Past Lesson Plans

Past Lesson Plans

Session 1

Grade K-1: Puddles

Grades 1-2: Energy

Grade 3-4: Ecosystems

Grades 5-8: Weather

Session 2

Grades K-1: Sound and Communication

Grades 1-2: Transport

Grades 3-4: Circuits and Programming

Grade 5-8: Heat Transfer

  • Grade K: We Can Dig It!
    Get your hands dirty while learning about the secrets of paleontology and archaeology. Use science to decode clues and piece together the puzzles of the past!
  • Grades 1-2: Ecosystem Exploration
    Come join us as we trek and swim through rainforests, deserts, the tundra, oceans, and more! We will look at what makes each area special from its chemistry to its wildlife. So get your adventurer gear ready and lets head out!
  • Grade 3-4: Powering People and Our Planet
    Come explore how food powers people and how people power the planet. Lets get our hands dirty learning how to use sunshine, wind, and water for everything from growing yummy food to turning your lights on at home!
  • Grades 5-8: Music to Your Ears
    Have you ever seen sound? From beatboxing to symphony orchestras, sound waves form the music we love. Let’s discover the physics of sound and how we can create, record and manipulate waves to make beautiful (or not so beautiful) music to our ears!

  • Kindergarten: Science Makes Sense
    Are you ready to activate your Spidey Senses? Come join us this fall and explore science through all your senses. We will be smelling, hearing, tasting, seeing, and touching to learn about the world around us.
  • 1-2: Mechanical Masters
    Buckle your seatbelt and get ready to loop your way through mastering mechanics! Have you ever wanted to build your own machine? Join us as we take a trip through a theme park of science and fun while learning about physics and engineering!
  • 3-4: Light me up
    Have you ever wondered --- How can we see in the dark? Why can we see colors? Come join us this fall to learn about the amazing phenomenon of LIGHT and the ways we interact with it everyday!
  • 5-8: CAUTION: Chemists at Work!
    Have you always been interested in mixing things to see what happens? Why do some reactions bubble, some change color, some explode, and others do nothing at all? Come discover the world of chemistry! It will blow your mind!

  • Grades K-1: There’s no place like space!
    3....2....1....Blast Off! Get ready to rocket into orbit and explore things that are out of this world. Learn why our sun is so important. Discover the planets of the solar system and what makes each one special. Examine patterns in our sky and how astronomers use them to navigate through space.

  • Grades 2-3: How do “I” work?
    Do you want to know how does your blood circulates throughout your body or how you get energy from digesting your food? Let’s learn about how different organs can work together to perform a common function and see the magic and pattern of it!

  • Grades 4-5: Anatomy of an Olympian
    With the Winter Olympics going on in February it is a perfect time to learn how athletes train their bodies to compete for Olympic gold. Join us as we explore the wonder of our body and its rhythmic actions in pursuit of Olympic Gold!

  • Grades 6-8: The Science of Superheroes
    What would it take to be faster than a speeding bullet? What would happen if you were bitten by a radioactive spider? Many of us are fascinated by superheroes and their abilities, but have you ever wondered if any of it could happen in real life? Which parts of our favorite heroes are science and which parts are fiction? Swing on over to investigate famous heroes and the science behind their abilities.

  • Grades K-1: Creatures of the Sea
    Swim through the ocean and learn about all the creatures that inhabit this mysterious underwater world. 
  • Grades 2-3: Food for Thought
    Investigate the food we eat, where it comes from, and how wise decisions can help make us and our environments healthier. 
  • Grades 4-5: Astronomical Wonders
    Explore all that the universe has to offer. Blast off through the solar system and see what it takes for astronauts to live in space. 
  • Grades 6-8: The "tiny" world around us
    How do bacteria and viruses develop? How do scientists learn about micro-organisms and create vaccines? Come explore the micro-world of living organisms. 

  • Grades K-1: Saturday Science Olympics
    Explore and discover the science and engineering skills necessary to compete in the first ever Saturday Science Olympics.
  • Grades 2-3: Renewable Energy Engineers
    Investigate where and how we get our energy to fuel human needs. Then design, build, and test models that use renewable energy sources. 
  • Grades 4-5: Natural Disastors
    Discover the causes of devastating storms like tsunamis, earthquakes, and tornadoes then investigate ways to prevent them. 
  • Grades 6-8: Medical Engineering
    Become medical engineers and challenge yourself to develop and test products that could help people in their everyday lives. 

