Next Generation Science Standards Aligned Resources
OER Commons has worked with some of the most trusted and innovative OER science educators out there to bring you resources aligned and evaluated against the Next Generation Science Standards.
Trademark Notice: "Next Generation Science Standards" and the provided logo is a registered trademark of WestEd. Neither WestEd nor the lead states and partners that developed the Next Generation Science Standards were involved in the production of this product, and do not endorse it.
In this activity, students will explore how the Law of Conservation of …
In this activity, students will explore how the Law of Conservation of Energy (the First Law of Thermodynamics) applies to atoms, as well as the implications of heating or cooling a system. This activity focuses on potential energy and kinetic energy as well as energy conservation. The goal is to apply what is learned to both our human scale world and the world of atoms and molecules.
In this lesson, the students will discover the relationship between an object's …
In this lesson, the students will discover the relationship between an object's mass and the amount of space it takes up (its volume). The students will also learn about the concepts of displacement and density.
In this simulation of a doctor's office, students play the roles of …
In this simulation of a doctor's office, students play the roles of physician, nurse, patients, and time-keeper, with the objective to improve the patient waiting time. They collect and graph data as part of their analysis. This serves as a hands-on example of using engineering principles and engineering design approaches (such as models and simulations) to research, analyze, test and improve processes.
Students learn more about assistive devices, specifically biomedical engineering applied to computer …
Students learn more about assistive devices, specifically biomedical engineering applied to computer engineering concepts, with an engineering challenge to create an automatic floor cleaner computer program. Following the steps of the design process, they design computer programs and test them by programming a simulated robot vacuum cleaner (a LEGO® robot) to move in designated patterns. Successful programs meet all the design requirements.
This resource provides a short reading section with experimental data and a …
This resource provides a short reading section with experimental data and a few questions about the text. It was created with standardized assessment in mind and aligned with Next Generation Science Standards.
This sequence of instruction was developed in the Growing Elementary Science Prjoject to …
This sequence of instruction was developed in the Growing Elementary Science Prjoject to help elementary teachers who were working remotely. We developed a short storyline that ties together a few sessions to help explore a specific concept. We tried to include some activities that honored and included the student’s family and experience, and some that included the potential for ELA learning goals. In this Unit of Instruction, students observe animal behaviors - both in video format and in their own neighborhoods - then create a model to explain how these behaviors help the animals meet their needs. It is part of ClimeTime - a collaboration among all nine Educational Service Districts (ESDs) in Washington and many Community Partners to provide programs for science teacher training around Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and climate science, thanks to grant money made available to the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) by Governor Inslee.
This sequence of instruction was developed in the Growing Elementary Science Project to …
This sequence of instruction was developed in the Growing Elementary Science Project to help elementary teachers who were working remotely. We developed a short storyline that ties together a few sessions to help explore a specific concept. We tried to include some activities that honored and included the student’s family and experience, and some that included the potential for ELA learning goals. In this Unit of Instruction, students observe and act out animal behaviors, then observe animal behaviors for animals in their lives. They use these observations to determine what some animals' needs may be. It is part of ClimeTime - a collaboration among all nine Educational Service Districts (ESDs) in Washington and many Community Partners to provide programs for science teacher training around Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and climate science, thanks to grant money made available to the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) by Governor Inslee.
This lesson introduces students to the bones of the axial skeleton, including …
This lesson introduces students to the bones of the axial skeleton, including the bones of the skull, spine, and rib cage. Interactive student and teacher notes are included, along with a Quizlet set, and bookwork assignment to reinforce content.
This Force and motion Roller Coaster activity was done with my 5th …
This Force and motion Roller Coaster activity was done with my 5th grade class and they enjoyed it. It took longer than a normal science period but was a fun end of the year activity to help students stay engaged to their learning. Graphic created by Ashley Moses Author: Ashley Moses Date Added: 06/14/2021Creative Commons Attribution Language: English
Students use their senses to describe what the weather is doing and …
Students use their senses to describe what the weather is doing and predict what it might do next. After gaining a basic understanding of weather patterns, students act as state park engineers and design/build "backyard weather stations" to gather data to make actual weather forecasts.
Students construct paper recombinant plasmids to simulate the methods genetic engineers use …
Students construct paper recombinant plasmids to simulate the methods genetic engineers use to create modified bacteria. They learn what role enzymes, DNA and genes play in the modification of organisms. For the particular model they work on, they isolate a mammal insulin gene and combine it with a bacteria's gene sequence (plasmid DNA) for production of the protein insulin.
In this experiment, two chemicals that can be found around the house …
In this experiment, two chemicals that can be found around the house will be mixed within a plastic baggie, and several chemical changes will be observed.
In a rocket, propellant escapes from the bottom of the rocket. In …
In a rocket, propellant escapes from the bottom of the rocket. In this balloon investigation, air escapes from the end of the balloon. The rocket lifts off due to the escaping propellant. The balloon moves due to the escaping air. Like a rocket, the balloon travels in the opposite direction of the propellant.
Students explore static electricity by rubbing a simulated balloon on a sweater. …
Students explore static electricity by rubbing a simulated balloon on a sweater. As they view the charges in the sweater, balloon, and adjacent wall, they gain an understanding of charge transfer. This item is part of a larger collection of simulations developed by the Physics Education Technology project (PhET). The simulations are animated, interactive, and game-like environments.
Why does a balloon stick to your sweater? Rub a balloon on …
Why does a balloon stick to your sweater? Rub a balloon on a sweater, then let go of the balloon and it flies over and sticks to the sweater. View the charges in the sweater, balloons, and the wall.
The purpose of this activity is to bring together the students' knowledge …
The purpose of this activity is to bring together the students' knowledge of engineering and airplanes and the creation of a glider model to determine how each modification affects the flight. The students will use a design procedure whereby one variable is changed and all the others are kept constant.
Students groups use balsa wood and glue to build their own towers …
Students groups use balsa wood and glue to build their own towers using some of the techniques they learned from the associated lesson. While general guidelines are provided, give students freedom with their designs and encourage them to implement what they have learned about structural engineering. The winning team design is the tower with the highest strength-to-weight ratio.
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