California Academy of Science
Building Better Buses: Transportation Design Challenges
Scholars learn about a series of three challenges when they design a bus system for a small town. They determine the bus routes and then figure out the best type of fuel to use before considering the cost of going electric. Learners...
NASA
NASA: Moving Cargo
How does NASA transport people and cargo to planets? The five-lesson unit breaks down the transportation system that scientists use to transport cargo to space. Pairs team up in order to devise a transportation system that will carry the...
Curated OER
Transportation Systems: Two Liter Boat Activity
Learners design and build full-size boats made out of two-liter plastic bottles, chicken wire, and plywood. Then they race the boats, with the boat's designers "manning the hull", in the school's swimming pool.
Curated OER
The Mathematics of Convection: Nature's Model for Energy Production
High schoolers conduct a series of experiments to investigate density, buoyancy and climate. In this math lesson, pupils design and build a hot air balloon to demonstrate convection. They research and write a paper about solar chimneys.
NASA
Space Shuttle Glider
Your charges will enjoy putting together this model of the space shuttle and completing the three challenge activities described in the lesson plan. The worksheets embedded in the plan that pupils use to cut out their gliders are...
Mascil Project
Amberhavn: New Bus Network
Public transportation is an important aspect of any growing city. Collaborative groups work to redesign a system for a city in need of restructuring. Young scholars design a route, create a timetable, and incorporate a quality control...
Mascil Project
Container Logistics
Here's a creative lesson that lets pupils be creative as well! While considering many different factors, learners devise a plan to increase the efficiency of container shipments. The design of the activity encourages creative,...
Curated OER
Fair Haven Community and the Grand Avenue Bridge
Students use the internet to research the history of Fair Haven, Connecticut. In groups, they are introduced to the socio-economic developments and how the area has grown over time. They work together to create their own bridge design...
Beyond Benign
Got Gas
How much gas does it take to drive around town? The class uses a variety of mathematical procedures to take a look at the use of gas for transportation. Class members use a different unit to determine the cost of driving a car as opposed...
Curated OER
The Nutrients Public Transportation System
Students investigate the human circulatory system by experimenting with hoses. In this human body lesson, students create a system of hoses simulating the circulatory system which they utilize to pass objects through. Students discuss...
Curated OER
Get On Board
Students create a ticket table illustrating the cost of tickets by alternative transportation. In this number sense lesson, students write number sentences to compare and contrast difference information in their chart. Students figure...
Curated OER
Quilt Squared
Students study West Virginia quilts. In this mathematics instructional activity, students use symmetry, geometric shapes, and patterns to create their own quilt square.
Curated OER
Budget Mania
Young scholars examine examples of budgets and explore the difficulties of living on a budget. The hands-on activity offers an opportunity to experience a real life application.
Curated OER
Timeline of Historical Fiction
Students create a historical fiction timeline. They review the literature through the perspective of history (writing prompts provided). Students create a book cover illustration to appear with the book review in the appropriate spot on...
Curated OER
Wildflower Beautification Project
Learners, in cooperative groups, design and create a wildflower garden for the community. They write letters to property owners requesting use of their land and then write invitations to their parents and to local, state, and federal...
Curated OER
A Good Boat is Hard To Find
Eighth graders design and construct a safe and efficient human powered watercraft that can be used on a trip on the Great Lakes. Students utilize math and measurement skills to design and cut the pieces for their boat. Working in...
Curated OER
Band Tour Across America
Students plan the trip of a band across America. In this money planning lesson, students create a budget for the band using excel basic functions. They manage the band and its budget and relate the tour to future budgeting needs of the...
Curated OER
Introduction to Curve Stitching - Line Designs
Students develop their awareness that straight line segments can produce the illusion of a curve and helps them recognize and describe number patterns and geometric fundamentals.
Curated OER
Keystone Science School: Sustainable Automobiles
Students explore how to choose the correct car for them based on their needs.
Curated OER
Planets in Proportion
Learners apply estimation strategies and proportional reasoning to determine a scale comparing the planetary bodies to Earth. They convert measurements of time and distance using scientific notation. Both the metric and customary units...
Curated OER
This Land Is Your Land, This Land Is My Land
Students review and evaluate the ways land is covered and used in their local community. They consider the environmental effects of the different types of land use. Students act as community planning engineers to determine where to place...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Inch by Inch
Third graders listen to a read-aloud of Leo Lionni's, Inch by Inch before measuring a variety of items using both standard and metric units. They record the measurement data and follow a recipe for dirt pie.
Curated OER
I'm Out of Here
Students create a travel budget. In this budget lesson, students research vacation destinations. Working independently, students research destinations on the Internet and construct a budget for the vacation. Resources provided.
Curated OER
Patchwork Quilts
Fourth graders examine about traditional quilting patterns, the symmetry in such patterns, and practice creating patterns of their own. They design a quilting pattern, and groups make colorful "patches," of a pattern. They assemble the...