Curated OER
Neuron Anatomy Comparison
Young scholars create a scale model of a motor neuron that is two hundred times larger than the actual neuron. They identify the structures of a neuron and observe neurons under the microscope then use a worksheet to convert actual...
Curated OER
Designing a Fort
Students explore the concept of right triangles. In this right triangle instructional activity, students construct a scale model of a tourist attraction similar to Fort Jefferson. Students research aerial photos of Fort Jefferson, then...
Curated OER
Historic Earth Science Innovations
Students research the demands or limitations on Earth scientists. In groups, they design and build a model that would be useful to them in the lab or field. They share their model and their ideas behind it to the class and answer any...
Curated OER
Fractals Forever or Obvious and Hidden Order
High schoolers discuss ways computers use properties of similar figures to generate scale models and create scenes. they describe patterns they have seen on a fern, pineapple, or pinecone. Students research Benoit mandebrot, H. von Koch...
Curated OER
Boxing On
Students participate in five center activities in which they construct three dimensional objects using cubic centimeter manipulatives such as sugar cubes and toothpaste boxes. They determine the volume of the objects. They build a model...
Curated OER
Sizing Up The Solar System
Students investigate and design various models of size and distance related to the solar system. They work together to build a solar system model. The models should focus on distance and scale. They don't include moons or satellites in...
Teach Engineering
Take Off with Paper Airplanes
Let's go fly a kite ... oops, a paper airplane! The 13th segment in an aviation unit of 22 relates the parts of an airplane to paper airplanes. Pupils learn the functions of the control surfaces of a plane to really make their knowledge...
Curated OER
Stack It Up!
Students analyze and begin to design a pyramid. Working in engineering teams, they perform calculations to determine the area of the pyramid base, stone block volumes, and the number of blocks required for their pyramid base. They make a...
Curated OER
Boat Hull Design
Working in small groups high schoolers develop three alternative boat designs. They discuss the rationale for the type of hull, propeller, location of ballast, and type of building material used in their design. They build their boat.
Science Friday
Wind Power
Blow away the competition with a lesson about wind power and turbines. Groups build windmills to test how the size of blades affect the amount of work done. The scholars build a variety of blades and collect data on how each type...
The Alamo
The Alamo - Remembering Through Education
Help young historians truly remember the Alamo with a comprehensive set of informational text about the Texas Revolution. Complete with important vocabulary, biographies of prominent historical figures, thorough timelines of events,...
Chicago Botanic Garden
What Can Tree Rings Tell Us About Climate?
Tree rings are slightly thicker on the south side of the tree because it receives more sunlight. Part two in a series of five lessons helps learners analyze tree rings to determine the environmental conditions that caused size...
Curated OER
The True Value of Sweets
Measure your pupil's learning in a lesson designed to explore decimals by weighing different candies on a scale and recording the weight. Small groups then compare and order the decimal weights on a number line to show their...
Curated OER
Hazards: Fourth Grade Lesson Plans and Activities
Learn about damage associated with earthquakes and materials that best withstand a quake. A lab engages class members in the experimental design and construction of sturdy structures that can endure various earthquake...
Curated OER
Constructions and Creations: Sturdy Structures
Have your class draw the plans and design a structure. Learners discuss and investigate the variables in the stability of a 2D and 3D model. They also consider how to add a circuit to the design. Afterwards, they present their work.
Virginia Department of Education
Growing Patterns and Sequences
Learners explore, discover, compare, and contrast arithmetic and geometric sequences in this collaborative, hands-on activity. They build and analyze growing patterns to distinguish which kind of sequence is represented by a set of data...
Kenan Fellows
Weight and Balance of an Airplane
A career in aeronautics might be calling your class members. Building from the previous two lessons in the series, learners continue analyzing the mathematics of aeronautics. Groups create a paper airplane using paperclips for balance....
Curated OER
What Is Engineering Design
Students investigate the concepts related to the practice of designing and building large scale buildings. They conduct research using the internet and other resources in order to apply mathematics and architectural design principals in...
Curated OER
Your Body's Building Blocks
Pupils study the elements of the Periodic Table as they relate to the building blocks of the body. They experiment to measure the amount of iron in the body.
Curated OER
Building With Triangles
Fourth graders use two different techniques to construct triangles with specific dimensions. They determine how to construct nets for three-dimensional objects focusing on those made with equilateral triangles. They are able to name the...
Curated OER
Tour of the Solar System
Learners engage in science, math, and language activities as they do research on the components of the solar system. The class begins with some anticipatory activities and discussions before it is divided into small groups to conduct...
Curated OER
Gazebos and Other Worlds
Design a simple structure such as the gazebo. Work with your class to identify the six faces of a cube pattern and name other uses of patterns in industry. They draft, cut out, and assemble a cube pattern. They draw out and assemble two...
Illustrative Mathematics
Comparing Products
How can 5th graders show understanding that 30 x 225 is half of 60 x 225 without completing the computation? They can use an area model and draw it out. An array, or an open array, is an area model that allows for young learners to...
Curated OER
Ratio Relationships
Students solve for the different ratio and proportion of a problem. In this geometry lesson plan, students show their knowledge of how to solve proportional relationships. They convert between percent, decimals and fractions.