Recycle OK
The Incredible Edible Landfill
Create an edible class model of a landfill using pudding, graham crackers, cookies, and licorice. After making the landfill model, the class discusses what each part represents and answers some other landfill-related questions. Then they...
Berkeley Engineering and Mentors
Darwin's Finches
Try a twist on the old finch beak and chopsticks activity by using M&Ms on a Twister mat. Spoons, knives, forks, and chopsticks represent beaks and are randomly assigned to your little birds, who must collect as much food as possible...
Denver Art Museum
Words-A-Buzz
Here's an art lesson for pre-schoolers which focuses on communicating through words and movement. Learners explore the traditions of the samurai grip enhancers and characteristics of wasps. Photographs, embedded in the plan, of these...
WK Kellogg Biological Station
N2O: It’s No Laughing Matter!
While the layout of the lesson is not very detailed and the link to the PowerPoint is no longer valid, there are some great exercises to examine the role of nitrous oxide in the environment. For middle level learners, the resource listed...
Nuffield Foundation
Modelling the Human Ventilation System
Why is breathing so difficult for asthma sufferers? To find out, learners build their own lung models in the investigation (from a British website, hence the term ventilation system instead of respiratory system). Using different-sized...
Perkins School for the Blind
Chromosome Models- Karyotyping
Create your own karyotypes with clay in a kinesthetic genome activity. This tactile experience was created for visually impaired pupils, but can be used for all hands-on learners who are beginning to study chromosomes. The preparation...
SeaWorld
Polar Animals
Young scientists explore some of the scientific equipment that is used by explorers during expeditions to the North or South Pole. Then, they have a relay race! All of the equipment is lined up at a spot 25 yards away from the lines. The...
BBC
Rights and Responsibilities
Middle and high schoolers engage in a instructional activity about rights and responsibilities, and the differences between them. After a class discussion, pupils break off into pairs and come up with mimes that respect or abuse a...
Desert Discoveries
Lizard Dash!
Here is a terrific learning game that has pupils acting like lizards! Before the game starts, there is a class discussion on the differences between endotherms and exotherms. The main focus of the game is how each team must keep their...
Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association
A Research Project: A Discussion of the Recreating and Populating of a Colonial Village
Primary source research, secondary source readings, and discussion provide the understanding necessary for students to create a colonial persona, and simulate a situation appropriate for this person, time, and place. While the lesson...
Curated OER
Listening to Airplane Announcements in Movies
Third graders listen to and practice in comprehending airplane announcements. They determine the predictability of these announcements.
Curated OER
Maus I and II: Pictionary
Why is visual literacy so important in understanding Maus? Introduce your class to basic elements of graphic novels with a game of pictionary. A list of 13 words are included, but you could potentially add some World War II-related terms...
Curated OER
Atomic Candy
Mmmmm! Radioactive "candium!" Nuclear physics or chemistry classes use M&M'S® to demonstrate the process of radioactive decay. Individuals pour out a bag of candies and record the number that fall M-side-up to represent the number of...
Curated OER
Ordinary People: Guided Imagery
After reading chapter six of Ordinary People with your class, conduct this activity with your class. Turn the lights down, put on your softest voice, and have them try to imagine that they lost a close friend. Then, encourage them to...
Curated OER
Maus: Problematic Situation Strategy
Do people really need “a newer, bigger Holocaust” in order to change? Or is it possible that by making text-to-self connections to the stories of others people that they can change? In order to connect to Art Spiegelman’s Maus, class...
Curated OER
Sexual harassment
Students research sexual harassment. In this sexual harassment lesson, students discuss and research sexual harassment. They write a script for a scenario dramatizing the incident, how to respond and or prevent the incident.
Curated OER
Packaging Tricks
Learners become aware of the ways in which packaging is designed to attract kids. In a series of activites, students compare similar food products, assess nutritional value, and participate in field trip to see how packaging affects...
Curated OER
Lead and Mercury: Comparing Two Environmental Evils
High schoolers in chemistry or health courses look at the material safety data sheet (MSDS) and periodic table of elements to gather information about mercury and lead, two toxic materials that have been found in food products. They read...
Curated OER
Flood Control: Environmental History
Students examine the painting, Spring on the Missouri. They role-play and discuss floods and flood control from the views of an environmental lobbyist and a farmer.
Curated OER
Shape In Dance
Students engage in a lesson that is about the concept of shapes. They practice moves that are used to illustrate different types of shapes. Students participate in body movements that are focused around the directions of the body like...
Curated OER
Story Structure Slide Show
Analyzing the sequence of actions in dramatic stories leads to deeper comprehension of story structure. The class identifies the main actions in each section of a story and develops frozen tableau's for the identified actions of the...
Curated OER
Self and General Space in Dance
Students explore the different themes and strategies of dancing by performing in class. In this physical education lesson, students practice moving specific joints and muscles as they train to perform a dance. Students perform a dance...
Curated OER
Modify My Action
Third graders listen to directions as they perform a theatrical role. In this vocabulary lesson, 3rd graders listen to and observe the adjectives given to them during a practice of their performance by the director. Students identify...
Curated OER
The Election Connection
Students participate in a mock election. In this election lesson, students vote online in a mock election, graph the results, and compare their results to the nationwide results.