwater pollution entered the basin.
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Native American Unit: Introduction to the Internet
Pupils explore curriculum integration of basic internet skills within the classroom. They observe classroom management skills enforced when using technology as a teaching tool. Students discuss the use of URL's and bookmarks in the...
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Water and Ice
Students explore what happens to water as it goes from solid to liquid and back. In this state of matter lesson, students observe, measure, and describe water as it changes state.
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Student Time Lines
Second graders create timelines of significant events in their lives. They include at least five events and draw pictures that signify three of them. After observing a time line the teacher has made of their own lives, they create their...
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Violence
Third graders discuss school violence and what to do if they are being bullied. They take turns role playing different scenarios that involve bullying.
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Mini-Volcanoes!
Students define volcanoes and why they erupt. Using baking soda, vinegar, and soap detergent, students create and observe their own volcanoes erupting. A brain-pop video can be used to follow-up the activity (found on website).
Pennsylvania Department of Education
Plant and Animal Adaptations
Fourth graders identify behavioral and structural adaptations to plant and animal life. In this unit overview, 4th graders discuss the importance of variation and adaptation in a species survival. This is a unit overview and does not...
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Native American Unit: Introduction to Internet Searching Strategies
Students observe a model classroom of students using the internet. Prospective teachers explore the advantages to taking kids to search engines while in a computer lab. They discuss strategies that are appropriate to teach students and...
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Seein' Double, Seein' Double
By using the Internet, hands-on activities, video, and cooperative learning, pupils look into the conditions in which light casts shadows on objects. The lesson includes fabulous hands-on activities, art projects, worksheets, and reource...
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Bubbles and Wind Currents
Students are introduced to wind and wind movement by observing, predicting, and experimenting with simple materials.