Penn Museum
Maya Ball
Sure the ancient Mayan civilization had an advanced calendar and mathematical system, but did you know that they also played a great team sport like basketball? Invite your learners to discover the great ballcourt at Chichen Itza and...
Curated OER
The Golden Students
Scholars view the video, "Donald Duck in Mathmagic Land," and discuss examples in nature which have proportions of the golden ratio. They measure and record different body lengths from a worksheet and convert the ratios to equivalent...
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Central American Immigrants to the United States: Refugees from Unrest
Students identify the major aspects of Olmec and Mayan civilzations, including economic, political, and religious. They list contributions of these civilizations. Students identify the Central American countries where the United States...
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Oklahoma Wheat on the World Market
Sixth graders explore profit and loss in the wheat trading market. In this sixth grade mathematics activity/social studies activity, 6th graders play a “Wheat Market Trading Game” in order to investigate the concept of supply and...
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Government by the People - Initiative and Referendum
Students use the Internet and worksheet to understand the concept of referendums and ballot innitiatives.
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Chinese Inventions A Selected History of Science and Invention in China
Students study the history of Chinese technology by identifying when and where items were invented or discovered.
Ocean Explorer
Easy as Pi
Seamounts are large, extinct volcanoes that rise up from the bottom of the ocean floor. They are a relatively new landform in the scientific community, and this instructional activity invites students to learn about the amazing diversity...
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Secret Writing Devices
Elementary and middle schoolers explore the world of secret writing, otherwise known as cryptography. After an interesting introduction to the activity, learners utilize a decoder badge which uses the St. Cyr cipher - which is a cipher...
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Mary, Queen of Scots: Heroine or Harlot?
Students explain how international politics, religion, and cultural beliefs influenced the life of Mary Queen of Scots. They watch a film about Mary, Queen of Scots and participate in a discussion and variety of extension activities.
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Water - Planning for the Future
Middle schoolers explore and examine the increases and/or decreases for water user groups: irrigation, municipal, manufacturing, steam electric power generation cooling, livestock, and mining. They utilize percentage changes during their...
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From Wood to Steel! A Survey of US Naval Development
Students research the importance of naval development in history. The unit includes hands-on activities such as the creation of timelines, powerpoints, and use webquests. Students examine famous ships and naval leaders.
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Louisiana Purchase
Students use maps, lecture and discussion to explore the unique contributions to the U.S. resulting from the purchase of the Louisiana Territory. They complete worksheets, label maps and participate in discussion groups.
Centers for Ocean Sciences
Ocean and Great Lakes Literacy: Principle 7
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to take your class on an underwater adventure. The final installment in a seven-part series involving salt and freshwater bodies takes junior oceanographers below the surface in...
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Solving Math Problems In the Real World
Upper elementary and middles schoolers discuss and solve real world applications of math. They use formulas for volume and percents to answer real world questions. In the second part of the lesson, groups write and solve word problems....
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Qur'an: Sacred Scripture of Islam
Pupils discover the strong emphasis Islam puts on education. Using the Internet, they identify advancements in ethics, math and astronomy. They explain the importance of madrasahs, or traditional places of learning in Islam, and...
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Second Star To the Left and Straight On 'Till Morning" - Spreadsheet Driven Exploration of Pacific Asian Geography
Students explore the geography of Pacific Asia. The class is divided into two groups to participate in a role-play activity where they act as European explorers. Students utilize mathematics, spreadsheet and internet technology to make...
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Carbondale: The Biography of a Coal Town
Students use a brief history of the growth and decline of the anthracite region in the state to create a photograph and map "peak shaped" time line. They practice map and photo analysis strategies to "read" photographs and maps.
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Pharaoh Phonetics
Students explain the purpose of hieroglyphics and identify their role in communicating ideas. They research the history of writing and it's significance in ancient Egyptian life and identify the components of hieroglyphics.
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A World of Taste--Louisiana Gumbo
Students discover the multicultural contributions to New Orleans gumbo through participation in cross curriculum activities. In this multicultural diversity and New Orleans history lesson, students shade regions of a map according to a...
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Math of the Path: Students Calculate Data from the Lewis and Clark Journey
Learners use calculations to complete the same journey of Lewis and Clark. They answer questions along their way and share information they gather with the class. They compare their calculations with those made by Lewis and Clark.
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Mobile Phones
Investigate how mobile phones impact their lives through this technology lesson that has students discuss the history of the cell phone and research how cell phones are being used in third world countries. Students create a blog for new...
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Betrayal of Penn's Promise - The Walking Purchase
Pupils role-play the 1737 Walking Purchase. In this Pennsylvania history lesson, students role-play the 1737 Walking Purchase and analyze its effects. Pupils also consider how it would affect their community today.
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Civilization in Ancient Mesopotamia
For this ancient Mesopotamia worksheet, students respond to 29 short answer and fill in the blank questions about the ancient civilization.
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Four Armed Men From the Renaissance!
Students study the Renaissance and the important art from the period. In this Renaissance lesson, students discuss the black plague and religion during the Renaissance. Students read the Renaissance worksheet and learn vocabulary words...