Texas State Energy Conservation Office
Investigation: Waves and Whistles
Wave goodbye to the same old demonstrations for alternative energy sources, and wave hello to this one investigating ocean waves! Using a water bottle to create an oscillating water column, learners see and possibly hear how the...
Texas State Energy Conservation Office
Investigation: Building a Parabolic-Trough Collector
Amateurs of alternative energy build a mini parabolic-trough solar energy collector and use it to heat water. Temperature is recorded over a three-minute period and the data is graphed and analyzed. Note that in order to paint aquarium...
Texas State Energy Conservation Office
Investigation: Heat it Up!
This demonstration of solar ponds can be used in an earth, environmental, or physical science setting. Lab groups set up a solar pond and model how it is able, due to a salt concentration gradient, to maintain heat for future use.
Texas State Energy Conservation Office
Investigation: Water Wheel
Middle school scientists construct a working water wheel from an aluminum pie pan. Because of the sharp edges on the cut aluminum, this activity is for mature learners only. You could have your class compete to see whose wheel can lift...
Wordpress
Introduction to Exponential Functions
This lesson begins with a review of linear functions and segues nicely over its fifteen examples and problems into a deep study of exponential functions. Linear and exponential growth are compared in an investment task. Data tables are...
SHS Algebra
Linear vs. Exponential Functions Tasks
Your algebra learners will enjoy the real-life application of the three tasks presented here. They complete a table and a graph comparing the two options presented. One option is linear, while the other is exponential. After coming up...
Lawrence Hall of Science
DIY Sun Science
Get an up-close-and personal look at the sun from the safety of your classroom with this fun science application. Offering numerous activities, images, and videos, the resource supports children of all ages as they learn about the sun.
Southern Nevada Regional Professional Development Program
“Just a Minute” Focus: Adapting Speech
A little bit complicated, but a whole lot of fun. Show your class an episode of the British television game show Just a Minute. After an explanation of the rules (no repetition, hesitation, or deviation) groups develop topics, based on...
Skyscraper Museum
What is a Skyscraper?
Skyscrapers are amazing feats of architectural design that create the iconic skylines of the world's biggest cities. Young architects explore the defining characteristics of these monstrous towers with the first lesson in this four-part...
Curated OER
Roller Coasters
Twisting and turning through the sky, roller coasters are popular attractions at amusement parks around the world, but how exactly do they work? Explore the physics behind these thrilling rides with an engineering design activity....
Foundation for Water & Energy Education
How Can Work Be Done with Water Power? Activity B
In this second of three activities, energy engineers plan and create a hydropower dam as they learn how hydroelectric power plants generate electricity. A hydropower puzzle is also included, which can be worked on by teams that finish...
Annenberg Foundation
Skeeters Are Overrunning the World
Skeeters are used to model linear and exponential population growth in a wonderfully organized lesson plan including teachers' and students' notes, an assignment, graphs, tables, and equations. Filled with constant deep-reaching...
Curated OER
The Notorious Four-Color Problem
Take a walk through time, 1852 to 2005, following the mathematical history, development, and solution of the Four-Color Theorem. Learners take on the role of cartographers to study a United States map that is to be colored. One rule: no...
Foundation for Water & Energy Education
How Can Work Be Done with Water Power? Activity C
Third in a set of lessons regarding reservoirs, dams, and hydropower, this involves a two-day hydropower plant simulation. Collaborative groups build, maintain, and finance the plant. The transparency of the reservoir setup can be...
Discovery Education
Clutter Cutter
Challenge young learners to cut the clutter with this fun engineering project. As employees of a home and office supply company, young engineers are asked to develop devices that organize everyday items. After participating in a...
Exploratorium
Exploring Tessellations
Tessellations are patterns of repeating shapes that don't overlap and don't have any gaps. Middle schoolers take this simple definition and engage in a lesson that combines visual art and mathematics. They cut out index cards using...
Exploratorium
Beyond Dominoes: Polyominoes
Dominoes, polyominoes, tetrominoes, and pentominoes are the subject of this interesting math activity designed for middle schoolers. Pupils cut out shapes that are embedded in a worksheet in the plan, and experiment with them by taping...
Chapman University
Graphs of the Sine and Cosine Function in Degrees
This bright, clear, graphic, display of the sin(x) and cos(x) functions spans the domain between -360 degrees and 360 degree. Use it as a poster, handout, presentation slide, or project it onto a whiteboard.
Chapman University
Graphs of the Sine and Cosine Function in Radians
This bright, clear, graphical display of the sin(x) and cos(x) functions spans the domain between -2 pi radians and 2 pi radians. Use it as a poster, handout, presentation slide, or project it onto a whiteboard.
Chapman University
Proving the Chain Rule
Understanding how our calculus derivative formulas were derived, connects learners to the idea that the study of mathematics is continuous and cumulative. Learners will also develop a deeper appreciation for the short cuts used to find a...
Curated OER
Big 6 Poster
Bring the Super 3 and the Big 6 to your classroom with easy-to-understand posters. The resource includes strategies such as task definition, location and access, and synthesis, which would be useful for any classroom setting.
Curated OER
Rubrics for Assessing Student Writing, Listening, and Speaking Middle School
This is a fantastic collection of a wide variety of rubrics for writing, listening, and speaking! The resource contains over 14 rubrics for assessing such items as a summary, autobiographical sketch and narrative, speech, oral report,...
Scholastic
Study Jams! Function Tables
Each week Mia saves a certain portion of the earnings from her babysitting job. Help her figure out how much she can save this week with a step-by-step presentation on function tables. Given a set of inputs and outputs, the process for...
Scholastic
Study Jams! Determine the Missing Operation in an Equation
Deepen the number sense of your math class with a short presentation on writing equations. Using the relationship between numbers, young mathematicians learn how to determine the missing operator in an equation. A number of opportunities...