STEM Lesson Plans

This two-part lesson models STEM instruction in the context of an ELD classroom. In part 1 (this lesson), the goal is to promote scientific academic discourse in an ELD classroom. Students use a

Students will learn about the atmosphere and what causes it to form layers. Then, students will identify how the atmosphere interacts with the geosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere. Students design an

This two-part lesson models STEM instruction in the context of an ELD classroom. In this lesson (part 2), students pose a research question about clouds, weather, and/or climate, and address it with

An introduction to Kepler's 1st Law and ellipses. The lesson includes some guided notes for students as well as a hands on activity where students will draw, measure, explore, and conduct calculations

This lesson and accompanying activity are designed to introduce students to the celestial coordinate system used for location objects and locations in the sky. This lesson will also introduce students

What is a geometric shape? Observe and discuss a variety of geometric shapes. Similar/different? Mathematical geometry vocabulary/activities with shapes Engineering a geometric playground Share or

In this challenge students will use various materials to build a flood barrier that will protect their home during a flash flood.

Hot Air Ballooning in Arizona is a two day science and engineering lesson. Students explore how to create a model hot air balloon and talk about the science behind it. This lesson compliments the

In this lesson, students will build on what they understand about heat/energy transfer to research, design, and construct solar cookers.

Methane emissions are far more potent then CO2 emissions in the short-run in the atmosphere yet this is rarely covered in the media. Students will create a multi-media public service campaign to cover

This lesson plan explores the science of natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, and volcanoes, and hurricanes. It is a lesson that would help enhance student's vocabulary and

Students will continue from their research and start an investigation to help with their solution. They will first learn about compost and what it does. They will then develop and investigation and

Students will use published scientific data and current evidence to identify the phenomenon known an urban heat island effect. Students will first analyze temperature data as well as land-use data

Bee Colony Collapse Disorder was first discovered around 2005. Since then, 60-80 percent of honey bee hives have been affected. Scientists thought they were making progress into identifying the

Students research the impact natural hazards in a city in the southwest and create an artifact to prompt public action.

Students will learn about the four types of seismic waves during an earthquake. Students will then use that information to design a house that can absorb a majority of the seismic waves, limiting the

In this lesson, students will code Edison robots to travel through the rock cycle. Students will describe characteristics of the metamorphic, sedimentary, and igneous rocks to create legos models

This is a lesson involving math, science, and engineering. Students are also required to write a reflection paragraph. Students will use a scale to create a scale drawing of a sustainable house that

This lesson is part 2 of 2. In lesson one, students create a scale drawing (blueprint) of a sustainable house. In this lesson, students use their scale drawing to create a scale model of a sustainable

In this lesson, students will learn about soil erosion and how it impacts the earth and its habitants. They will also learn about the problems that arise from soil erosion and explore some ways to

In this five days lesson plan or a class project, I used a picture book, "Seeds of Change: Exploring Wangari Maathai's Tree-Planting Efforts". This lesson plan is great for 6th -8th-grade students. In

Students will build an ice snowman and a house for him to live in. They will collaborate to design a structure to keep him from melting. This project uses basic materials to study insulation and

This lesson is the final lesson after teaching all four of Earth's Spheres. The lesson is designed to show the interaction between the Earth's spheres. Students will be assigned two spheres and then

This lesson plan will help students gather and analyze data from a climate of a small-scale area such as the football field, parking lot and botanical garden.