This module specifically focuses on Cellular Respiration, both aerobic and anaerobic. The breakdown of nutrient molecules provides energy to the cell. This energy is stored in specific chemicals that are used to carry out the life functions of the cell (BIO.2 e). This module was developed by Teresa Ballou as part of a Virginia Commonwealth University STEM initiative sponsored by the Virginia Department of Education.

This module is designed to guide students in better understanding light. The students will also understand how light travels and interacts with other materials.  The teacher will facilitate students' explorations as they generate a summary of their experiences.  Throughout this unit, students will be guided in using practical materials such everyday items found in their classroom and light energy produced by flashlightThe goal of this module is for students to explore light and to better understand how it behaves.  This module has been designed for 5th grade students or students who are developmentally ready to explore light.  This module could also be used as a review for students in upper grades who need to build their fundamental understanding.  

Students will use key features (such as cell type, DNA, and structural similarities) to classify organisms into modern domains . They will also create and read model representations of classification to organize and demonstrate their understanding of evolutionary history. This module was developed by Liz Ashby as part of a Virginia Commonwealth University STEM initiative sponsored by the Virginia Department of Education.

In this unit, students will be given a chance to study and view different types of cells, compare and contrast the features of the major cell types, learn about the function of specialization and differentiation in multicellular organisms, and review/learn the major organelles that will become the foundation of later units.This module was developed by Liz Ashby as part of a Virginia Commonwealth University STEM initiative sponsored by the Virginia Department of Education.

After the completion of this module students will understand that sound travels in compression waves and must have a medium to travel. Sound also travels in liquids and gases. Students will also understand that sound waves are created by vibrations and capable of transmitting energy.This module was developed by Sarah Donnelly as part of a Virginia Commonwealth University STEM initiative sponsored by the Virginia Department of Education.

The lessons in this module are empirical – abductive. The teacher helps students identify the activity of substances within pizza dough. The teacher announces the students will conduct chemical reactions to explore how matter is conserved during a chemical change. After the class compares their reasoning, the teacher provides clarifying and direct instruction with videos, guided practice and supported computer simulation practice for students to learn to balance chemical equations. Students complete a problem-based investigation to apply their learning by writing, testing and explaining a lab procedure that will help an absent classmate to gather evidence and gain an understanding of the Law of Conservation of Matter. This module was developed by Patricia Kramolisch as part of a Virginia Commonwealth University STEM initiative sponsored by the Virginia Department of Education.

This module is designed to guide students in better understanding what electricity is and how it works by investigating electrical circuits.  The teacher will facilitate students' explorations as they use scientific terms to generate a summary of their experiences.  Throughout this unit, students will be guided in using practical materials such as wires, batteries, switches and light bulbs to better understand how electricity behaves in open and closed circuits. This module was developed by Stephanie Hooks as part of a Virginiga Commonwealth Universtiy STEM initiative sponsored by the Virginia Department of Education.

By the end of this module, the students will be able to explain (using physical models and computer simulations) the components of electrical circuits, the purpose of each component, and the differences between series and parallel circuits.This module was developed by Christina Owens as part of a Virginia Commonwealth University STEM initiative sponsored by the Virginia Department of Education.

This module is designed to guide students in better understanding energy and its many different forms. The students will also understand how one form of energy is transformed into another form of energy.  The teacher will facilitate students' explorations as they generate a summary of their experiences.  Throughout this unit, students will be guided in using practical materials such everyday appliances, electrical energy, energy from the sun and kitchen materials to create a device that can transform energy.This module was developed by Sarah Donnelly, Stephanie Hooks, and Karin Kaerwer as part of a Virginia Commonwealth University STEM initiative sponsored by the Virginia Department of Education.

This module focuses on SOL 5.7c, energy’s effects on phases of matter. The target population is a fifth grade inclusive classroom. After this learning experience, students should understand that as its temperature increases, many kinds of matter change from a solid to a liquid to a gas. As its temperature decreases, that matter changes from a gas to a liquid to a solid. This module was developed by Karin Kaerwer, Stephanie Hooks, Sarah Donnelly as part of a Virginia Commonwealth University STEM initiative sponsored by the Virginia Department of Education.

