Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Properties of Water with a Splash of Color

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore the properties of water. In this cross curriculum art and physical science lesson, students experiment with a variety of materials to demonstrate the cohesive forces and adhesion of water. Students create a water color...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Open Ocean, What is it and How Does it Change?

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students investigate the ocean environment. In this ocean lesson, students discover the physical properties of the ocean. Over two days, students work in small groups investigating ocean maps and creating water currents.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rocks and Minerals

For Teachers 3rd - 7th
Review the difference between rocks and minerals using this resource. Learners identify and investigate the physical properties of these objects. They create a Venn diagram to compare and contrast types of rocks. This is a motivating way...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth's Land and Water

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students describe physical characteristics of bodies of water and landforms. In this land and water lesson plan, students model land and water with modeling clay and also discuss why people live near bodies of water.
Lesson Plan
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Water Snails

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students study water snails. In this water snails lesson, students research the habitats of water snails. After conducting research, students investigate water snails in their habitats and generate scientific observations.
Lesson Plan
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The Three States of Matter

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Learners explore the three states of matter. In this physics lesson, students are shown examples of solids, liquids, and gases. Learners make cookies and identify the three states of matter during the baking process.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Transportation

For Teachers K - 2nd
Engage in an 8-day study of different modes of transportation. Your students explore the concept of location and define the physical characteristics of places, such as, land forms, bodies of water, natural resources, and weather.
Lesson Plan
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Fire Triangle in the Forest

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students investigate the physical properties of fire by creating storyboards.  In this elements lesson, students view a video clip of forest fires and identify the cause.  Students create large storyboards defining the three...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Praire Biome Models

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders, in groups, list the physical characteristics of a biome and think of ways in which animals might have to adapt to live there and make a biome mobile ball that show the different types of habitats that shape the praire biome.
Lesson Plan
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In the Mix

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students construct a water filter. In this engineering lesson, students discover how to construct a water filtration system. Students work in groups to sort tools by their properties. Students analyze and construct a water filtration...
Lesson Plan
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Running Water

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders create products that feature the importance of water conservation. In this environmental stewardship instructional activity, 6th graders explore the water cycle and conduct on water usage. Students also research water...
Lesson Plan
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Be a Watershed - Create a Living River

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students investigate water ways by conducting an experiment with classmates.  In this natural resources lesson plan, students define a watershed and identify where large ones are located within the United States.  Students...
Lesson Plan
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Calibrating a Thermometer

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Students calibrate an alcohol thermometer using the boiling and freezing point of water. In this physical science lesson, students explain what happens to boiling point of water as altitude increases. They calculate their experimental...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

This House is Made of Mud: Exploring the Shapes in Our Lives

For Teachers K - 1st
Students study about our dependence on the earth's resources for materials. They practice their knowledge of geometric shapes by recognizing them in the context of the story.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ready, Set, Let's Dough! It's a Matter of System

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students explore physical sciences by participating in a class experiment. In this matter lesson, students identify the three forms of matter and their physical differences. Students utilize cookie dough to create a play dough like...
Lesson Plan
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Sense of Place

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students identify the major folk regions of Louisiana and the relationship between folklife, geography, and ecology. They give deeper thought to what makes their own community unique, what their sense of place actually is. Students...
Lesson Plan
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The Chemistry of Life

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers study atoms and chemical compounds. They identify certain elements essential to human health, describe physical and chemical properties of water, and name four types of polymers unique to all life forms. They explain how...
Lesson Plan
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Physical Changes to Matter

For Teachers 1st - 4th
Pupils explore matter by conducting an in-class experiment. They experiment with water's various forms by melting and freezing water, identifying its new shape. These observations are recorded to supplement later discussion. They also...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Thermo and Fluid Dynamics of a Homemade "Lava Lamp"

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students construct their own lava lamp using simple substances. In this physics lesson, students explain how difference in density causes convection. They solve for forces and buoyancy using mathematical equations.
Lesson Plan
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The Influence of Carbon Dioxide on the Chemistry of Soda

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate the carbon dioxide content of different sodas. In this chemistry lesson, students explain why PET containers are preferable than HDPE for soda bottles. They collect data and graph them.
Lesson Plan
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Naked to the Eye

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders study microorganisms. In this microorganism lesson plan, 6th graders explore the form and function of these organisms. Students use magnification during experiments on bread.
Lesson Plan
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Factors That Shaped Indiana

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders construct a model of Indiana which displays the effects of the glacial period on the state's physical structure. Students work in groups to plan and execute their model based on an established rubric.
Lesson Plan
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Classifying Matter

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders conduct investigations to explore matter. In this states of matter lesson, 2nd graders complete four activities to analyze the three states of matter. Students analyze the properties of solids, liquids, and gases. Students...
Lesson Plan
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Ice Floats

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore the changing density of water. For this physics lesson, students investigate how an object's density determines whether it will float or sink in water. They explain why this unique property of is important to living things.