Mixed format assessment (mutliple choice, fill in the blank, short answer) covering reflection, refraction, visible spectrum, waves and opacity.  There is a question at the end of the test over scientific investigation design and light.

5th grade students that are studying matter will be focusing in this lesson on the smallest unit of matter - the atom.
Students will use small marshmallows to construct a model of an atom.

Two-day 5E lesson plan covering the basics of the dichotomous key using different types of candy.  The lesson begins with a whole group activity and then moves into student exploration using a key to identify "mystery candy."  On the second day, students create their own dichotomous key to help students identify random buttons.

The original lesson was intended for 8th grade students and took 8 class periods.  I challenged elementary students (grades 3-5) during a STEM night to use available materials to create a pinball machine.  Students needed to make a circuit that when a ball landed in a cup or hit a target, a buzzer would sound.  The activity took the students approximately 20 minutes to complete.  If students are expected to start from scratch, they will need approximately three class periods to design, create, and present their games  

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.

This resource provides a 5E style lesson (Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, Evaluate) over the rock cycle, including a single-period lab using crayons to model the cycle.  It’s often a difficult concept for students to imagine that over millions of years, one kind of rock will change into another kind of rock.  This lab allows students to see the changes taking place, and learn important qualities of each type of rock and how they are formed.Photo:  Rainbow of Crayon Shavings by Richie Girardin via Flickr

Explore science while inputting data into a google form to chart results! Students will get to investigate electrical voltage with meters. The student will answer a question by using a computer to manipulate data in order for the student to draw conclusions and make predictions.

This is an introductory lesson on encryption and decryption. It includes a discussion about the importance of protecting data when communicating across a network. The data is protected through a process of encryption and decryption.Students are asked to decrypt a message (in this case, a scientific fact to reinforce knowledge ) using the encrypted message and a decryption key.

Jeopardy style review game for the different types of rocks. This game is designed to allow for students to have a highly engaging review of rocks.

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.

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.

Students explore static electriciy with plastic wrap (or a balloon) and varous substances. 

Science Instructional Plans (SIPs) help teachers align instruction with the Science Standards of Learning (SOL) by providing examples of how the content and the scientific and engineering practices found in the SOL and curriculum framework can be presented to students in the classroom.

Students will study, explore, and create a digital simulation to show understanding of electrical circuits.

A digital scrum board that you can use in any content area! This is a project management resource.

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.

Mixing Science and Computer Science has never been easier! In this lesson you will use Root Robots for Computer science using 5.7 and 5.8 computing systems.Students will explore troubleshooting with technology while exploring force and motion with the Robots. In this all inclusive lesson students will use the Scientific Method to experiment with Root Bots with force and motion. Students will graph results, create a hypothesis, proceedure lists, research with they know about force and motion, and them create a conclusion all while exploring force and motion and computer science trouble shooting.  

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.