These lesson plans and activities are organized under topics. Click the found next to the topic to see the related knowledge and skill statements from Content Knowledge, 4th edition.

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Life Science

Characteristics of organisms | Classification of organisms | Diversity and unity among organisms | Interdependence of organisms | Natural selection and biological evolution | Regulation and behavior | Relationships between organisms and the environment | Reproduction | Structure and function in cells | Structure and function in organisms | Survival and extinction | Interactive activities for kids

Physical Science

Atoms and molecules | Chemical reactions | Electricity and magnetism | Energy transfer and entropy | Forces and motion | Gravity | Position and Motion | Properties of substances | Vibrations and waves | Interactive activities for kids | General physical science resources

Earth and Space Science

Biogeochemical cycles | Characteristics of the Earth system | Earth's history | Energy in the Earth system | Motion of the Earth and Moon | Plate tectonics | Rocks, minerals, and soil | Seasons, weather, and climate | The Solar System | Water in the Earth system | General earth and space science resources

Scientific Inquiry

Ethics in science | People in science | Scientific collaboration and communication | Scientific data collection/analysis/interpretation | Scientific investigation

General Science Resources

Life Science

Characteristics of organisms

• It's All In the Genes (Grades 3–5)—McREL
• Same Yet Different (Grades K–2)—McREL
• Have You Ever Met a Tree? (Elementary)—Reach Out!; University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Classification of organisms

• One of These Things Is Not Like the Other (Grades 3–5)—McREL
• Animal or Plant? (Grades K–2)—Reach Out!; University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Diversity and unity among organisms

• Fossil Fun (Grades 3–5)—McREL

Interdependence of organisms

• Broken Chains and Tangled Webs (Grades 6–8)—McREL

Natural selection and biological evolution

• Not So Super Superbugs (Grades 9–12)—McREL
• Co-evolution of Plants and Pollinators (Grades 9–12)—PBS Online®
• Dogs and More Dog (Grades 9–12)—PBS Online®
  

Regulation and behavior

• Africanized Honey Bees on the Move (Grades K–12)—University of Arizona, Tucson*

Relationships between organisms and the environment

• It's a Wolf's Life (Grades 3–5)—McREL
• Our Changing World (Grades 3–5)—McREL
• To Grow a Plant (Grades K–2)—McREL
• What in the World Are You Doing? (Grades 3–5)—McREL
• The Big Empty: The Ecology of the Great Basin (Grades 3–12)—Bureau of Land Management; Washington, D.C.
• Environmental Resources for Students and Teachers (Grades 3–12)—Environmental Protection Agency; Washington, D.C.
• Environmental Technology is an Ancient Science: Hupobi Heritage Project (Grades 3–12)—Bureau of Land Management; Washington, D.C.
• The Journey North Teacher's Manual (Grades 4–8)—Annenberg/CPB - Washington, D.C.; & Journey North - Charlotte, Vermont
• SeaWorld/Busch Gardens Animal Information Database (Multiple lessons, multiple grades)—Busch Entertainment Corporation*

Reproduction

• Seeing Double (Grades 6–8)—McREL

Structure and function in cells

• Pineapple JELL-O? (Grades 9–12)—McREL
• The Giant Cell (Grades K–3)—The Franklin Institute Online; Philadelphia, PA
• Healthy Heart (Grade 5)—The Franklin Institute Online; Philadelphia, PA
• Heartbeat (Grades K–3)—The Franklin Institute Online; Philadelphia, PA
• Proteins (Secondary)—Newton's Apple®; Twin Cities Public Televisio
  

Structure and function in organisms

• Creatures Features (Grades 3–5)—McREL
• Africanized Honey Bees on the Move (Multiple lessons, multiple grades)—University of Arizona, Tucson*

Survival and extinction

• Alaska's Cold Desert (Grades 3–8)—Bureau of Land Management; Washington, D.C.

Interactive activities for kids

• Neuroscience for Kids: Experiments and Activities (Multiple lessons, Grades 3–8)—Eric H. Chudler; University of Washington, Seattle

Physical Science

Atoms and molecules

• Full of Air (Grades 9–12)—McREL
• Modeling Chemical Bonding (Grades 9–12)—McREL
• Proud to be Organic (Grades 9–12)—McREL
• If Your Cat Took Chemistry, Would She Eat This Stuff? (Secondary)—Lapeer County Information Depot, Michigan
  

Chemical reactions

• Acid/Base Titration of an Eggshell (Secondary)—Lapeer County Information Depot, Michigan
• Analysis of Vitamin C (Secondary)—Lapeer County Information Depot, Michigan
• Antacid Tablet Race (Secondary)—Aerospace Education Services Project; Oklahoma State University
• The pH Factor (Grades 3–8)—Miami Museum of Science, Florida*
  

Electricity and magnetism

• Electricity and Magnetism (Grades 6–8)—McREL
• Light Bright (Grades 6–8)—McREL
• Magic Magnets (Grades K–2)—McREL
• Beakman's Electric Motor (Grades 3–12)—Christopher M. Palmer; Intergraph Corporation
• Ohm's Law (Secondary)—Access Excellence®; The National Health Museum; Washington, D.C.
  