  • Grades K-2: The Wonderful World of Dinosaurs
    Dinosaurs were magnificent creatures that lived millions of years ago. During the next five weeks we will be diving deep into history to learn all about these magnificent creatures. So put on your paleontologist hats and come explore the wonderful world of dinosaurs!
  • Grades 3-4: Ocean Adventures
    Dive in to the mysteries of the sea with us in this five week adventure! Our journey will take us to uncharted areas as we learn about the study of life in our largest water systems. From whales to sea stars, shipwrecks to submarines... there is so much to discover! 
  • Grades 5-8: Engineering
    Ever stand on a bridge and wonder how it was built? Then come explore the world of engineering! Feel the excitement as you stand back and watch the glider you designed fly through the air. Then, hold your breath as we test how much weight the bridge you built can hold. You’ll even get a chance to correct the Leaning Tower of Pisa! Come enjoy creating your own engineering works of art!

  • Grades K-2: Getting Down and Dirty
    Soil is a habitat all in itself. During the next five weeks we will be diving deep into the dirt to observe all the nitty-gritty components. So let’s become pedologists, explore, and have fun getting down and dirty!
  • Grades 3-4: Adaptations
    Have you ever wondered what helps organisms to survive in their environment? How does a camel survive extreme heat in the desert while a polar bear survives extreme cold? What is the secret of survival for all organisms? Join us this fall to explore some amazing facts that enable organisms to survive in their respective environment.
  • Grades 5-8: Space: Mysteries of the Universe
    Have you ever looked up at the night sky and wondered what is going on up there? Then blast off with us in an expedition to the depths the universe. Our course is set for black holes, supernovas, and much more.

  • Grades K-2: Volcanoes
    Explosions, flowing lava, island formation, and mountain building! Come join us for five weeks of exploring volcanoes. We’ll learn through hands-on, interactive activities about how different types of volcanoes are formed, what makes them erupt, and how they are constantly changing the surface of our Earth.
  • Grades 3-4: Science Detectives
    Ever wonder how police catch bad guys when they weren’t caught red-handed? You’ll find out in Saturday Science, where we’ll explore scientific clues you might leave behind without even realizing it! Join us as we learn about DNA, hair, handwriting, fingerprints, and much more!
    • Weeks 1-5 Lessons - Unavailable
  • Grades 5-8: Amazing Energy Transformations
    Join us as we explore the amazing world of energy! We will shake things up racing cars and coasters, examining complex food systems, and heat things up with some electricity too!

  • K-2: Changes in the Weather
    Can you tell if it will rain today? Do you know why and how the seasons change? We’ll discover how the Earth is tilted on its axis, and as our planet orbits the Sun, seasons change in different parts of the world. We’ll explore how our ocean currents and atmospheric temperatures are connected to create our day-to-day weather and Earth’s amazing natural disasters. With multiple experiments, hands-on activities, and interactive games, let’s discover the science behind the weather that impacts us every single day.
  • 3-4 Eggstraordinary Eggsperiments
    Have you ever tried to squeeze an egg?  That curved structure is tough to break!  Have you noticed that we’ve used that same curved structure in designing bridges and buildings to make them strong?  Join us in Saturday Science where we’ll learn about all the scientific characteristics that make eggs so unique and how they relate to other areas of our lives, which are truly eggstraordinary!
    • Weeks 1-5 Lessons - Unavailable
  • 5-8 Chemistry: It will blow and glow your mind
    Get out your goggles and lab coats! Join us for an adventure into the world of chemistry as we explore topics related to atoms, molecules, and reactions. Be prepared to get messy and have your mind blown away with some amazing science experiences!

