Young scholars discover the concept of decomposition. They examine how it makes the soil more fertile and how it helps plants. They put a compost bin in their backyard and record their observations.

Learners test a variety of plastic bags to test its biodegradability. They record their observations and discuss them once the experiment is complete. They identify materials best suited to be placed in a landfill.

Students identify animals observed by Lewis and Clark while evaluating the animal's habitat and describing the animal's behavior. Students construct a food web mobile to illustrate the animal's position in the food web in the 19th...

Students view a television program that explores people's perceptions and expectations in war prior to and after WWI. They discuss the effects of trench warfare and write a journal entry or short oral report reflecting on their...

Fourth graders choose a simple machine and write about they way they believe it will work. Students experiment, write down procedures used and record observations. They will find a picture of the machine and add it to their report.

Students explore how artifacts vary at different times and in different places. They examine gravestones, observe both the individual markers and the larger context or setting of the graves.

Learners explore current fashion trends. As a class, they discuss the statements that a dress makes, brand names, and cultural trends. Fashions from other cultures are observed and discussed by students. In pairs, learners create...

Learners observe images of amazing places, either real, or imagined by Rene Magritte, Salvador Dali, and Ansel Adams. They think about a time when they wanted to escape and where they wanted to go. They draw their getaway and then...

Third graders are introduced to the topic of matter. As a class, they brainstorm what they already know about matter and its properties. After completing a worksheet, they participate in an experiment in which they observe matter in...

Students practice composing sentences that pertain to the description of a picture. They use critical observation skills in order to derive the best details. The sentences are required to follow the correct subject and verb pattern.

Fifth graders study place value. After forming teams, they play a game called, "Who Can Line Up the Number." Students observe numbers in expanded form and place representative digits in the correct order.

Seventh graders explore lines of symmetry, congruent polygons and patterns. They listen to "The Seasons Sewn," observe a PowerPoint presentation, and identify congruent polygons and visual patterns. Through an internet activity, 7th...

Students examine the invasion of the fruit fly in California. In groups, they observe and record the fruit fly's lifecycle and how they affect humans in society. They also discuss the history and geography of the fly and the different...

Third graders investigate the phases of the moon. Using handheld computers, they describe the four phases of the waxing and waning moon, record their moon observations for a one month time period, create an illustration using Sketchy,...

Students consider density and how it affects sinking and floating. Students make predictions, test liquids, and observe why some liquids sink and others float. They perform experiments to determine relational causality and how liquids...

Students explore how density changes. Students read an article on density. They observe a ball and ring demonstration and discuss the outcome. Students draw models of the demonstration and explain what happened.