Science Lessons

The teaching of science offers students a view into an overall understanding of how and why things work the way they do. With science, we are able to explain the reasons behind the functioning of systems from transportation to the human body. This section features science lessons created by real teachers working in schools across the United States. The lessons range from elementary through high school and are organized by grade. As more teachers share their lessons, the section will continue to grow. If you would like to share a lesson plan for inclusion on Teacher.org, please contact us.

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Science Arts Lesson Plans

Camouflage and Environment

Length of Time: 30 Minutes

Students will make butterflies of various colors and then they will experience the advantage that butterflies that are the same color as their environment have against predators.

Science English/Language Arts Lesson Plans

Controversial Environmental Issues

Length of Time: 2 Class Periods

Students will research and debate multiple topics in the topic of environmental health. The class will take sides on whether they are for or against the controversial issue.

Debate an Environmental Issue

Length of Time: 30-40 Minutes

Students will read an article about the sale of tropical fish. Students will analyze the information given and discuss their opinion based on facts from the article.

Reducing Every Day Plastic Use

Length of Time: Multiple Class Periods

Students will research and write a persuasive essay about the effects of plastic in every day use. They will be encouraged to send these letters to officials who could make a difference.

Science Environmental Lesson Plans

Better Alternatives

Length of Time: 2-3 Class Periods

The students, with a partner, will research the negative environmental impact of every day products and identify safer alternatives.

Bird Feeder Fun

Length of Time: 10-15 Minutes

Students will create an all natural bird feeder to hang near the school to feed birds during the various seasons.

Camouflage and Environment

Length of Time: 30 Minutes

Students will make butterflies of various colors and then they will experience the advantage that butterflies that are the same color as their environment have against predators.

Classroom Garden From Trash

Length of Time: 10-15 per day for several weeks

Students will create several plants (a garden) from parts of a plant that are normally thrown away.

Controversial Environmental Issues

Length of Time: 2 Class Periods

Students will research and debate multiple topics in the topic of environmental health. The class will take sides on whether they are for or against the controversial issue.

Cost of Recycling

Length of Time: 3-4 Class Periods

Each pair of students will trace 1 single recyclable product, from manufacturer to recycling center, examining costs of making the product and recycling it, answering the question:  Is recycling worth it?

Debate an Environmental Issue

Length of Time: 30-40 Minutes

Students will read an article about the sale of tropical fish. Students will analyze the information given and discuss their opinion based on facts from the article.

Eco-Friendly Homes

Length of Time: 3-4 Class Periods

The student will work in groups of three or four to design an eco-friendly home.

Environmental Impact Studies

Length of Time: 3-4 Class Periods

Pairs of students will do an environmental impact study for local development near the school or another area.

Food Chain Tag

Length of Time: 20-40 Minutes

Students will learn a brief background about energy transfer between the sun, producers, primary consumers, and secondary consumers. ½ of the students are primary consumers (plants) and ¼ of the students are primary consumers (rabbits) and ¼ of the students are secondary consumers (hawks).

Food Web Art Project

Length of Time: About 60 Minutes

Students will discuss food webs and how animals interact together in an ocean biosphere and make a model of how animals get their energy from other animals and the sun.

Keeping Warm in Winter

Length of Time: About 30 Minutes

Students will understand why animals store fat for the winter or colder months and how this affects how temperature is felt. How does the environment and our protection of it help this?

Ocean Pollution

Length of Time: 2 Class Periods

Students will research ocean pollution and compare/contrast current data, hypotheses and other information and check for accuracy.

Two Sides of an Issue

Length of Time: About 2 - 3 Class Periods

A controversial issue, such as global warming, will be researched using the vast resources of the Internet.  The students will research both sides, either supporting or disputing the facts, opinions, and other information.

Water, Water, Everywhere

Length of Time: 1-2 Class Periods

The students will identify products that need water to be manufactured, and the amount needed for each product.

Window Garden

Length of Time: About 20 Minutes. Several more days to watch growth process.

