ATP The Fuel of Life

The goal of this lesson is to introduce students who are interested in human biology and biochemistry to the subtleties of energy metabolism (typically not presented in standard biology and biochemistry textbooks) through the lens of ATP as the primary energy currency of the cell. Avoiding the details of the major pathways of energy production (such as glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation), this lesson is focused exclusively on ATP, which is truly the fuel of life.

Material Type: Lesson

Author: MIT BLOSSOMS

Change Over Time in the Grand Canyon

Using this website, students can observe photographs of the Grand Canyon today and compare them with photographs of fossils of sea life found in the Grand Canyon. Students are asked to draw conclusions based on their observations of the photographs and a short article with an explanation is provided.

Material Type: Lesson

Author: Arizona State University

Electrifying Energy

This resource is a compilation of text, videos, and other elements to create a scaffolded 5E learning experience for students. In this lesson, students explore electrical energy and circuits.

Material Type: Lesson Plan

Activity 11: Water Erosion - Water, Mother Nature's Chisel

In this activity, students learn about different types of water erosion and develop strategies to slow down erosion where man is involved.

Material Type: Activity/Lab

As the Earth Turns

In this lesson, students create clocks, explore the concept of rotation, and participate in a classroom demonstration of the Earth and the Sun during the night and day. Students will also create a book about day and night. A reproducible copy of the book and a teacher checklist are included.

Material Type: Lesson Plan

Author: Cathy Burgess

The Cycle of Light

Students use a set of simple materials to observe how the Earth's rotation causes light and dark cycles.

Material Type: Activity/Lab

Author: Lunar and Planetary Institute

The Earth and Beyond: Day and Night

With this resource, students will learn how the movement of the earth makes day and night time.

Material Type: Interactive

Author: The University of Manchester

Animal and Plant Adaptations

Students learn about animal and plant adaptations in Antarctic species and use these ideas to design their own unique animal or plant.

Material Type: Lesson Plan

Bird Beaks

Students explore the relationship between a bird's beak and its ability to find food and survive in a given environment.

Material Type: Lesson Plan

Author: Science Netlinks

Activity 1: Static Cling

In this lesson, students observe demonstrations and participate in hands-on activities that involve static electricity. Connections to everyday examples of static electricity and assessment ideas are included. Extension activities integrate Language Arts and family.

Material Type: Lesson Plan

Author: Utah Lesson Plans

Brown Bag Science

Students are introduced to the concept of electricity through hands-on investigation of how circuits work. Students will construct a simple circuit and record their experiences in their science journal. Note: Circuit kits (one per individual/group) will need to be prepared ahead of time. Kits are to include 1 C-cell battery, 2 insulated copper wires, 1 battery holder, 2 brass battery clips, 1 small flashlight bulb, and 1 socket.

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Lesson Plan

Author: Judy Adair

Control the Flow

Students will use basic materials (brass paper fasteners, paperclips, wire, cardboard and light bulb / battery setups to make a simple switch circuit.

Material Type: Activity/Lab

Author: 4-H

Ben Franklin's Magical Picture

Working with a teacher, students will recreate some of the electrical experiments originally performed by Benjamin Franklin between 1746 and 1754. These hands-on experiments highlight Franklin's innovative contributions to science and government. Visitors will experience static electricity and may receive an exciting but harmless electric shock.

Material Type: Lesson Plan

Activity 3: Igneous Rocks - In or Out? Igneous Rocks

In this activity, students learn how rate of cooling affects what type of rock forms. Students will be introduced to igneous rocks, how they form, what the different types are and how to identify them.

Material Type: Activity/Lab

Body Fat

Students learn about fats and how excessive fat and calories in the diet can contribute to health problems. In an associated activity, students will plan a three-day backpacking trip to the Rocky Mountains based on their understanding of the need to balance supply of and demand for calories.

Material Type: Lesson Plan

Author: Twin Cities Public Television

Nutrition 2: Good Food, Good Health

Students explore ways in which food provides energy and materials for our bodies.

Material Type: Lesson Plan

Author: Science Netlinks

Cloud Observation and Graphing

In this activity, students will identify the three major cloud groups and record and graph daily sightings.

Material Type: Lesson Plan

Author: Consuelo B. Muhammad

Constructing Diagrams of Food Chains

In this activity, students will use color-coded cards to represent different types of organisms in an ecosystem and model food chains to show the relationships between organisms. Students will also analyze simple scenarios and discuss consequences of change in the ecosystem.

Material Type: Lesson Plan

Ball and Ring: Rate of Expansion and Contraction

Part of NCSSM CORE collection: This video shows different rate of expansion and contraction of a brass ball and ring when they are heated.

Material Type: Demonstration, Presentation

Author: NCSSM

Downhill Race

In this activity, students explore how two cylinders that look the same may roll down a hill at different rates.

Material Type: Activity/Lab