Teach Engineering
Concentrating on the Sun with PVs
Concentrate to determine the best reflector design. Pairs use the engineering design process to build a reflector to increase the current output of a photovotaic panel. Teams arrive at a final design and present it to the class along...
Teach Engineering
Battle of the Beams
Make the strongest beam possible using taffy? Groups mold a taffy-water mixture into a beam and a reinforcing material of their choice. To finish the final installment of a two-part series, participants test its strength by adding...
Teach Engineering
Build the Biggest Box
Boxing takes on a whole new meaning! The second installment of the three-part series has groups create lidless boxes from construction paper that can hold the most rice. After testing out their constructions, they build a new box....
Teach Engineering
Earthquakes Living Lab: Locating Earthquakes
There are patterns in nearly everything — even earthquakes. Pairs research current earthquakes to see if there are any patterns. They determine the mean, median, and mode of the earthquake data, along with the maximum and minimum. Using...
EngageNY
Comparing Rational Expressions
Introduce a new type of function through discovery. Math learners build an understanding of rational expressions by creating tables and graphing the result.
Teach Engineering
Slinkies as Solenoids
What does an MRI machine have to do with a slinky? This activity challenges learners to run a current through a slinky and use a magnetic field sensor to measure the magnetic field. Groups then change the length of the slinky to see the...
Teach Engineering
Preconditioning Balloons: Viscoelastic Biomedical Experiments
What does stretching a balloon have to do with equilibrium? Groups explore preconditioning by stretching a balloon to a point of equilibrium. They then measure the amount of force required to stretch the balloon to the same point several...
Teach Engineering
Surface Tension Lab
What constitutes a good soap bubble? In the second installment of a nine-part series, scholars apply their understanding of surface tension to soap bubbles. They experiment to determine the best solutions to use for the...
Curated OER
Party Time
Students explore the cost of a party. For this math lesson, students plan a party and determine the cost of hosting a party. Students use information from grocery stores to determine the unit cost of items for the party.
Curated OER
A Helthy Diet
Learners examine their eating habits and experience analyzing data and drawing conclusions. They construct models of the molecular backbone of saturated and unsaturated fats. In addition, they examine the labels of their food, record...
Teach Engineering
Fairly Fundamental Facts About Forces and Structures
Don't twist and turn looking for a resource. The first installment of a six-part series teaches young engineers about the five fundamental forces of compression, tension, shear, bending, and torsion. These forces help explain different...
Teach Engineering
Wimpy Radar Antenna
The Diary of a Wimpy Antenna? In the last installment of a six-part series, your class constructs a model of a radio antenna and tests its torque. Pupils use the results to design a better model that resists bending and twisting forces.
Curated OER
Exploring the Hudson in 1609
While this lesson focuses on a study of the Hudson River, it could be used as a template for a discussion of map skills, converting measurements, and plotting a route. The lesson includes vocabulary and other resources to make it a...
Curated OER
Exploring the Hudson in 1609
Learners follow the journey of Henry Hudson down the river with his name. Using journal entries and maps, they learn about its exploration. They use maps to identify stages of the journey, and practice converting distances into miles.
Curated OER
Animal Skin
Students investigate the skin surface to body area ratios for different animals. In this seventh/eighth grade mathematics/science lesson plan, students explore heat transfer between an animal’s body and the environment. Using...
Curated OER
Mystery of the Megaflood
Students will use everyday items and speeds to describe the dimensions of a massive flood that occurred in the Pacific Northwest near the end of the last ice age.
Curated OER
Trig River
Students calcute distances using trigonometry and angle measurements. They estimate the width of the Trig River, measure it and compare their results with their classmates. They collaborate with a group to research and find the results.
Curated OER
Value of Education: Education and Earning Power
Students explore the concept a higher education yields higher earnings. Throughout the class, students visit six workstations and examine occupations, education, salaries, spending, banking, and taxes. As students rotate through the...
Curated OER
TE Activity: Trash Talkin'
Students collect and categorize solid waste produced in the classroom. They weigh the waste that has been collected over one week's time, and separate it into recyclable and non-recyclable waste. They talk about the role of engineers in...
Curated OER
Quench That Thirst
Students examine the sugar and calorie content of different beverages. In this adult health lesson, students analyze how advertising can be very misleading. They determine the correct amount of juice or beverage they should take per day.
Curated OER
How Small is Small?
Students view the video "The Invisible World" and discuss different types of microscopes and what can be seen with each type. They work in pairs to view several objects with a microscope.
Curated OER
GPS Art
Students design their own logo or picture and use a handheld GPS receiver to map it out. They write out a word or graphic on a field or playground, walk the path, and log GPS data. The results display their "art" on their GPS receiver...
Curated OER
The Snack Bar
Sixth graders complete a purchase order. In this ratios and patterns instructional activity, 6th graders work in groups to complete a purchase order for a grand opening of the school snack bar. Students use rations to figure out the need...
Curated OER
Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium According to Hoyle:
Students gain a feeling for the significance of the Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium without using algebra but participating in an interactice game.