Young scholars survey their local forest conducting an inventory of tree species and analyzing data of local ecosystems. They design a nature trail, map the area and make a computer generated trail guide.

Students investigate how rocks are modified into construction materials. In this building up and breaking down lesson plan, students explore what happens to building materials over time and how people modify natural materials. Students...

Students research an influential African American. In this character education lesson, students use a variety of research materials and write a biographical report about a famous African American. Students identify the six pillars of...

Learners explore waves and wind. For this physical and earth science wave lesson, students participate in a wave making activity with an aquarium and a hair dryer. Learners complete a data chart recording wave height and related factors....

Young scholars explore the function of bone, muscle, and skin. Pasta and rubber bands are used to model how minerals and collagen contribute to bone strength. The effects of the reduction of these substances are explored in chicken bones.

Students explore the effects of resistance training on the muscles. Data on the muscle mass of rats is examined is graphed to determine any increase in mass due to training.

Students explore data on the bone, muscle, and skin of living systems and then create a list of characteristics of these systems and relate these characteristics to bone, muscle, and skin.

Students investigate the brain as the organ that regulates all of their physical, emotional, and cognitive responses. Some of the components of mental illness are examined inn this instructional activity.

Students investigate the effects of depression and the brain's influence on metal illness. The factors that may affect a person's ability to develop depression are examined in this lesson.

Students analyze case studies to explore similarities and differences among illnesses. PET images are examined to explore how scientists investigate the changes in the way the brain functions during depression.

Students explore a variety of factors that affect the health of the bone, muscle, and skin systems. Healthy lifestyle recommendations which include behaviors over which we have control are explored in this lesson.

Students explore the effects of diet and weight-bearing activities on bone mineral content. The influence of playing a variety of sports with different weight-loading levels is examined.

Students evaluate information about mental illness for accuracy and relevance as they examine brochures developed in the lesson plan by their classmates. Data about mental illness is revisited and adjusted for additional information...

Students observe beakers of water that contain different amounts of a mystery chemical. They discuss how each amount of the chemical might affect them if the chemical was beneficial or harmful to their bodies.

Young scholars divide substances into categories: made of chemicals/not made of chemicals, synthetic/naturally occurring, and toxic/nontoxic. They observe a mystery chemical and determine what precautions they need to take when handling...

Students investigate the 1950's pollution tragedy in Minamata, Japan. The elements of dose, response, individual susceptibility, potency, and threshold of toxicology are explored in this lesson plan.

Middle schoolers investigate energy balance equation for five fictitious middle school students by using an energy balance clinic scenario.

Students explore energy as it relates to body function. Data about the personal physical activity of students is gathered and entered into a database which is utilized to test hypotheses made.

Learners demonstrate safe ways to handle bacteria, prepare agar plates, and grow bacterial cultures. They identify different kinds of bacterial colonies, and devise a controlled experiment.

Learners discuss ecosystems, eliciting their current knowledge of an ecosystem. Students receive an Ecosystems document and look at the picture. Learners brainstorm connection between the cover picture and ecosystems. The indicated...

If your school has a photovoltaic system, you can use this lesson plan to guide learners through an investigation of the factors affecting performance. Familiarize yourself with the data acquisition system, and then provide data for your...

In this second lesson of the series, pupils learn to observe similarities and differences in photos of the sun and record them in a Venn diagram. Then, small groups practice the same skill on unique images before presenting their...

How is energy transferred within an ecosystem? What would happen to a food web if one of the organisms was removed? Elementary or middle school ecologists examine these questions and more in a comprehensive 5E learning cycle lesson....