The structure of enzymes moderates their function in chemical reactions in living things. Enzymes are a group of proteins that function to moderate the rate of metabolic reaction by acting as catalysts (Enduring Understandings of BIO.2c).This module was developed by Kristin Scheible as part of a Virginia Commonwealth University STEM initiative sponsored by the Virginia Department of Education.

In this unit, students will study the evolution of whales from four-limbed, land dwelling, mammalian ancestors to modern, two-finned, aquatic mammals through a virtual or in-class simulation lab. This activity will teach them more about how fossils, homologous structures, and DNA analysis provide evidence for macroevolution, evolutionary theory, and modern classification. This module was developed by Liz Ashby as part of a Virginia Commonwealth University STEM initiative sponsored by the Virginia Department of Education.

As technology has evolved over time so has the understanding of the structure of the atom. This module focuses on how the model of the atom has changed over time using The Atomic Theory Timeline including the historical contributions of the scientists involved. This module was developed by Tracey Nipper as part of a Virginia Commonwealth University STEM initiative sponsored by the Virginia Department of Education.

Students will construct a simple electromagnet using a dry cell, wire, nail, or other object containing iron (5.4 e), plan and conduct an investigation to determine the strength of an electromagnet (5.4 e), and define a problem and design a solution that uses an electromagnet; demonstrate and explain how the electromagnet works (5.4 e). After the completion of this module students will understand how to construct an electromagnet and explain how one works. This module was developed by Sarah Donnelly as part of a Virginia Commonwealth University STEM initiative sponsored by the Virginia Department of Education.

Students will explain that matter consists of atoms held together by electromagnetic forces and exists as different substances which can be utilized based on their properties. Students will be able to describe the behavior of atoms during a chemical change. Students will be able to distinguish covalent and ionic bonds.This module was developed by Patricia Kramolisch as part of a Virginia Commonwealth University STEM initiative sponsored by the Virginia Department of Education.

After experiencing this module, students should understand that friction is a force that opposes motion (SOL 5.3e). This lesson was written with an inclusive fifth grade classroom in mind, but can be adapted for a smaller pull-out group if necessary. This module was developed by Karin Kaerweras part of a Virginia Commonwealth University STEM initiative sponsered by the Virginia Department of Education.

The student will be able to plan, conduct and analyze an investigation of thermal energy transfer.The student will be able to explain the three processes of heat transfer.The student will use science and engineering practices to investigate and clarify concepts of heat and thermal energy.This module was developed by Patricia Kramolisch as part of a Virginia Commonwealth Univeristy STEM initiative sponsored by the Virginia Department of Education.

This module is designed to guide students in better understanding light. The students will also understand how light travels and interacts with other materials.  The teacher will facilitate students' explorations as they generate a summary of their experiences.  Throughout this unit, students will be guided in using practical materials such everyday items found in their classroom and light energy produced by flashlightThe goal of this module is for students to explore light and to better understand how it behaves.  This module has been designed for 5th grade students or students who are developmentally ready to explore light.  This module could also be used as a review for students in upper grades who need to build their fundamental understanding.  This module was developed by Sarah Donnelly, Stephanie Hooks & Karin Kaerwer as part of a Virginia Commonwealth University STEM initiative sponsored by the Virginia Department of Education.

Carbon and other elements play a key role in determining the structure and function of macromolecules needed to sustain life processes. Life processes include growth and repair, reproduction, gas exchange, metabolism, and response.  Cells make a variety of macromolecules needed for life processes from a relatively small set of monomers. These macromolecules include carbohydrates, proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids. This module was developed by Kristin Scheible as part of a Virginia Commonwealth University STEM initiative sponsored by the Virginia Department of Education.

Living things must move materials into, out of, and within the cell. Substances can move across the cell membrane passively (i.e., osmosis and diffusion) or actively (i.e., active transport). This module focuses on the two types of cellular transport and assumes knowledge of cell membrane (components and functions, ie. Fluid Mosaic Model) has already been addressed. This module was developed by Teresa Ballou as part of a Virginia Commonwealth University STEM initiative sponsored by the Virginia Department of Education.