Exploratorium
Radioactive Decay Model
Toss 100 pennies (or poker chips or any other two-different-sided objects) and remove all of those displaying tails. Line them up and repeat. The lines of pennies collected get smaller each time, successfully representing half-life.
Science Matters
Earthquake Waves: Wave Notes
A multi-part lesson opens with a review of p waves and s waves. Then scholars use a simple s wave simulator to view the way the wave travels. Next, pupils use cups and various fluids to simulate p waves moving through different mediums....
Curated OER
Using Garage Band to Enhance 2nd Grade Composition
Your second graders can become composers with a little help from the Garage Band software. You pre-select several drum, piano, and guitar loops for the groups to choose from, then they put them together following an ABA looping pattern....
Exploratorium
Give and Take
Heat-sensitive liquid crystal sheets are available in a variety of sizes and temperature ranges. Purchase a class set of hand-held sheets and color half of each with a silver permanent marking pen. Learners of light can hold them under a...
Curated OER
Original Band Compositions
Students create and perform original band compositions using their own band instruments. This two day lesson requires student compositions to be done at home. Students evaluate performances using a checklist for composing (included).
Utah Education Network (UEN)
Geo Shapes
Invite your first graders to compose and decompose two and three-dimensional figures with this fun, hands-on instructional activity. They investigate and predict the results of putting together and taking apart two-dimensional shapes...
Curated OER
Focus on Harmony
Harmony is the focus of this band instructional activity. Upper graders play the Star Spangled Banner, while focusing on harmony, chords, and musical voice. This instructional activity includes several suggested cross-curricular activities.
Curated OER
Express Yourself Lesson Seed 10: Character Development
Make a study of Timothy and his development as a character over the course of the first half or so of The Cay. This idea focuses in particular on chapters 10 through 12. Learners start out by working on double-entry journals created in...
Curated OER
TOTALLY TUBULAR QUILTS
Students should have the ability to sew strips together accurately and use a rotary cutter, fabric should be selected before class, washed, and ironed folded in half selvage-to-selvage.
Curated OER
On a Hymn Song of Phillip Bliss
Students rehearse the first half of "On a Hymn Song" of Phillip Bliss with correct notes, rhythms, and musicality and listen to the story behind the piece enabling students to play with emotion.
Practical Action
Floating Garden Challenge
Climate change is affecting communities living in riverside areas by flooding land where crops used to grow. Using an array of instructional materials provided in this resource, you will have the opportunity to task your critical...
North Carolina Standard Curriculum
Rhythm Counting
Understanding time signatures and rhythm counting are two very important parts of playing an instrument well. Here are three basic lessons rolled into one that prompt upper graders to play their instruments with care. They'll practice...
Curated OER
Rhythm Counting
Pupils perform various rhythms and melodies in unison on their individual instruments. Assessment is performed on the last day of the lesson with each student playing individually for the class. This lesson meets national standards in...
Curated OER
Rehearsal and Sightreading Techniques
Eighth graders prepare the two pieces "American Celebration" and "Patriotic Bits and Pieces" for an upcoming performance. This lesson is a forty-five minute lesson geared towards a middle school advanced band (8th Grade). National and...
Curated OER
Boombox Classroom: Music of Appalachia
For this music worksheet, students view pictures of a banjo, mandolin and a dulcimer as examples of instruments from a bluegrass band. They answer three multiple choice questions about Appalachian music.
Curated OER
Boombox Classroom: Music of Appalachia
In this music worksheet, learners view a map of the Appalachian mountains. They view pictures of instruments that may be included in a bluegrass band. Students answer three multiple choice questions where they are asked to find the...
Curated OER
Rhythm, Math, Rhythm
Learners play instruments in math class to learn the interconnectedness between math and music. In this math instructional activity, students subdivide a piece of music, clapping rhythms and charting rhythm patterns in the song. A guided...
Curated OER
You're Wearing Your Plants!
Students examine the many uses of plants and trees by looking at their clothing. They make lists of products that come from plants and trees and their uses.
Exploratorium
Bridge Light
An illuminating activity demonstrates how interference of light waves creates a pattern. Using Plexiglas™ and construction paper, participants see rainbows appear as they twist or press against the plastic plates. After the activity, you...
Exploratorium
Balancing Ball
Demonstrate lift to the class that is studying aerodynamics. In the stream of air produced by a blow dryer, little physicists place a wad of tissue paper and a spherical figure to compare. Or, if you have a vacuum cleaner and beach ball,...
DiscoverE
Design a Wind Turbine
Discover the power of wind energy. Learners design, build, and test wind blades in a hands-on experiment. They analyze the results to determine if they can make any improvements before gathering as a class to discuss their designs.
Exploratorium
Stripped Down Motor
Mostly for teacher's use, here are instructions for making a traditional electromagnetic motor and a detailed explanation of how it works.
Exploratorium
Geyser
Although it requires a little extra preparation the first time you use this geyser demonstration, it can be used repeatedly once it has been constructed. This demonstration is useful in showcasing how heat leads to increased pressure and...
DiscoverE
Water Sampling
What is the best way to test water quality? Using plastic bottles, scholars create monitoring sensors to test water quality. Creating three different sensors allows individuals to measure water quality at different water levels.