Backward Design Lesson Plans

Students work in groups to research, design, and create model water park using line segment theories coordinate. They produce individual design portfolios that include their ideas and opinions, design solutions, sketches and research notes. Student trip to water park for field testing is suggested. Four lessons on one page.

Students explore why the word ambulance is written backwards on ambulances. In this careers and science instructional activity, students look at the job of an ambulance driver and find out why the word ambulance is printed backwards, then complete a worksheet as they practice working out a series of backwards words. Lesson includes extension and differentiation ideas.

Students explore different types of motion. In groups, they design and create mechanisms that move and explain the change in motion. Students participate in a role play activity were they are an engineer for an amusement park. Students must create a working scale that includes change in motion, speed, or direction. They label their diagram.

Student teachers go through an extensive process of investigating how to design assessments that are state standards based. The resulting lesson plans are effective because there are real objectives involved.

Learners engage in active problem solving as they create a design for a map leading to a hidden treasure while working in collaborative groups. They then explore numerical problems and explain the strategies they used to solve design problems.

Students explores the concept of valve operation. They examine how engineering adapted valves for use in mechanical heart valve design. They study several different valves used at home and in industry, and three different mechanical heart valve designs. They examine and operate both a ball valve and a experiment with a gate valve, then they work as a team of "engineers" to develop and sketch enhancements to the mechanical heart valve.

Fifth graders explore drag, thrust, lift and weight.  In this airplane lesson, 5th graders define the forces that effect airplanes and design a model airplane.  Students  compare their models for the furthest flight. 

Students investigate the 1998 military strike on Iraq and the public reaction to the timing of this strike. They read two articles, one factual and one discussing citizens' opinions of the strike. They design a survey on issues discussed.

Students evaluate the effectiveness and fairness of proposed military tribunals designed to fight terrorism. They then compare American civil liberties, as stated in the U.S. Bill of Rights, with changes due to the Patriot Act.

Students participate in an extra credit activity designed to keep them active over winter break.