Open-and-go lessons that inspire kids to love science.

Science curriculum for K—5th grades.

90 sec
  • Hands-on — lead students in the doing of science and engineering.
  • NGSS-aligned and Common Core — make the transition to the Next Generation Science Standards and support Common Core.
  • Less prep, more learning — prep in minutes not hours. Captivate your students with short videos and discussion questions.

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Animals Through Time

Animal Survival & Heredity

2nd Grade, 3rd Grade, 4th Grade

NGSS Standards covered: 3-LS4-1 , 3-LS3-1 , 3-LS2-1 , 3-LS4-3 , 3-LS4-4 , 3-LS4-2 , 3-LS3-2
In this unit students will develop an appreciation for how animals and the places they live (their habitats) are not constant—they have changed over time. Fossils give us a window to the animals and habitats of the past. Selective breeding shows us not only how some animals of the past became domesticated, but allows us to imagine how they might look in the future. Less
  1. Lessons
  2. Activity Prep
  3. Assessments

Mystery 1: Habitats, Fossils, & Environments Over Time

Exploration (15 min)
Activity: Fossil Dig (30 min)
Extras (1.3 hrs)

Mystery 2: Structures & Adaptations, Fossil Evidence, Classification

Exploration (15 min)
Activity: Guess What These Animals Eat (30 min)
Extras (1.3 hrs)

Mystery 3: Fossil Evidence, Behavior

Exploration (20 min)
Activity: Outrunning CeeLo (30 min)
Extras (1 hr)

Mystery 4: Heredity, Variation, & Selection

Exploration (25 min)
Activity: Designer Dogs (20 min)
Extras (1 hr)

Mystery 5: Heredity, Variation, & Selection

Exploration (10 min)
Activity: Lizard Island (30 min)
Extras (2.8 hrs)

Mystery 6: Animal Groups & Survival

Exploration (30 min)
Activity: Field Journal (30 min)
Extras (1.5 hrs)

Mystery 7: Habitat Change & Engineering

Exploration (30 min)
Activity: Bug Off! (30 min)
Extras (3 hrs)

Mystery 8: Traits & Environment

Exploration (30 min)
Activity: Astronaut-in-Training (35 min)
Extras (3.5 hrs)