Curated OER
Applied Science - Science and Math Lab
Create three dimensional objects in an applied science lesson plan. The goal is for your class to recognize, compare, and model shapes. Using cookie cutters and clay or play dough, they create models for three-dimensional shapes.
American Museum of Natural History
Thinking in the Three Dimensions
Discover different dimensions with paper folding. Pupils first read about zero, one, two, and three dimensions, and then learn about the fourth dimension, time. They then use origami to create models of shapes in three dimensions and use...
Curated OER
Ocean Exploration: Shapes and Patterns Under the Sea
So many shapes in our vast oceans. Young explorers can discover new shapes in a variety of ways in this lesson. One way is having free exploration with a pattern shape kit handed out by the teacher. Another is by viewing a...
Curated OER
Circles to Spheres
Students investigate circles and spheres. In this space shapes lesson, students compare and contrast two-dimensional and three-dimensional shapes. Students investigate the relationship between plane and space shapes.
Space Awareness
What is a Constellation
Why do some stars in a constellation appear brighter than others? Using a get-up-and-move astronomy activity, scholars explore perspective and the appearance of constellations in the sky while developing an understanding of the...
Curated OER
Applied Science - Science and Math (K) Lab
In this shape instructional activity, learners cut out tangram shapes and create different pictures with them. They look at 3-D shapes as well. There is a nice, hands-on component built into this instructional activity.
Curated OER
Introduction to Minerals
Young scholars discover how crystal structures go together to create minerals. In this earth science lesson, students work in groups to create 3-dimensional shapes of crystals that they then put together in a compact structure.
DiscoverE
LIDAR: Mapping with Lasers
We would be lost without maps! How are they made? Introduce junior topographers to LIDAR technology with a fascinating activity. Set up a mock city, then have learners operate a laser measure to determine the shape of the landscape using...
American Institute of Physics
African American Inventors in History
A two-part lesson plan introduces young historians to the work of famous African American inventors. Groups first research and develop a presentation of an inventor that includes biographical information and information about one of...
California Academy of Science
Fish Forms
I've said it before, and I'll say it again, you can add art to any lesson! While little learners are discovering why fish have specific body parts such as, scales, fins, and gills, they start making three-dimensional fish forms. Children...
Teach Engineering
Circuits and Magnetic Fields
Have your class use compasses to try to find the magnetic field around an electric current. Groups use the same technique to visualize magnetic fields as they did in the second activity in the series, but this time, the field is...
Curated OER
Tomato Exploration
Create tomatoes in 15-20 minutes using this fun and interactive lesson plan! Learners listen to a book about tomatoes (recommendations listed), and focus on the vocabulary word tomato. They count the syllables...
Curated OER
Papier-Mâché Globe
Paper mache projects are great for using up paper from the recycle bin. Give your class the chance to create a three-dimensional globe out of paper mache. They'll work to make their globes as accurate as possible, adding proper colors...
Curated OER
Planet/Constellation Mobile
Young scholars construct three-dimensional solar system mobiles.
Curated OER
Sun, Shadows, Surface Structure...and the Face on Mars
Students use light and shadow information to make inferences regarding the three dimensional shapes of specific objects photographed on the surface of Mars. Limitations of the of the data provided are discussed and entries made into the...
Cornell University
Constructing and Visualizing Topographic Profiles
Militaries throughout history have used topography information to plan strategies, yet many pupils today don't understand it. Scholars use Legos and a contour gauge to understand how to construct and visualize topographic profiles. This...
Curated OER
Protein Puzzles
Learners examine the concept of protein structure. They read an article, construct a three-dimensional model of an insulin protein, take a quiz, conduct Internet research, and answer discussion questions.
Curated OER
Symmetry that is Basic and Beautiful
Learners explore lines of symmetry. In this symmetry lesson, students divide and combine shapes along basic lines of symmetry. Learners explore symmetry in real life objects.
Curated OER
Teaching About Plate Tectonics and Faulting Using Foam Models
Young scientists learn about plate tectonics and the three different types of faults (normal, reverse, and strike-slip) using foam models. The activity also covers common types of locations where these faults are found.
Curated OER
No Edge, No Center -- Exploring the Shape of Our Universe
Students examine various "spaces" (including ones that are one-dimensional, two-dimensional, and three-dimensional). For each space, they will examine what it means to have or not have an edge, or to be finite or infinite.
Curated OER
CD Snowman
Students design and produce snowmen. In this winter instructional activity, students use CD's to create 3 dimensional snowmen. Students discuss the senses of sight and touch as well as compare their craft snowmen to a real...
Curated OER
Molecular Models
In this molecule worksheet, students use a molecular model kit to build the molecule, draw a three-dimensional structure, and describe its shape. This worksheet has 2 graphic organizers.
Curated OER
Magnetic Field Activities
Students explore the idea of magnetic field through investigations of magnetic fields as produced by various common magnetic materials and direct currents. They study the vector nature of fields, the ubiquity of field sources in the...
Curated OER
Create a microbe
Students explore viruses and bacteria. They construct three dimensional models of microorganisms recognizing size relationships by comparing the size of viruses with the sizes of bacterial cells.