Supernatural Seeds: What Are the Positive and Negative Impacts of Genetically Modified Organisms?

Students begin the lesson by viewing a video clip that will explain the difference between classical and transgenic breeding of plants. Next, students will work in groups to identify common foods that contain genetically-modified organisms (GMOs). Students will further explore this concept by gathering and synthesizing information regarding the impact of genetically modified organisms on the appearance of desired traits in organisms. Lastly, students will engage in the "RAFT" writing strategy, by taking on the role of a farmer persuading their employees to consider the positive or negative impacts of genetically-modified food crops.

Material Type: Lesson Plan

Develop a Classification System

Students work in small groups and come up with their own classification system for a number of marine organisms.

Material Type: Activity/Lab

Concentration - PhET Interactive Simulations

Watch your solution change color as you mix chemicals with water. Then check molarity with the concentration meter. What are all the ways you can change the concentration of your solution? Switch solutes to compare different chemicals and find out how concentrated you can go before you hit saturation! Review teacher-submitted activities for ideas on embedding this interactive into lessons.

Material Type: Activity/Lab

Authors: Brian Libby, Claude Divoux, Jordi Plana, Julia Chamberlain, Robert Parson Y Trish Leoblein Traducci N De Diana L Pez, Sarah Borenstein, Ted Clark, Trish Loeblein, Umberto Cannella, Yuen-ying Carpenter

Solubility and Concentration

In this online lesson, students define solubility and list factors that affect it. They will also define concentration and explain how to calculate it.

Material Type: Lesson Plan

Interactives: Dynamic Earth

Students learn about the structure of the earth, the movements of its tectonic plates, as well as the forces that create mountains, valleys, volcanoes, and earthquakes.

Material Type: Interactive

Author: Ashlinn Quinn, Thirteen/WNET New York

Lesson : Renewable Energy

In this lesson, students are introduced to the five types of renewable energy resources by engaging in various activities to help them understand the transformation of energy (solar, water and wind) into electricity. Students explore the different roles engineers who work in renewable energy fields have in creating a sustainable environment – an environment that contributes to greater health, happiness and safety.

Material Type: Lesson Plan

Discovering the Effect Mining Has on Land

In this lesson, students will investigate how land is used for mining. Students will mine for "ore" and observe damage to the surrounding land. Students will then have the opportunity to reclaim the land by filling in the holes and they will observe how the land has changed.

Material Type: Lesson Plan

Author: Debra Olson

Exploring Our Growing Need for Water

In this two-day lesson, students will be introduced to several water sustainability issues, including access to clean freshwater, groundwater depletion, agricultural water use, and water waste.

Material Type: Lesson Plan

Will There Be Enough Fresh Water?

The High-Adventure Science Water module has five activities. In this module students will consider the question: will there be enough fresh water? In this guided activity, they will explore the distribution and uses of fresh water on Earth, explore models of porosity and permeability, run experiments with computational models, and hear from a hydrologist working on the same question. By the end of the module, students will be able to explain how humans can preserve supplies of fresh water for the future.

Material Type: Interactive

Author: High-Adventure Science

Do Ocean Surface Currents Influence Climate?

In this lesson, students will construct climographs for three coastal cities and then describe how ocean surface currents affect climate on land.

Material Type: Lesson Plan

Author: Mary Cook

Kinetic Energy Lab

Students investigate the relationship between mass, speed, and energy.

Material Type: Interactive

Author: ASPIRE

Air Bags and Collisions

Students explore Newton's first law of motion. In the associated activity, students will experiment with variable speeds and distances to see how far and how fast they can throw an egg without breaking it.

Material Type: Lesson Plan

Author: Twin Cities Public Television

YouTube- Newton's Laws of Motion and Forces

This resource covers Newton's Laws of Motion and how forces play a great role in causing change on objects that are either at rest or in motion. The simulations, visuals, graphics, and narrations are content-based and effective in explaining Newton's Laws of Motion and forces.

Material Type: Diagram/Illustration, Lesson, Teaching/Learning Strategy

Author: Tiros Educational

Exploring the Western Frontier with the Records of Congress

In this resource, students will use facsimiles of historical records from the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate to investigate whether the frontier shaped America or if America—through Congress—shaped the Western frontier of the contiguous 48 states from 1789 – 1890.

Material Type: Lesson Plan

Author: U.S. National Archives

Beginning of the Dream, Homestead Act Made Law Part 2

In this interactive online lesson, students will examine primary sources to help them understand relationships among events. After each document or set of documents that relate to the Homestead Act of 1862, students will be asked to make the connection between the documents.

Material Type: Lesson Plan

Beginning of a Dream, Homestead Act Made Law Part 1

In this interactive online lesson, students will examine primary sources to help them understand relationships among events. After each document or set of documents that relate to the Homestead Act of 1862, students will be asked to make the connection between the documents.

Material Type: Lesson Plan

Causes of the American Revolution

Students will learn about the events leading up to the Revolutionary War and develop an understanding of the causes of Patriot resentment of the British. Students will experience emotions similar to those felt by colonists by participating in an experiential activity and represent various opinions of the time by creating a political cartoon focused on a particular event, tax, act, or law.

Material Type: Lesson Plan

Author: Carolina K12

The Homestead Act

Students will learn about westward movement after the Civil War and the economic opportunities offered to people who moved. The focus of the primary source activity is the Homestead Act and how it changed our nation and the lives of the people during that time.

Material Type: Lesson Plan

Author: Cathy Lee

Civil Liberties and Terrorism

In this 3 part lesson plan, students will explore how legislation to combat terrorism can threaten civil liberties. Students will also explore the Consitutional basis for civil liberties.

Material Type: Lesson Plan

Three Supreme Court Cases 1993-1994

In this lesson, students review three cases decided during the Supreme Court's 1993-1994 term. A set of discussion questions is provided. In an associated activity, students role play as the U.S. Supreme Court and decide one of the cases presented in the article.

Material Type: Lesson Plan