Curated OER
Does it Measure Up?
Use this fun activity with youngsters learning how to use rules for measurement. Each is provided with six steps that direct them to draw specific things with specific heights or lengths. For example, they start by drawing a tree that is...
Science Geek
Build a Food Web Activity
Entangle your life science class in learning with this collaborative food web activity. Using pictures of the plants and animals native to a particular ecosystem, young biologists work in small groups to construct visual...
Curated OER
Volcano Contour Models Activity
Students experiment with water levels and plastic topographic volcano models to determine the contour lines that would be used to create a topograpohic map of a volcano. They use the traced lines to actually develop the map.
Curated OER
Making a Living and Leisure Activities
Students investigate the economic and daily activities in a typical African community. They design and construct a small scale house, play an African board game, create African money, discuss vocabulary, and write an essay.
Curated OER
Graph Paper Patterns
Young artists divide a piece of graph paper into sections using rectangles, squares, and triangles. They then fill each section with patterns of shape and color. Elementary graders describe how their patterns are organized. Secondary...
Curated OER
When a Ruler is Too Short
Students measure distances using parallax. In this math activity, students explain how this method helped astronomers with their studies of the solar system. They determine the length of their arm using parallax and compare it with other...
Curated OER
Value Study Marker -- Using Chuck Close as a Catalyst
Sixth graders examine the work of artist Chuck Close. They create their own image using markers that show a range of values. They develop a grid to replicate those values.
Curated OER
Value Study Pencil -- Using Chuck Close as a Catalyst
Seventh graders examine the life of artist Chuck Close. They use markers to create an image to show a range of values. They develop a grid to represent these values.
Curated OER
Weave a Wreath
Students follow directions to complete a multi-step process that results in an attractive holiday decoration. In this Christmas art activity lesson, students employ simple measuring and weaving techniques and experiment with the negative...
Curated OER
Toothpick Art
Students review primary colors and practice making straight lines. In this visual arts activity, students paint simple shapes as large as a toothpick, using specific primary colors. During the construction of the shapes students are...
Curated OER
The Fall of the Ruler
Middle schoolers determine their reaction time using a ruler. In this Physics lesson, students calculate the class' means and variances. They plot the graph and analyze if there are outliers.
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...
Curated OER
Body Measuring Activity
Students explore geometry by participating in a measurement activity. In this human anatomy lesson, students identify the appropriate methods to measure human body parts and do so in class. Students create a bar graph from their class...
Curated OER
Lesson 3 Activity 1: On the Trail of Knowledge
Students plot the earthquake epicenter data on the base map of the North Atlantic ocean floor using different symbols or colors to characterize different values.
Computer Science Unplugged
Ice Roads–Steiner Trees
As an introduction to Steiner Trees, class members are challenged to find the shortest paths to connect multiple points. The teacher introduces the problem by showing how to connect three points. Groups then go outside and construct a...
Curated OER
Fall Reflections Monoprints
Create a natural autumn scene using the monoprinting method. Class members work on creating an image with reflection, foreground, and background using one line.
LABScI
Catapult: Flight of the Marshmallows
Watch your marshmallows fly. The engaging STEM activity has groups create a catapult to launch marshmallows. After testing their prototypes, they consider improvements and redesign their catapults.
DiscoverE
Design a Folding Solar Panel
Solar energy is an amazing alternative ... but, not always particularly portable! Challenge young scientists to a folding solar panel build-off with an easy-to-execute activity. Scholars brainstorm around specific design needs, construct...
Curated OER
Math Activity File
Third graders describe the difference between area and volume and also explain how various units of measure relate to one another.
Teachers Network
A World of Symmetry: Math-Geometry
Define and identify the three basic forms of symmetry translation, rotation, and glides with your class. They cut out and arrange paper pattern blocks to illustrate symmetry, create a Cartesian graph, and design a rug with a symmetrical...
California Academy of Science
Optimal and Sustainable: Renewable Energy Revamp
More than 100 cities around the world have shifted from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. Scholars investigate a city wanting to make this switch, but needs help determining how to make the shift. Groups consider all options,...
Curated OER
Paper Airplane Activity
Ninth graders select and build one of five different paper airplane designs and test them for distance and for time aloft. Part of this activity is designed to explore NASA developed software, FoilSim, with respect to the lift of an...
Asian Art Museum
Create Your Own Samurai (Breastplate) Armor
Your class is going to love this activity. They get out their rulers, cardboard, and paints as they make Samurai breastplates. The simple art lesson lends itself to many different subjects such as, math/measurement, world history, and...
Curated OER
Size Riddles
Students investigate shapes and sizes by creating a riddle. For this geometry lesson, students read one of two books and investigate facts about an object's size. Students write a riddle using the facts they have read and cut...