  • K-2: Work Reduction with Simple Machines - Unavailable
    Have you ever wondered how you could lift something with ease that is more than you weigh? Our human bodies are pretty remarkable, but sometimes it is humanly impossible to complete some of the work that is required of us without some help. Our work can become easier with the use of simple machines. Come join us in Saturday Science where we will investigate questions you may have about simple machines and how they are used in our everyday life.
  • 3-4 Eggstraordinary Eggsperiments - Unavailable
    Have you ever tried to squeeze an egg?  That curved structure is tough to break!  Have you noticed that we’ve used that same curved structure in designing bridges and buildings to make them strong?  Join us in Saturday Science where we’ll learn about all the scientific characteristics that make eggs so unique and how they relate to other areas of our lives, which are truly eggstraordinary!
  • 5-8 Chemistry: It will blow and glow your mind
    Get out your goggles and lab coats! Join us for an adventure into the world of chemistry as we explore topics related to atoms, molecules, and reactions. Be prepared to get messy and have your mind blown away with some amazing science experiences!
  • 3-4: Exploring the Earth!
    We live on a unique planet called Earth, but have you ever wondered what makes the Earth different from other planets? Does Earth have the same surface everywhere? What are soil types and how does that affect us? Does Earth’s surface affect the weather? Earth is an amazing planet and different features of Earth make it a wonderful place to live! Start thinking about questions you have about Earth and we will explore them together.
  • 5-8: Learning about Force and Motion
    Have you wondered why objects around us can move? How can we predict their positions in the next moment based on their patterns of movement? Why is it difficult to walk on a slippery floor? How does a rollercoaster work? Through our study of force and motion, we’ll be asking you what questions you have so we can explore them together.

  • Biodiversity (Grades K-2)
    Why is sunflower yellow and why do roses come in different colors? Why do different fruits grow in tropical regions and not everywhere? Why are there different kinds of leaves?  And why do bugs have different shapes? Throughout the five weeks of Saturday science, we will answer these and many questions through observations and outdoor explorations.  Come join us in this exhilarating adventure as we learn about various plants and animals around us from the different kingdoms and engage in the wonders of the great outdoors.  We will learn about how and why plants and animals look different from each other, how they survive in their ecosystem, why is biodiversity important to us, and how we should maintain biodiversity in our environment.
  • Motion and Forces (Grades 3-4) 
    Join us on a fun filled expedition to discover how things move. What goes up must come down! Why? How? What can we do to effect the movement? For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. What does this mean? How can we use it to our advantage? We will explore and investigate these ideas and many more. We will create things that fly and things that land. Use your powers of observation and experimentation to learn exciting things in the world around us. Join us for 5 weeks of science exploration for grades 3 and 4.

  • Planets and Seasons (Grades K-1)
    What makes day and night? Why are days shorter in winter? Why do those leaves change their color in fall? Where does snow come from? Have you ever asked those interesting questions? Come join us in Saturday Science and uncover the mysteries of the world! During these five weeks, we will learn about the sun, the earth, and the seasons. We will work like scientists to gather data around us to answer those questions.
  • Let's Get Electric (Grades 2-4) 
    Have you ever wondered what causes a light bulb to light, or why lights on a Christmas tree sometimes stop working when one bulb goes out, and what capabilities static electricity has? Then come explore science concepts that you experience on a daily basis and learn some fascinating activities you can do with static and current electricity.
  • Amazing Science from the Golden Age (Grades 5-8) 
    The science we practice today is built on the work and discoveries of scientists from the past. Students will experience the fascinating history of science ideas and inventions by investigating such topics as optics, gliders, and much more. Come ready to explore the science of the past to understand the science of today!

  • Learning about our body & diet (Grades k-2) 
    In this five weeks’ unit, we will discuss how a human body functions and how to take care of our bodies to stay healthy. Students will learn about different balanced & healthy diets to stay fit.
  • Space Neighbors: What are Earth’s Closest Neighbors? (Grades 3-4)
    Have you ever wondered why the moon looks like Swiss cheese or why it looks different from one night to the next? Come and explore your space neighborhood and find out much more about the Earth, the Moon, and the Sun.
  • Exploring Eco-World (Grades 5-8)
    What is the connection between the Sun and river water? Where does the river come from, and what adds water to the river to keep it flowing continuously? How does the sun’s energy get transferred from place to place? Come to our Saturday Science and explore the secrets of the world. Over five weeks, we will explore the ways the sun, water cycle, and food chains interact and influence our lives.

