DiscoverE
Critical Load
Help your class master the important concept of critical load. Pupils work together to build a structure using 12 playing cards. They test the critical load of the structure using pennies or paper clips.
Curated OER
Pop-it...Stop-it
Learners observe how certain geometric shapes can be used to make some structures rigid and others flexible. The activity involves construction of a 30-60 right triangle, folding while following directions, and identifying polygons.
Curated OER
Strongest Polygon
Students define and identify shapes by name. In this geometry lesson plan, students construct, identify and compare polygons based on the number of sides. They classify each shape based on their angle sum theorem.
DiscoverE
Bridges, Buildings and Beyond Activity Packet: Grades 3-5
The road to a better understanding of engineering lies with bridges and tunnels. A set of four engaging activities teaches learners about engineering concepts related to construction projects. They perform an experiment to find the...
Curated OER
Can You Bag It?
Put your class's observational skills to the test with a science experiment about paper and plastic bags. After reading some background knowledge about the materials in plastic grocery bags, third graders interpret a chart to answer a...
DiscoverE
Dome Home
Homes come in many different shapes and sizes. Building a model of a geodesic dome is the ultimate goal for the activity. Cutting and folding is the way to go here.
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...
Berkeley Engineering and Mentors
Newspaper Towers
The challenge is quite simple: build a tall tower from a predesignated number of newspaper sheets. Emerging engineers work in teams to build the tallest structure. You will demonstrate some structure shapes and discuss their relative...
Curated OER
The Strongest Shape
Young scholars work collaboratively to design and construct a roof out of Legos for a house that was built in a previous lesson. The roof must be structurally sound and pass certain criteria determined by the teacher.
Curated OER
Applied Science-Science and Math Lab
Students explore magnification. In this scientific observation skills lesson, students observe sea life items and draw pictures of what they observe. Students predict which lens will have the strongest magnification when given three...
Curated OER
Building a Bridge
Learners design a bridge. In this science lesson, students research different types of bridges and create a bridge using marshmallows, toothpicks and construction paper.
Curated OER
What is an Electromagnet?
Students give examples of electromagnet applications. In this physics lesson, students explore what makes electromagnets work. They experiment picking paper clips with it.
Cornell University
Bridge Building
Bridge the gaps in your knowledge of bridges. Individuals learn about bridge types by building models. The activity introduces beam bridges, arch bridges, truss bridges, and suspension bridges.
PBS
The Air in There
Feeling is believing! Youth discuss how they know air exists using evidence-based logic. They then create air cannons from cardboard, cling wrap, and rubber bands to demonstrate air is real—and powerful.
American Museum of Natural History
Bio-Benefits
Kick-start a discussion of the importance of biodiversity with a colorful resource that touts the benefits of maintaining healthy ecosystems. The images stress the interdependence of all the elements of an ecosystem.
Curated OER
Magnets
Students demonstrate the process of science by posing questions and investigating phenomena through language, methods and instruments of science as they experiment at four teacher-created stations to explain the fundamentals of magnetism.
Curated OER
Magnet Muscles
Students experiment with magnetism. In this science lesson plan, students are divided into cooperative learning groups and use the scientific method to test their hypothesis. Each group performs a different experiment.
Curated OER
Listen To Your Heart Beat
Students listen to their heart beats. In this biology lesson plan, students explore pulse rates and factors that cause them to change. Students also construct both a graph to show variation in pulse rates and a simple stethoscope.
Curated OER
Beaver Ecology
Students explore the lives of bgeahvers. They identify the physical and behavioral adaptations that help beavers survive in their environment. Students compare and contrast how beavers influence the ecology of both forest and aquatic...
Curated OER
Science – Magnets
In this magnetism activity, students respond to 11 true or false questions pertaining to magnets. Students also list 2 materials that are magnetic and 2 materials that are not magnetic.
Curated OER
Properties of Magnets
High schoolers determine the physical properties of magnets. They analyze the size, number of poles and strength of the magnets. They make observations of what happens to magnets when they are placed next to each other.