Scholars learn about a series of three challenges when they design a bus system for a small town. They determine the bus routes and then figure out the best type of fuel to use before considering the cost of going electric. Learners...

Planning a unit on simple machines? Save some time and energy with this collection of lessons and activities that explores how these devices are used in the real world to make life a little easier. 

Ideal for your electricity unit, especially with middle schoolers, this lesson plan gets engineers using multimeters in electrical circuits to explore the relationships among voltage, current, and resistance. Older learners may even plot...

Help your sixth graders reach their Common Core math standards by providing them with a checklist of "I can" statements for each standard. As each concept is covered, kids can check it off, as long as they can do what it states. 

Physics stars design mobiles that demonstrate rotational equilibrium. They take measurements and solve related equations for force by graphing, substitution, or determinants. This is a well-developed lesson plan, complete with student...

Cartoon children compare the earth's age to timescales that we understand:a calendar year, the thickness of a book, the human lifespan. This smart film clip is definitely worth adding to your geologic timescale lesson! If you subscribe...

Of particular interest to a group of business and finance pupils, this lesson plan explores depreciation of automobile values by comparing the double declining balance to the straight line method. Mostly this is done through a slide...

Here is a unique twist for your lesson on hurricanes. After examining extreme weather news headlines, your storm chasers view a PowerPoint about hurricanes and then zoom in on Hurricane Irene. They map a timeline of her trek up the East...

Tornadoes, blizzards, and hurricanes, oh my! In this lesson, meteorology majors compare stories of historical storms written by two or more different sources. As a result, they understand how the media portrays such catastrophes and...

Humans can have a big impact on the environment, specifically the influence they have on the carbon cycle. First, the class will define and discuss each of the earths four major spheres, the biosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and...

Even though pennies seem to be relatively thin, stack enough of them into a single stack, and you could have quite a high stack. Enough so, that the final result can be a surprise to you as well as your class. This activity centers...

How can you tell if number relationships are proportional? Mathematicians investigate proportional relationships. They compare and contrast functions and graphs to determine the characteristics of proportional relationships, as well as...

Variables may be unknown, but expressions and equations are easy to understand. Pupils learn how to write, evaluate, and simplify numeric and algebraic expressions. They also investigate how to write and solve simple equations and...

Build a pyramid based on sums. Individuals watch a video of a computer program that creates a pyramid of numbers based upon a starting number. The scholars develop a hypothesis on how the number trick works and share their thoughts on...

Determine equivalent methods to find sums of consecutive numbers. Learners watch a video of a computer program that finds the sum of five consecutive numbers given a starting number. Pupils hypothesize how to determine the sum without...

Trick out mathematical expressions. Scholars participate in a computerized magic trick where the computer guesses the final answer to a series of operations. Pupils investigate the trick to determine what is happening. Individuals then...

Find out if there are enough squares. Given diagrams for the first four figures in a sequence, pupils try to determine the next figure. Individuals find the number of square and triangle pieces of fabric that are required to make...

Help learners find ways to become more efficient energy consumers. To start, individuals research how different countries address energy efficiency and then analyze their own carbon footprint. They use their research to identify ways to...

Build towers with algebraic expressions. Pupils use algebraic expressions to build towers that allow their players to navigate a series of rooms. Learners evaluate expressions using different values for the variables to create a pathway...

Twelve chapters cover a multitude of math concepts found in the Common Core standards for sixth grade. Each title provides a brief explanation of what you will find inside the chapter—concepts from which you can click on and learn more...

Use texts and dances to teach inequalities and equations. A sixth-grade unit covers using variables in equations and inequalities to solve problems. Learners show what they know at the end of the unit using two performance tasks, one...

Solving equations in two variables can't be that much harder than solving equations in one variable. Using a balance interactive, scholars solve equations in two variables. They apply inverse operations by adding -x, -y, or -1 as...

Find the right balance between concrete and abstract thinking. After using interactive balances to explore inverse operations, learners solve multi-step equations with variables on both sides. Of course, they can still use the...