Teach Engineering
What a Drag!
Stop and drop what is in your hand! Pupils investigate how form effects drag in the 12th part of a 22-part unit on aviation. Groups create equally weighted objects and determine which one falls the fastest by collecting data.
Teach Engineering
Optimize! Cleaner Energy Options for Rural China
What are the trade-offs when looking to get the most benefit from an energy source? Small groups compare the cost-to-emission levels of several energy sources by looking at the information graphically. The groups utilize this...
Teach Engineering
Gumdrop Atoms
There's nothing sticky about the resource, unless you count the gumdrops! Scholars create a model of a lithium atom, complete with protons, neutrons, and electrons. It's just that these models are made with gumdrops and toothpicks.
Teach Engineering
Messin' with Mixtures
Do you separate your trail mix before eating it? Then you've been separating mixtures your whole life! Scholars model a contaminated soil sample using trail mix and estimate the percentage of each component. They consider how to clean up...
Teach Engineering
Maximum Mentos Fountain
A messy fountain is potentially an energy experiment in disguise. Groups investigate the variables in creating a fountain from soda and Mentos. The last activity in a six-part series on energy has the class observe the fountain in terms...
Curated OER
Finding Your Pulse Rate
Fifth graders demonstrate how to find their pulse and count the beats after a certain amount of time. In cooperative pairs, 5th graders use a stopwatch to keep track of their partner's heart rate in seconds. Pairs make a graph from their...
Curated OER
Try a Money Bee for a "Change"
Students take the spelling bee format and adapt it to provide practice in making change and work on their money skills. They simulate the process of making purchases with money and making change as necessary to complete the purchase.
Curated OER
Oodles of Noodles
Students investigate non-standard and standard measurement including inches and centimeters. They use different types of noodles as non-standard units of measurement comparing them to inches and centimeters.
Curated OER
Holiday Greeting Cards: A Graphing Activity
Young scholars examine statistics about the popular type of greeting cards and create pie or bar chart using an online tool. They illustrate the sales statistics for the greeting cards before making the charts.
Curated OER
Comparing Fractions
The best way to teach learners how to compare fractions is using visual means. This instructional activity suggests a variety of ways to help learners understand this concept using a SMART Board, Kidspiration, videos, computer games, and...
Curated OER
Graphing Names in Historic Cemetery
Students collect information from headstones about names of the deceased in their local community. They determine the most common names and graph them. They discuss their findings with the class.
Curated OER
Acid (and Base) Rainbows
Pupils are introduced to the differences between acids and bases and how to use indicators, such as pH paper and red cabbage juice, to distinguish between them. They make predictions that can be answered through scientific investigation,...
Curated OER
Graph the Results: Applesauce Taste Test
Students work together to make applesauce following specific directions. They taste each applesauce and graph the results based on the taste test. They also use the internet to create an online graph.
Alabama Learning Exchange
Origami Geometry
Origami is an excellent way to combine Japanese culture, art, and geometric shapes into one engaging instructional activity! Scholars begin by listening to the story Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes and learn the origin of...
Curated OER
Word Problem Exchange
Learners discuss elements of word problems: key words, data, computation clues, and unnecessary information and use the four steps of problem solving to find a solution and check for reasonableness.
Curated OER
How Long...?
Students explore measurement. They use appropriate units of measurement for different sized objects. Students collect their data and enter it into an Excel data base. They graph their findings and analyze their outcomes.
Curated OER
The Hudson's Ups and Downs
Even rivers have tides. Older elementary schoolers will discuss the Hudson River and how weather, water craft, and the ocean cause tidal fluctuation. They will examine a series of line graphs that depict tidal fluctuation, then analyze...
Curated OER
Wavelengths of Light
Explore physical science by participating in a visual spectrum experiments. Budding scientists identify the colors in the color spectrum and view the colors in class by utilizing cellophane, flash lights, and other arts and crafts...
Curated OER
Marmots: Groundhogs of the World
Students research 14 groundhog species found around the world, including the woodchuck. They use the internet to research groundhogs and students organize their information using a graphic organizer.
Curated OER
Agriculture & Alaska's Economy
Students examine Alaska's agriculture numbers from previous years. They answer questions based on Alaska's production levels.
Curated OER
Fractions
Students determine that a fraction is a part of a whole or part of a group. They write and read fractions and solve various fraction problems. They create their own fraction problem using colored candies for their classmate to solve.
Curated OER
Making It All Add Up!
Pupils use technology resources for problem solving. They complete math problems or integrated science problems dealing with math concepts using an online calculator.
Curated OER
What's Your Angle
Students create an original lesson plan about geometry and angles. In small groups they take pictures using a digital camera of obtuse, acute, right, and straight angles that they find at school. Students use the photos in a computer...
Curated OER
Let's Go Camping
Fifth graders plan a budget for a camping trip. They use a spreadsheet to organize the budget and word processing justification for their choices.