PBS
Frame Yourself: Area and Perimeter
Elementary schoolers are arranged in pairs and view the video Math Works: Measurement: The Difference Between Perimeter and Area. They discuss any prior knowledge they have of the term perimeter and then brainstorm together what the...
Curated OER
Comparing Light Bulbs
An average home produces twice as many emissions as an average car. Teach your class how to reduce energy consumption by replacing standard incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs. Perform an experiment to compare...
National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network
Scale Models
With instructions to adapt the activities for any grade K-12, any teacher can incorporate the concept of scale into the classroom with a simple, yet effective lesson.
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Building Brilliant Bar Graphs
Everything you need for a mini-unit on bar graphs is included in this lesson plan! It outlines three lessons and includes worksheets. Learners taste pretzels, shoot baskets (switching off hands), and grab candy, graphing results...
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Exploring Equivalent Fractions
An extensive activity explores equivalent fractions and is intended for three 60-minute periods. Young mathematicians compare and order fractions with like and unlike denominators. Included are worksheets, assessments, and answer sheets;...
National Security Agency
Fraction Fever
This unit on fractions allows for upper-aged elementary learners to explore ways to find the greatest common factor and least common multiple of two numbers. Ultimately, young mathematicians will be able to identify equivalent fractions,...
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Defining Division
Upper graders explore division through fair-shares. They will review fair shares and fractions as a segway into division. They start by playing "Share Fairly" game and create mathematical arguments for solving problems. Manipulatives and...
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Wind Power
Fourth graders develop an understanding of how engineers use wind to generate electricity. They will build a model anemometer to better understand and measure wind speed. They discover that engineers design wind turbines that generate...
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The Home Stretch
Students read the novel Stone Fox by John Reynold Gardiner. Using Lego RCX units, students build and program sleds to re-enact the "home stretch" of the National Dog Sled Race.
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Donut Dinero
Students set up a classroom currency exchange and explore the idea of bartering to get what they want. They create a monetary unit that is based on fractions and multiples of a standard unit, and compare this system to the U.S. monetary...
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Find the Factors and Prime Factors
Show the class how to find the factors of numbers. They use a variety of strategies, including unifix cubes, to find the factors of a whole number. This resource includes clear procedure to follow. Included are an anticipatory set,...
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Planetary Place Value
Third graders explore place value to the ten thousands place. This incredibly thorough, 24-page lesson has learners construct, order, and compare numbers to 9,999. This three-day lesson includes reteaching and extension activities...
Noyce Foundation
Time to Get Clean
It's assessment time! Determine your young mathematicians' understanding of elapsed time with this brief, five-question quiz.
Curated OER
Exploring Place and Space
Students explore number values by completing mathematical worksheets in class. In this decimals lesson, students identify the different place values a number has and the use of decimals to represent a fraction of a number. Students...
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Drawing to Scale
Students examine the process of drawing a picture to scale. They analyze and discuss real-life blueprints for a house, and create a scale drawing of an original invention using calculators and rulers.
Curated OER
Place Value Made Simple
Elementary schoolers explore place value to the millions place. They construct and evaluate the value of numbers. Working in small groups, pupils problem solve with pocket place value charts, and examine standard and expanded forms. This...
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Digger and the Gang
Help online friends Digger and Sprat from the BBC series to solve math problems! In a series of activities, your class will use data sets to calculate measurements, averages, means, and probabilities. The class completes worksheets and...
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The Perfect City
Students analyze group influences on people, events and culture. They design their own perfect society and report it to the class.
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Scaled Rubber Band Drawings
Students demonstrate the process of creating a scaled rubber band enlargement of a simple drawing. They observe and discuss a teacher-led demonstration, and create a scaled rubber band enlargement of simple drawings and their invention...
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How Probable is It?
Students explore probability. In this probability lesson, students look at videos and websites where they discover probability facts that can be used in situations. They determine the probability of different events.
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Leaving on A Jet Plane
Students create an airplane by listening to directions. They also to measure the pieces for the airplane and compare and contrast their test flights.
Curated OER
Shape Makes a Difference!
Students learn the difference between perimeter and area by watching a video and a hands on activity.
Curated OER
Up, Up and Away with the Montgolfier Balloon
Students construct hot air balloons. In this science lesson, students assemble their own balloon using tissue paper and glue. They time the duration of the flight, record data and calculate team averages.
Curated OER
Chain Across the Hudson
Fourth graders role play as contractors responsible for constructing a chain across the Hudson River. They apply math skills to determine the total weight, number of links, and cost of the project.