Students will plan, experiment, and observe as seeds grow in a window garden. Students will explore why this is important to the sustainability of our environment.

Words of the Environment

Length of Time: 2-3 Class Periods

On day one, the students will list as many words as possible related to environmental science and on day two connect the meanings of each to real life situations based on research.

Science P.E. Lesson Plans

Food Chain Tag

Length of Time: 20-40 Minutes

Students will learn a brief background about energy transfer between the sun, producers, primary consumers, and secondary consumers. ½ of the students are primary consumers (plants) and ¼ of the students are primary consumers (rabbits) and ¼ of the students are secondary consumers (hawks).

Science Science Lesson Plans

All About Our Senses

Length of Time: About 40 Minutes

Students will use their senses to try to identify common objects found in or around the classroom.

All About Pollination

Length of Time: About 45 Minutes

This lesson is designed to help students develop a simple model that mimics the function of an animal in dispersing seeds or pollinating plants.

All About the Moon

Length of Time: About 45 Minutes

This lesson is designed for help students understand the importance of the moon. Through multiple activities and demonstrations, students will learn the phases of the moon, what they look like, how it’s lit, and how long it takes for the moon to revolve around the earth.

Animal Habitats

Length of Time: 30 - 45 minutes

Students will learn to create a small version of an animal habitat using object in the classroom and personal drawings.

Astronauts

Length of Time: About 45 Minutes

This lesson is designed to help students understand the concept of outer space and astronauts. Through multiple activities and discussions, students will learn who astronauts are, where they go, and how they get there.

Better Alternatives

Length of Time: 2-3 Class Periods

The students, with a partner, will research the negative environmental impact of every day products and identify safer alternatives.

Bird Feeder Fun

Length of Time: 10-15 Minutes

Students will create an all natural bird feeder to hang near the school to feed birds during the various seasons.

Camouflage and Environment

Length of Time: 30 Minutes

Students will make butterflies of various colors and then they will experience the advantage that butterflies that are the same color as their environment have against predators.

Chemical Eating

Length of Time: 2-3 Class Periods

Using the Periodic Table of Elements the students will research ingredients listed on food product labels.

Classroom Garden From Trash

Length of Time: 10-15 per day for several weeks

Students will create several plants (a garden) from parts of a plant that are normally thrown away.

Controversial Environmental Issues

Length of Time: 2 Class Periods

Students will research and debate multiple topics in the topic of environmental health. The class will take sides on whether they are for or against the controversial issue.

Cost of Recycling

Length of Time: 3-4 Class Periods

Each pair of students will trace 1 single recyclable product, from manufacturer to recycling center, examining costs of making the product and recycling it, answering the question:  Is recycling worth it?

Debate an Environmental Issue

Length of Time: 30-40 Minutes

Students will read an article about the sale of tropical fish. Students will analyze the information given and discuss their opinion based on facts from the article.

Eco-Friendly Homes

Length of Time: 3-4 Class Periods

The student will work in groups of three or four to design an eco-friendly home.

Engineering Design

Length of Time: About 45 Minutes

This lesson is designed to generate and compare multiple possible solutions to a problem based on how well each is likely to meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.

Environmental Impact Studies

Length of Time: 3-4 Class Periods

Pairs of students will do an environmental impact study for local development near the school or another area.

Food Chain Tag

Length of Time: 20-40 Minutes

Students will learn a brief background about energy transfer between the sun, producers, primary consumers, and secondary consumers. ½ of the students are primary consumers (plants) and ¼ of the students are primary consumers (rabbits) and ¼ of the students are secondary consumers (hawks).

Food Web

Length of Time: 20 - 30 Minutes

Students will create a food web with a partner.

Food Web Art Project

Length of Time: About 60 Minutes

Students will discuss food webs and how animals interact together in an ocean biosphere and make a model of how animals get their energy from other animals and the sun.

Keeping Warm in Winter

Length of Time: About 30 Minutes

Students will understand why animals store fat for the winter or colder months and how this affects how temperature is felt. How does the environment and our protection of it help this?