  • Exploring the Wonder of Water (Grades k-2) 
    We drink water every day, but have you ever wondered if all water is safe to drink? Is it possible to make it safer to drink? How is rain connected to the water we drink? Water is an amazing resource that we are constantly interacting with. Through our study of water this session, we’ll be asking you what questions you have about water so we can explore some of them together.
  • Sports Science: Learning how our body moves (Grades 3-4)
    Have you ever wondered how you could make yourself run a little faster, jump a little higher, or throw a little farther? Knowing how your body is designed and what you can to do make your body more fit can help you improve in any sport. Through our study of the human body this session, we’ll be asking you what questions you have about how the body works so we can explore some of them together.
  • Let’s get Energized! (Grades 5-8)
    Energy is involved in everything we do and everything we use. It is all around us. But what is energy, how do we use it to make things move or heat things up? Why is it important that we thing of alternative sources of energy to fuel our cars or heat our homes? In this session we’ll introduce the concept of energy, but then we’ll be asking you to share your questions about energy so we can explore some of them together.

  • The Five Senses (K-2)
    In Saturday Science this Fall, we will explore our five senses: sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell. Each week we will focus on one of the senses. We will learn about the biology of our eyes, ears, nose, taste buds, and touch receptors. We will also focus on how we use these senses to make observations of the world around us. Through hands-on activities, we will develop our skills of observation. We will also discuss how scientists use their senses to observe phenomena and how they make explanations based on their observations.
  • Physics in Action (Grades 3-4)
    Step into a place of wonder and excitement as we use everyday objects to discover the world of physics. Why do magnets repel each other sometimes? How do airplanes stay up in the air? How is it possible to get an object from one place to another without pushing or pulling it? Come and join us as we explore these and many more questions throughout the next few weeks!"
  • You, Me, and that Tree (Grades 5-8)
    A Survey of Biological Diversity in our Daily Lives Take a look around you. Notice all of the differences you see. You can find diversity in places such as the community around you, your pets, and even the lunch that you ate.  We will be exploring how and why our world is as diverse as it is today.

  • Sounds Like Fun (Grades K-2)
    Using games, dances, creative stories, crafts, and more, we will explore the topic of “sound”. What are the real sounds that animals make? What are some ways that people communicate through sound? How is a drum like a heart? Can you recognize something just by the sound it makes? Can you hear with your teeth? Come join us to explore these and other mysteries about sound.
  • Life in a Square (Grades 3-4)
    Join us for a six- week journey into the “life in a square”. You and your teammates will be scientists making observations, predictions, and questions on an one-by-one meter plot of land. You’ll be amazed at how much you learn from your environment when you really look closely. Bring your coats, gloves, and hats as this is an outdoor adventure sure not to be missed! Let’s hope for snow- it does very cool things to our environment.
  • Our Planet: Our Responsibility (Grades 5-8)
    Do you leave a light on all night while sleeping? Do you leave the water running while you brush your teeth? Do you often throw out more food then you eat? Come discover what it means to reduce your ‘carbon footprint’ or what it takes to create a plan for ‘sustainable living’. Through our 6-week exploration we will discover ways to conserve energy, reduce waste, and lessen the overall impact we have on the earth. The first step to taking responsibility is to learn about these issues for yourself…then think about how to educate others.

  • Oh, How MATTER Can Change! (Grades K-2)
    Where did the water in my glass go? If I left juice out would it do the same thing? Is it possible for something to go from a gas to a liquid? These are just some of the questions we are going to explore in Saturday Science this fall. Come join us for a chance to work like, and think like scientists, as we explore how things around us can change.
  • Let’s Experiment with Food Science in the Kitchen! (Grades 3-4)
    Why do some eggs float and others sink? What happens to moist bread if it is left uncovered? Why are some parts of plants better for us to eat than other? How is cheese made? Your home kitchen is a science lab waiting to be explored. Each week we will explore questions like these to learn the science behind the food we eat.
  • From Garbage to Garden—It’s Compost Time! (Grades 5-8)
    Do you think worms are gross? No? Neither do we! Learn about the world under your feet in this fun six-week class at IU-Bloomington. Activities will include interactive, hands-on group learning. We will use the Indiana Science Standards to explore how to reduce the amount of waste each of us produces. Come get your hands dirty with us! Can you dig it?