Desert Discoveries
Sizing Up Dinosaurs
Here is a terrific activity in which learners compare their size to the size of actual dinosaurs. Using the magic of the overhead projector and a transparency of the outline of a dinosaur skeleton, pupils can see how big these animals...
Curated OER
Data Analysis
Young statisticians use and interpret measures of center and spread such as mean, median, and mode as well as range. They use box plots to represent their data and answer questions regarding the correspondence between data sets and the...
Curated OER
The Galapagos Spreading Center
Young scholars explore the basic concept of seafloor spreading. They describe the processes involved in creating new seafloor at a mid-ocean ridge. They investigate the Galapagos Spreading Center system.
Curated OER
Library Media Center Orientation
Sixth graders demonstrate the ability to follow the library media center floor plan and use directional symbols and guides. They also use after-reading strategies to increase understanding and learning from content area texts.
Annenberg Foundation
Pre-Columbian America
What was life like in America before Christopher Columbus discovered the New World? Scholars investigate life in the Americas through the eyes of Native Americans in the first lesson of a 22-part series covering America's history. Using...
Mathematics Assessment Project
Designing 3d Products: Candy Cartons
Wouldn't it be great to work in a candy factory? Learners get their chance as they first design a carton for a candy that meets certain requirements. They then examine and analyze nets and explanations in sample student responses.
Mathematics Assessment Project
Classifying Solutions to Systems of Equations
Double the fun of solving a linear equation with an activity that asks learners to first compete an assessment task graphing two linear equations to find the common solution. They then complete a card activity solving systems of...
Skyscraper Museum
Building a Skyscraper
The construction of skyscrapers is no simple undertaking, involving the careful coordination and planning of many different people. The third instructional activity in this series explores this detailed process by first teaching children...
Illustrative Mathematics
$20 Dot Map
Challenge the addition skills of young learners with this open-ended math problem. The task is simple, get from start to finish by connecting a series of three numbers. The trick is that the sum of the numbers must be less than or equal...
Illustrative Mathematics
Roll & Build
Develop young mathematicians' understanding of place value with this hands-on math activity. Working in pairs, learners take turns building two-digit numbers by rolling two ten-sided dice. Base ten blocks are then used to model the...
Curated OER
Media Center Treasure Hunt
Sixth graders participate in a treaure hunt in the Library Media Center. They use media signs and media books to answer questions which correspond to important locations in the library. Students then group back together to review the...
Curated OER
Simulation and Accounting Practices
High schoolers implement their knowledge about accounting practices into a simulation activity. In this secondary consumer/business math lesson, students participate in a simulation centered on the life of the people during the gold...
Curated OER
Color and Light Spectrum Demonstrations
Students explore the light spectrum. The teacher uses holographic diffraction grafting film on an overhead to demonstrate the true nature of color. After observing a vivid rainbow, students recognize that white light is composed of all...
Curated OER
Making Sense Of A Round World On A Flat Surface
Learners engage in a lesson that is concerned with the development of geography skills. They take part in a number of activities that center around finding and traveling to different locations. The lesson has resource links that can be...
Curated OER
Natural Features of Our Community
Second graders read about and discuss natural features of communities. They listen to a guest speaker, such as a park ranger to expand their knowledge of natural features. They go on a field trip, if possible, to a local zoo or...
Curated OER
East Meets West
Students explore the influences of culture in food choices and customs. They compare and contrast information to create a menu using a Web site and Student Writing Center. Suggestions for creating an on-line graphic organizer as well as...
Curated OER
New War Against Whom?
Seventh graders write an essay on the Muslims involved with the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. They express how the attacks made them feel and what they can do to help.
Curated OER
Economies
Students discover different economic systems. In this global economy lesson, students research the levels of economic activity, types of economies, maquiladoras and the differences between a free market economy and other systems. This...
Virginia Department of Education
Circles in the Coordinate Plane
Make the connection between the distance formula and the equation of a circle. The teacher presents a lesson on how to use the distance formula to derive the equation of the circle. Pupils transform circles on the coordinate plane and...
Math Solutions
Shape Sorting: Looking for Green!
Young mathematicians rotate, flip, and sort their way to an understanding of the different attributes of geometric figures. Using transparent yellow and blue shapes, children try to match congruent figures together to create...
Lakeshorelearning
Read and Write about It
Reading informational text is a skill that transcends subjects and grade levels. Practice reading about different topics in various formats with a language arts lesson that includes opportunities for writing and research as well.
US Mint
Coin Connections
Help young mathematicians make cents out of the US currency system with this two-part math lesson. Children first learn the names and values for each type of coin, before learning to count and compare the values of coins using the...
Buffalo State
Adding and Subtracting Positive and Negative Integers
A well-rounded unit on positive and negative integers is a great addition to your middle school math class. Learners work through five activities, each focused on a different skill, before playing a Game of Life to practice the...
Novelinks
The Devil’s Arithmetic: QAR Strategy
Asking questions about the text is an important way for kids to become critical readers. Use a QAR activity based on The Devil's Arithmetic to help learners decipher between questions that are right there, between the author and the...