Students explore the concept of parts making up a whole. In this parts and whole lesson, students come to understand that parts of a system must come together in order for the system to work properly. Students investigate items indoors...

Discover the concept of fractions by using fruit as a model. Scholars discover fractions are part of a whole, similar to the pieces of fruit which are placed in front of them. They then cut up several different types of fruit and discuss...

What better way to learn about fractions than with a couple pizzas? Help Jessica figure out how much of the pizza she has eaten, while teaching your class that fractions refer to a specific whole amount. This problem will be challenging...

Identifying patterns is a crucial skill for all mathematicians, young and old. Explore the multiplication table with your class, using patterns and symmetry to teach about square numbers, prime numbers, and the commutative and identity...

Tap into the wisdom and knowledge of older members of the community with this New York Times plan. To warm up, learners write about and discuss advice they have been given. After reading "The Life Report," an op-ed column that asks older...

Learners analyze the real number system. They discuss real numbers, rational and irrational numbers, integers, whole numbers, natural numbers and more of the real number in the system. They differentiate between all these numbers.

The commutative property of multiplication applies not only to whole numbers but to fractions as well. Connor and Makayla explore and discuss the idea that 2/3 x 3 is the same as 3 x 2/3. Your 5th grade class will connect with...

Fourth graders identify food groups, foods that fit into those groups, and look at the nutritional value of each food group. They also discover how to interpret and understand food labels. The whole class makes some burgers and fries,...

Challenge your class to construct a definition for trapezoids. Looking at four examples and four non-examples, students individually create definitions and use them to classify an unknown shape. Allow for small group and whole-class...

Introduce young mathematicians to concepts of financial literacy with this open-ended word problem. With seven dollars to spend during field day and given a list of available items and their prices, children must determine how they want...

Expose your class to Waiting for the Biblioburro, narrative nonfiction that will act as the bridge between ficiton and informational texts to come. Class members do a close reading of the text, looking at excerpts instead of the whole...

Explore the importance of rules in a community with the engaging first lesson of this series on the US government. To begin, children play a paper clip game that requires them to make up their own rules as they go, after which the...

Making groups of groups can help to organize data. Classes use statistics to group themselves using descriptive adjectives. The objective is for learners to understand that grouping qualitative data is useful when the original groups are...

Here is an outstanding lesson on food groups, nutrition, and diet. In it, learners focus on hamburgers! They take a close look at the products that go into making a hamburger, conduct taste tests on samples, discuss the nutritional value...

Did the Confederate Army really consist of southern volunteers? Using primary sources, historians examine the story behind the "Twenty Negro Law" and realities of conscription during the Civil War. A letter and a lithograph (included as...

By examining harmful health and hygiene practices, teens will be able to determine what is best for their body. Advertisers for health/hygiene products will also be evaluated for "best interest" criteria. The class will begin by...

Now that your class has read all of Esperanza Rising, take the time to tackle big metaphors and themes. Pupils will participate in an activity called Chalk Talk, in which they circulate around the room in small groups and add...

To underscore the importance of practicing good listening skills class members engage in a series of activities that model poor listening skills. In pairs and then as a whole group, class members enact different, more positive techniques...

Time to study the most sensible function — rational functions! The seven-lesson unit develops the concept of a rational function through a connection to rational numbers and fractions. Scholars graph functions, solve equations, and...

Young scholars create a model volcano in groups, and discuss what each part of the model represents as they go along.  In this volcano lesson, students come back together as a whole group and discuss what group did the best work,...

Travel back to 1787 as young scholars investigate the creation of the US Constitution. After first working in small groups to create sets of classroom rules, students go on to read a summary of the Constitution and watch a short video...

Develop novice script-writers. Small groups sift through a sample script, noting any script-writing conventions to share with the whole class. Using these conventions and plot structures, these groups compose a script for a 10-minute...

Using food as a manipulative is one of the best ways to incorporate hands-on learning in the classroom. This hands-on approach allows young mathematicians to compare, order, and identify fractions with the use of Twizzlers® and...

Here's something unusual and thoughtful: have your scholars do some pensive reflection themselves before tackling how such meditative techniques are used in prison rehabilitation programs. They watch the...