Energy transfer and entropy

• Cool It (Grades 3–5)—McREL
• Ice Energy (Elementary)—Association for the Promotion and Advancement of Science Education; Vancouver, Canada
• Solar Energy Experiment (Grades 3–8)—Beatrice Ortiz; Ann Parish Elementary; New Mexico
  

Forces and motion

• Force and Motion (Grades 3–5)—McREL
• Forces and Motion Index (Multiple lessons, multiple grades)—Cislunar Aerospace, Inc.
• Rockets (Grades K–12)—TeacherLINK; Utah State University, Logan

Gravity

• Warped Space Time Model (Grades 9–12)—PBS Online®
  

Position and motion

• Which Object Do I See? (Grades K–2)—McREL
• I'm Inclined to See (Grades 9–12)—Mark Madsen; Tempe High School; Tempe, AZ
  

Properties of substances

• Candy Chromotography (Grades 6–8)—McREL
• Conservation of Matter (Grades 3–5)—McREL
• The Huge World of Tiny Things (Grades 3–5)—McREL*
• What's the Matter With You? (Grades 3–5)—McREL
• MicroWorlds Lesson Plans (Grades 9–12)—Berkeley Lab's Advanced Light Source; University of California, Berkeley
• Teaching the Periodic Table with Database Software (Grades 6–7)—Educator's Reference Desk; Information Institute of Syracuse, NY

Vibrations and waves

• Jitterbug and Shake, Rattle, and Vibrate (Grades K–2)—McREL
• Sounds like Science-Drums (Grades 3–8)—Association for the Promotion and Advancement of Science Education; Vancouver, Canada
• Sounds like Science-Guitar (Grades 3–8)—Association for the Promotion and Advancement of Science Education; Vancouver, Canada

Interactive activities for kids

• The pH Factor (Grades 3–8)—Miami Museum of Science*

General physical science resources

• Chemistry Resources (Secondary)—Lapeer County Information Depot, Michigan

Earth and Space Science

Biogeochemical cycles

• Chemical Cycles (Grades 9–12)—McREL

Characteristics of the Earth system

• The Earth Bowl (Grades K–3)—The Franklin Institute Online; Philadelphia, PA
• Frozen Erosion (Grades K–6)—The Franklin Institute Online; Philadelphia, PA*
• Land or Water? (Grades 3–4)—Bambi Ford and Valerie Pateman; University of Montana, Missoula
  

Earth's history

• Land Mass Formation Demonstration (Grades K–6)—The Franklin Institute Online; Philadelphia, PA
  

Energy in the Earth system

• What Causes the Wind (Grades 6–8)—McREL

Motion of the Earth and Moon

• Earthly Phenomena: Finding the Answers (Grades 6–8)—McREL
• Movements of the Earth and Moon (Grades 3–5)—McREL
• Star Light, Star Bright (Grades 3–5)—McREL
• Educator's Guide to Moon Phases (Multiple lessons, Grades K–12)—Jet Propulsion Laboratory of the California Institute of Technology; National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
  

Plate tectonics

• Clay Crash (Grades K–6)—The Franklin Institute Online; Philadelphia, PA
• Earth's Interior and Plate Tectonics Theory (Grades 5–6)—Laurie Molnar; University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown

Rocks, minerals, and soil

• A Collection of Rocks (Grades K–2)—McREL
• Straight Scoop on Soils, You Dig? (Grades 3–5)—McREL

Seasons, weather, and climate

• Highs and Lows (Grades 4–6)—Shirley Gaug; Anthony Elementary; Anthony, KS
• Rain or Shine: Lessons to Explore Meteorology and Weather (Multiple lessons; Elementary, Middle)—Center for Analysis and Prediction of Storms; Norman, OK
  

The Solar System

• Driving Through the Solar System (Grades 6–8)—McREL
• Center for Educational Resources (CERES) Project (Multiple lessons, Grades K–12)—National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) & Montana State University-Bozeman
• Exploring Planets in the Classroom (Multiple lessons, Grades K–12)—the Hawaii Space Grant Consortium
• Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous Mission (Multiple lessons, Grades 8–12)—National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Water in the Earth system

• Layering Water (Grades 6–8)—McREL
• Wading Through the Water Cycle (Grades 6–8)—McREL

General earth and space resources

• Lesson Plans and Activities (Multiple lessons, Grades K–12)—Nebraska Earth Science Education Network; University of Lincoln-Nebraska

Scientific Inquiry

Ethics in science

People in science

• Scientists of the World (Grades 3–5)—McREL

Scientific collaboration and communication

• Trading and Testing (Grades 3–5)—McREL

Scientific data collection/analysis/interpretation

• The Huge World of Tiny Things (Grades 3–5)—McREL*

Scientific investigation

• Balloon Fun (Grades K–12)—Jeann Harder, Lynch Elementary; Oregon
• Science Activities and Lessons (Multiple lessons, Grades 3–7)—Dr. Scott Mandel; Teachers Helping Teachers

General science resources

• Access Excellence® Activities Exchange (Multiple lessons, Secondary)—The National Health Museum; Washington, D.C.
• Cool Science for Curious Kids (Secondary)—Howard Hughes Medical Institute; Chevy Chase, MD
• Elementary Science Curriculum Guide (Multiple lessons, Grades 1–5)—Saskatchewan Education; Regina, Saskatchewan
• Fun Experiments (Multiple lessons, Grades K–12)—Reach out!; University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
• The K–8 Aeronautics Internet Textbook (Grades K–8)—NASA's Learning Technologies Project & Cislunar Aerospace, Inc.
• Middle Level Science Curriculum Guide (Grades 6–8)—Saskatchewan Education; Regina, Saskatchewan
• PBS Teacher Source (Grades K–12)—PBS Online®
• Science Activities (Grades K–8)—The Franklin Institute Online; Philadelphia, PA
• The Thinking Fountain (Multiple lessons, multiple grades)—Science Museum of Minnesota, St. Paul
• Whelmers Science Activities (Multiple lessons, multiple grades)—McREL

Note: An asterisk (*) denotes an activity that is listed under more than one topic.