Growing Lima Beans: Do We Really Need Dirt? part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is an indoor lab investigation where students compare and contrast different growing environments for a lima bean seed and discover the optimal conditions needed for growth.

Compare and Contrast deciduous and evergreen tree leaves to aid in tree identification part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity consists of classroom lessons where children observe tree leaves and compare and contrast those leaves leading to an understanding of the terms deciduous and evergreen (and also coniferous). They then use that learning to help them identify the kind of tree based on samples on a chart.

The Five Senses - Differentiated Lesson for ESL/Special Needs Students part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This guided inquiry activity is designed to help students understand that people get all of their knowledge from their senses, and that is why our senses are so important.

From Seeds to Plants part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is a classroom activity to invistigate seeds and plants.

Describing Fall Leaves Through Words and Music part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This is an integration of science leaf observations with musical composition for early elementary students.

Fish Habitats part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This is a unit for K-2 students on fish habitats. The last day is a field trip to a local lake.

Pondering the Pond part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is designed to help students learn common names of pond life in Minnesota. To be most effective students should make a visit to the pond before participating in this activity.

Comparing Two Leaves part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This is an inquiry where students will be comparing and contrasting two different types of leaves with a partner.

Classroom Phenology: Using the Environment as a Source of Data and Observations part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is a classroom and schoolyard investigation where students collect daily temperature and precipitation readings, weather observations, and weekly phenology reports in a phenology binder and in nature journals. Students then analyze this data and compare to recorded values in the Weatherguide calendar.

Observing Leaves and descriptive writing part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
In this activity students will explore leaves using inquiry and their senses.

Looking for Living and Nonliving Things part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is a field investigation where students begin to generate ideas about what is living and nonliving by observing and recording what they see in a defined area outdoors and later sharing things that they think are living and why.

Introduction to Nature Journaling part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is a field investigation where students will learn the importance of detail when nature journaling.

The Life Cycle of a Walleye Fish part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is based on inquiry, guided discovery, observation and discussion to help students learn the objectives in learning more about a fish, labeling its body part and learning about its life cycle.

Exploring Effects of Oil Spills on Birds part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity allows children to explore the effects of oil spills on birds.

Daily Science Vocabulary Review with the Smart Board part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
An elementary review activity for chemistry vocabulary, tools, and concepts used with the classroom science curriculum.

Signs and Tracks of Animals part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
Students will examine clues about animals such as nests, leaves, feathers, fur, tracks that allow some conclusions about the identity, physical characteristics or behavior of the animals. Students will study the characteristics of animal tracks.

Focused Observation: Recording Information Seen on a Hike. part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is a classroom and field study activity where students learn how to record focused observation.

Wiggly Worms part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is an inquiry-based lesson where students observe, sort and classify 2 kinds of worms based on their attributes, as well as share and discuss their findings.

Seasonal Changes of a Tree part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is a year long project observing the changes in a specific tree. It includes using all the senses in the observation and making two different booklets to record what we observe. It also includes several picture story books that enhance the lesson.

What Lives Under a Rock? part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
Students will listen to the book, Under One Rock Bugs, Slugs, and Other Ughs, written by Anthony D. Frederick and illustrated by Jennifer DiRubbio and then make a mini-book observation journal, Under One Rock to record what they see when they go outdoors to investigate what lives under a rock.