Layers of the Earth

Length of Time: About 45 Minutes

This lesson is designed to help students understand that the Earth has a layered structure.

Learning About Plants

Length of Time: About 45 minutes

This lesson is designed to teach students understand the elements of what a plant needs to grow, plus the maintenance involved for upkeep.

Learning About Sand

Length of Time: About 45 minutes

This lesson is designed to help student’s discover what sand look like, how it’s made, and how can we describe it.

Learning About The Sun

Length of Time: About 45 Minutes

This lesson is designed for help students understand day and night; daily changes in the length and direction of shadows; and different positions of the sun, moon, and stars at different times of the day, month, and year.

Learning About the Five Senses

Length of Time: About 45 Minutes

This lesson is designed to help students “observe common objects by using the five senses, describe the properties of common objects, compare and sort common objects by one physical attribute, communicate observations orally and through drawings.

Mystery Boxes

Length of Time: One to two 45-minute class periods

Using different sized “mystery boxes” the students will attempt to guess the item inside each box.

Ocean Pollution

Length of Time: 2 Class Periods

Students will research ocean pollution and compare/contrast current data, hypotheses and other information and check for accuracy.

Phases of the Moon

Length of Time: 20 - 30 Minutes

Students will create a foldable to help remember the phases of the moon.

Planets and Solar System

Length of Time: 10 - 20 Minutes

Students will create a mini poster with pictures and a ‘memory phrase’ to teach others the planets in order.

Reducing Every Day Plastic Use

Length of Time: Multiple Class Periods

Students will research and write a persuasive essay about the effects of plastic in every day use. They will be encouraged to send these letters to officials who could make a difference.

Salt Water and Fresh Water

Length of Time: About 45 minutes

This lesson is designed to help students Communicate observations orally and through drawings.

Six Degrees of Science Separation

Length of Time: About 45 - 60 Minutes

Using a list of terms from all fields of science, the students will connect them in six or less steps to a non-science term, explaining scientific relationships during the process.

Solar System

Length of Time: About 45 Minutes

This lesson is designed to help students understand that “the orbits of Earth around the sun and of the moon around Earth, together with the rotation of Earth about an axis between its North and South poles, cause observable patterns.

Thanksgiving Food Pyramid

Length of Time: 30 - 40 Minutes

Students will discuss the foods that are traditionally eaten at Thanksgiving in the United States and place them into food groups based on the food pyramid.

The Earth

Length of Time: About 45

This lesson is designed to help students understand Earth in relation to the Solar System. Through a series or activities and interactive teaching, students will learn that the orbits of Earth around the sun and of the moon around Earth, together with the rotation of Earth about an axis between its North and South poles, cause observable patterns.

The Science of Verbs

Length of Time: About 2 Class Periods

The student will connect science to everyday, unusual, or rare actions carried out by people.

The United States of Matter

Length of Time: About 45 minutes

Observe various substances to recognize different characteristics of solids, liquids, and gases.  The students will work in pairs.

Toothpick Structures

Length of Time: Two 45-minute periods

The students will create a structure which can hold as much as possible using only toothpicks and glue.

Two Sides of an Issue

Length of Time: About 2 - 3 Class Periods

A controversial issue, such as global warming, will be researched using the vast resources of the Internet.  The students will research both sides, either supporting or disputing the facts, opinions, and other information.

Water, Water, Everywhere

Length of Time: 1-2 Class Periods

The students will identify products that need water to be manufactured, and the amount needed for each product.

Weather In A Bottle

Length of Time: About 20 Minutes

Students will discuss types of weather and create their own tornado in a bottle.

Window Garden

Length of Time: About 20 Minutes. Several more days to watch growth process.

Students will plan, experiment, and observe as seeds grow in a window garden. Students will explore why this is important to the sustainability of our environment.

Words of the Environment

Length of Time: 2-3 Class Periods

On day one, the students will list as many words as possible related to environmental science and on day two connect the meanings of each to real life situations based on research.

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