Accessible Science
At the Massachusetts Academy of Sciences, we designed these quick lesson ideas for teachers who occasionally have to work on the fly, need a quick reference, or a quick idea that they can adapt to fit the needs of their class. These lessons are hands-on projects to engage students in science with easy-to-find-materials. Do you have ideas you would like to share? Submit your ideas using our contact form and be sure to include your name so we can credit you! "In Brief" describes the lesson in ten words or less, and the lesson idea itself should be no longer than 150 words. If you're a member, and have used one of our lesson ideas in the classroom, be sure to leave a review!
| Lesson | Avg Rating | Description | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students as Molecules | Students are broken into groups of 3. Have students figure out how to form a water molecule with LINKED arms. |
Birdie Champ, Amherst |
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| Pantyhose Digestion | Students use pantyhose to simulate digestion, with whole class involvement in peristalsis from mouth to anus! |
Birdie Champ, Amherst |
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| Working Wind Turbine | Students collaboratively design and build wind turbines and generate measurable energy, using everyday items. | ||
| Flyswatter Math | A collaborative game using colorful flyswatters to hit the right answer on a grid. |
Birdie Champ, Amherst |
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| More Layers, Please! | Students understand the mechanics behind the formation of a layered sphere. |
Birdie Champ, Amherst |
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| Spicy Sediments | Students core through layers of clay, and map it. |
Katherine Lee, St. Pius X School, Aurora, Colorado; The Educator’s Reference Desk |
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| Make it Rain! | Students build a model mountain and observe effects of rain on Karst topography. |
Judy Ware and Earle Maxwell, adapted by L.J. Damron; The Educator’s Reference Desk |
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| Virtual Frog Dissection | Students work in groups to virtually dissect a frog in preparation for the real dissection. |
Berkeley Lab Virtual Dissection Website |
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| Triangle Formation! | Students are challenged to illustrate and prove A^2+B^2=C^2 using just the students in the classroom. |
Birdie Champ, M. Ed., Amherst |
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| Wolf to Woof | Students discuss dog breed characteristics and their eco systems. They also act out wolf domestication and man’s role in breeding dogs for specific characteristics. |
National Geographic Expeditions, adapted by Birdie Champ, M. Ed., The Massachusetts Academy of Sciences |
