Standard Course of Study :: Science

Aligned lesson plans

Push-Me Pull-Me toys: In Design technology: Children's engineering, page 1.3; In this lesson, students find themselves working as engineers and toy designers for the Push-Me Pull-Me Toy Company. They will design and build a prototype of a simple toy that moves with a push or pull of one finger.; Format: lesson plan (grade 1, 3, and 5 Visual Arts Education and Science); By Erin Denniston.

Paper cup challenge: In Design technology: Children's engineering, page 1.2; In this lesson, students are challenged to redesign the classic paper cup so that no tape, glue, or staples are necessary. This will reduce production costs and so lower the cost of the paper cups. Each pair of students will be given a stack of paper to design a new paper container that can hold water for a short period of time.; Format: lesson plan (grade 6 Science); By Erin Denniston.

Marshmallow catapults: In Design technology: Children's engineering, page 1.4; Students will work in design teams competing for a contract to produce a marshmallow catapult for Target. Catapults will be assessed based on cost, performance, and appearance.; Format: lesson plan (grade 5 Mathematics and Science); By Erin Denniston.

Ice cream containers: In Design technology: Children's engineering, page 2.6; Students will use their knowledge to design and build melt-proof containers for ice cream. They will track the temperature changes in the container over a four-hour period to simulate the ice cream in transit from manufacturer to store. Students will draw a diagram that shows how and why the container works.; Format: lesson plan (grade 6 Science); By Erin Denniston.

Heat racers: In Design technology: Children's engineering, page 2.5; In this lesson, students will learn about insulators and conductors by creating sleeves for thermometers that will either raise the thermometer's temperature or keep it the same on a sunny day.; Format: lesson plan (grade 6 Science); By Erin Denniston.

Eco-packaging: In Design technology: Children's engineering, page 1.5; Environmental issues are often at odds with commerce. In this lesson, students balance the need for secure packaging with environmental and economic concerns. They will work together to create mailing packages for a fragile substance and evaluate their results once the package travels through the postal system.; Format: lesson plan (grade 5 Mathematics and Science); By Erin Denniston.

What floats your boat?: In this lesson, students design and build a small model boat, using limited materials. They then develop a procedure to determine the load line for their boat while it is in calm waters. (Learn more); Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Science); Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science

Tumbleweeds: In this Science Update, from Science NetLinks, students hear about how desert plants can be used to soak up uranium that is contaminating military sites. (Learn more); Format: activity/lesson plan (grade 6 Science); Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science

Thought-controlled robotics: In this Science Update, from Science NetLinks, students hear about research into the development of robotic limbs that can be controlled by thought alone. (Learn more); Format: activity/lesson plan (grade 6–8 Science); Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science

Technology: Past, present, and future: In this lesson from Science NetLinks, students examine a number of technological innovations that have occurred since the beginning of humanity. (Learn more); Format: lesson plan (grade 6 Science); Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science

Talking lights: In this Science Update, from Science NetLinks, students hear about ideas to use the imperceptible flickering of fluorescent lights to transmit coded information. (Learn more); Format: activity/lesson plan (grade 6 Science); Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science

Smelling diseases: In this Science Update, from Science NetLinks, students hear about how doctors are developing a kind of sniff test to screen for diseases. (Learn more); Format: activity/lesson plan (grade 6–8 Science); Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science

Satellite orbits: In this lesson, students refine and expand their understandings of gravity, forces, and motion in the context of satellite orbits. This lesson is most appropriate for students who have already had instruction in the forces acting on falling bodies and gravity. (Learn more); Format: lesson plan (grade 6 and 9–12 Science); Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science

Robotic arm: In this Science Update, from Science NetLinks, you'll hear about a real-life robotic arm that may help stroke victims regain control of their movement. (Learn more); Format: activity/lesson plan (grade 6–7 and 9–12 Science); Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science

Robot farmers: In this Science Update from Science NetLinks, students hear about how cheap robots may revolutionize farming. (Learn more); Format: activity/lesson plan (grade 6–8 Science); Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science

Pottery quest: In this Science NetLinks lesson, the first in a two-part series on pottery making, students learn that the production of ceramic pottery requires detailed knowledge of the physical properties of different clays and tempering materials, as well as knowledge... (Learn more); Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Science); Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science

Phone fibbing: In this Science Update, from Science NetLinks, students hear about a study that shows that people's likelihood of lying depends on the communication technology they're using. (Learn more); Format: activity/lesson plan (grade 6–8 Science); Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science

Night lights: In this Science Update, from Science NetLinks, students hear why bright nighttime lights could be bad for women's health. (Learn more); Format: activity/lesson plan (grade 6–8 Science); Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science

Modern technology and farming: This lesson from Science NetLinks is an open-ended lesson about agriculture and farming technology. Students have an opportunity to explore five different kinds of farms on a website with interesting visual and audio enhancements. (Learn more); Format: lesson plan (grade 6 Science); Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science

Horse bones: In this Science Update, from Science NetLinks, students hear how studying horses may help engineers improve human flight in air and space. (Learn more); Format: activity/lesson plan (grade 6 Science); Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science