How is sea coral like a thermometer? Part three of a six-part series from NOAA describes how oceanographers can use coral growth to estimate water temperature over time. Life science pupils manipulate data to determine the age of corals...

Be shore to use this drifter resource. The third installment of a five-part series has learners using the NOAA's Adopt-a-Drifter website to track to movement of a drifter (buoy) in the ocean. Graphing the collected data on a map allows...

Winter, spring, summer, and fall—take the learning of the seasons beyond the elementary level to the middle school classroom. Curious learners begin by watching videos about the seasons and the rotation of planet Earth. Then,...

What is the difference between weather and climate? This is the focus question of a lesson that takes a deeper look at how weather data helps determine climate in a region. Using weather and climate cards, students decide...

Study diffraction patterns using CDs and DVDs! Scholars measure the diffraction patterns of a light wave as it hits a CD or DVD. Using the information, they can measure the distance between the tracks. 

What variables change heart rate? Young scientists observe the beating heart in Daphnia to understand these variables. They make changes in temperature, chemicals, and other factors as they graph the heart rates. Analysis questions help...

Scientists require specific chemical solutions for their experiments. In the seventh and final installment in a series that integrates chemistry and algebra II, scholars learn to set up a system of equations to solve the volume of a...

As the world population increases, demands on the carbon cycle also increase. A well-designed lesson plan first explores the greenhouse effect and its impact on global warming. Further sections have pupils study the effect of greenhouse...

What kinds of birds live in your area? Read a book about birds to your learners and explore their feeding patterns. Charts and graphs are provided in this three page packet, but consider assigning the basic questions if using with young...

Students research sea life using laptop computers. In this sea life lesson, students participate in a field trip to the beach and enter observations into their laptop computers. Students classify shells and sea life.

Ninth graders conduct experiments to determine what affects the rate of a pendulum's swing. Working in small groups, they identify an independent variable to study and create an experiment to test their hypothesis. When tests are...

Young scholars examine the importance of vitamin c in their diets and the sources that it comes from.  In this vitamin lesson students complete hands on activities, interpret data and make a bar graph.

Students examine a science journal to develop an understanding of graphs in science.  In this data analysis instructional activity, students read an article from the Natural Inquirer and discuss the meaning of the included graph....

Teacher's notes, a materials list, detailed procedure, tips, and extension ideas are all included to make teaching this lesson on photovoltaic cells a sunny spot in your day! After some brief background reading, physical science...

Traveling through space is an amazing experience, but it definitely takes a toll on the body. After reading an article and watching a brief video, learners perform an experiment that simulates the effects of zero gravity on the...

A comprehensive lesson plan on acceleration awaits your physicists and engineers! Two YouTube videos pique their interest, then sample F=ma problems are worked and graphed. The highlight of the lesson plan is the building of a Lou-Vee...

Second graders work in groups to identify what types of trees create which types of leaves  In this plant life lesson plan, 2nd graders analyze a set of leaves and identify the tree it came from while graphing the data in a science...

Students study the concepts of motion, velocity, and acceleration through graphing their own movement using LoggerPro. They explain the difference between speed and velocity using the weather vane example. They discover the difference...

Students use the GLOBE Website to locate and study environmental data. They use the GLOBE Graphing Tool to display data. Students describe the role of solar energy in the annual fluctuations of soil moisture. They describe reservoirs and...

Fifth graders recognize the need to follow the scientific method carefully and be aware of variables in experiments.  In this airplane activity, 5th graders design and test an airplane, and complete a data sheet. Students retest...

Students study practical data analysis within the constraints of the scientific method.  In this data lesson students collect and enter data into a computer spreadsheet then create graphs.

Learners investigate finding a solution to growing plants in space. They define key vocabulary terms, conduct an experiment growing plants, explore various websites, and participate in a live video conference with NASA regarding the...

Eleventh graders test the pH and alkalinity of Pago River. In this ecology activity, 11th graders collect data and use spreadsheet to graph results. They analyze and share their findings with the class.

Ninth graders examine the rate of motion and changes in motion using a ramp and a rolling object. They conduct the demonstration, determine the average speed, and describe how a moving object can have zero acceleration and deceleration.