California Academy of Science
Rapid Brainstorming: How Can We Improve Our Global Food System?
In 2018, the average fast food burger cost $2.64 while a salad averaged $4.14. Does the price difference matter to public health? Scholars consider that question and others in a brainstorming session about improving our global food...
Smithsonian Institution
Conflicting Voices of the Mexican War
Americans wanted to fulfill Manifest Destiny, and this pattern continued with the Mexican War. The resource specifically teaches about the Mexican War through a variety of exercises including a research project, group work, brainstorming...
Learning for Justice
Beauty is Skin Deep
If you are in need of a lesson on tolerance or the impact of media, this plan could be useful. The class begins with a brainstorming session in which they reflect on their own experiences with bias based on appearance. Next, they...
Curated OER
A Minute in Time
Here is an interesting and illuminating task for young learners. Using an egg timer to keep track of time, pupils see how much they can do in one minute's time. A brainstorm session takes place where everyone comes up with tasks they...
Curated OER
Teaching “Level of Difficulty” through Close Reading, Reflection, and Performance
What makes a poem difficult? Explore that topic and more with your class as you work through the lesson plan detailed here. Using materials from Poetry Out Loud, a national recitation contest, individuals or small groups examine poems...
Cornell University
The Science of Snowflakes
Who can grow the best crystals? Challenge class members to develop strategies for enhancing growth in the crystals. Through a lab investigation, learners study the properties of crystals and test the effectiveness of different growth...
Edgate
Why Map a Map?
After brainstorming reasons why Native Americans mapped their lands, your young critical thinkers will work together to review their ideas and determine the definition of a map. With today's extensive use of mapping technology and GPS...
Curated OER
A Brief History of Fairfax County
Young scholars brainstorm a list of things they already know about the history of Fairfax County, Virginia. After reading a primary source document, they discuss the similarities and differences between their prior knowledge and what...
BBC
Crime
Crime and punishment! Learners discuss the law, civics, and crime in the UK. They brainstorm lists of crimes and possible punishments, complete activities on a website, role-play a Juvenile Court scenario, and try to think of ways they...
Curated OER
Invention/Innovation/Creative Thinking/Opportunities/Ideas
Students, while examining inventions and innovators, identify, differentiate and discuss five Canadian inventors/innovations. After applying creative thinking strategies to a promotional piece, students brainstorm patents.
Curated OER
Building A Bug Bungalow
Learners chart how milkweed bugs grow and change. In this growth and life stages lesson, students read two stories and discuss how and why things grow. Learners brainstorm what can be measured about humans, review and discuss life...
Curated OER
Introduction to Trees and Wood
Students examine samples from various types of trees. In this trees and wood lesson plan, students review The Giving Tree and complete a KWL chart on trees. Students brainstorm what we get from trees and view wood samples with hand...
Curated OER
My School Goal (Part1)
Third graders share their accomplishments and how they felt when they reached their final goal. In groups, 3rd graders brainstorm ideas and goals. They discuss personal goals, both short term and long term. They list steps in...
Tech Museum of Innovation
Analogous Models
What goes into a museum display? A secondary-level STEM project prompts groups to design a museum display for the Tech Museum of Innovation. They create an analogous, interactive model illustrating a science concept to complete the lesson.
Curated OER
Being an Active Family
Students brainstorm ideas that will help them to be more active. In this activity lesson students select an indoor activity they can do as a family and other ways they can get moving.
Curated OER
Athabaskan Migration & Bering Strait
Students examine the various migration patterns of the Athabaskan. In groups, they discuss the Bering Strait Land Bridge theory of migration and take notes on a lecture from their teacher. To end the lesson, they brainstorm the...
Curated OER
The Open Ocean, What is it and How Does it Change?
Students investigate the ocean environment. In this ocean lesson, students discover the physical properties of the ocean. Over two days, students work in small groups investigating ocean maps and creating water currents.
Curated OER
What's Dancing in the Water?
Students learn about watershed, as well as the different forms and uses of water. In this water forms lesson, students brainstorm water sources and uses. Students read the book Water Dance and discuss water examples. Students complete a...
Curated OER
#4 School Survey
Students, after brainstorming on health data, design a class or school survey on asthma. They collect, tabulate, and summarize the data. The data is placed on an Excel spreadsheet program. Upon completion, many demographic questions are...
Curated OER
Freedom
Students brainstorm a list of the freedoms they have living in the United States. In groups, they compare and contrast these freedoms with those of their home country. After completeing a worksheet, they examine lyrics to songs to...
Curated OER
Baggie Science
Students observe and describe a chemical reaction. In this chemistry lesson, students record observations of the materials they will be using, then follow a written procedure to perform the experiment in a baggie and record their...
Curated OER
The Future of the Milky Way
Students brainstorm ideas about the future of our galaxy. In this space science lesson, students research the three main events happening in the Milky Way. They write a report about their findings.
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 activity invites students to learn about the amazing diversity of life found...
Curated OER
How Am I Supposed to Eat THAT?
Students explain nutritional strategies of benthic organisms.They describe nutritional strategies of benthic organisms and describe these physical characteristics.