Curated OER
Simple Machines I - Inclined Planes, Wedges, and Screws
Fourth graders examine the physics behind and uses for inclined planes, screws, and wedges. They determine examples of how these simple machines are used in daily life. Working in three small groups, they move from station to station...
Curated OER
Biogeography
Third graders listen to a teacher led lecture about species living in different parts of the world. They study how the species spread to different parts of the world and examine the concept of dispersal. As a class, 3rd graders...
Energy for Keeps
The Energy Times
Extra! Extra! Read all about past and present energy use in a classroom-made historical newspaper. Useful as a cross-curricular assignment between science, history, and language arts, the project is sure to get young journalists...
Star Wars in the Classroom
Star Wars Geography Unit
What kind of animals live on an ice planet like Hoth? How would the habitat on Tatooine allow different organisms to thrive? Connect social studies, science, and Star Wars in one engaging activity that focuses on the ecosystems...
DiscoverE
Build a Big Wheel
Pasta is great for cooking—and for making Ferris wheels. Aspiring engineers use an assortment of pasta types to create a functioning Ferris wheel. They keep track of the design process to refine their designs, if necessary. Let's hope no...
Kenan Fellows
Unit 4: Bioethics and the Future of Biotechnology
What's the future of biotechnology? Explore a hot topic in the fourth and final unit in a series of Biotechnology lessons. Learners develop an understanding of the many issues in bioethics, then create an argument for or against the role...
Curated OER
Express Yourself Lesson Seed 13: Character Development 2
Building upon prior lessons in the series, this reading and writing exercise requires pupils to look back at their own writing, track character development in the novel The Cay, and analyze how Phillip has changed. The reading focus is...
Curated OER
Culture of Ancient India
A study of Ancient India can be a great way to cover a variety of subjects including art, history, and world religion.
Curated OER
Tooling Around Arizona: Reading Arizona Maps
Students research Arizona maps. In this map lesson plan, students discuss map titles, scales, directions, elevation, and symbols. The class will examine topography, landforms, and rivers found on an Arizona map.
Curated OER
Solid Waste and Our Natural Resources: Utilizing the Story THE LORAX
Students gain an introduction to our planet's solid waste problem and our personal responsibility in curbing and solving said problem through the use of Dr. Seuss' book, The Lorax. After hearing the book, class discussion follows.
Curated OER
Handling Discrepancies
Eleventh graders study the different ways students handle discrepancies. In this Physics lesson, 11th graders perform a laboratory experiment with resistors. Students discuss the ethical issues it raises.
Curated OER
Investigating Quadrilaterals
Fourth graders discuss the various attributes of quadrilaterals. In groups, they use the attributes to sort quadrilaterals into different classes and a hierarchy. They review the new vocabulary and attributes with a partner to end the...
Curated OER
THE FLOW OF MUSIC AND POETRY
Students explore their feelings about rain through art, music, and poetry. They listen to music as they think about rain and determine how they feel about rain. Students create either poetry or artwork about as they listen to music...
Curated OER
URBAN WILDERNESS AND PARKS
Student examine the need for and the problems of wilderness areas which are located close to urban centers. They discuss their concept of wilderness, write down their perceptions and report to the class.
Curated OER
Toxic River
Learners explore environmental safety by participating in a class game. In this toxic chemicals lesson, students discuss the effect chemicals have on our environment and how to best protect against their dangers. Learners participate in...
Curated OER
Our Country, Our Community, Our Jobs
Fifth graders analyze jobs that are of interest to them. They create graphic organizers explaining how jobs affect the world in which they live with at least five supporting details. They, in groups, make presentations to the class.
Curated OER
Space the Next Frontier
Students examine the use of space as the frontier of the future. Using the colonist's experience coming to the New World, they identify challenges they would face if they were to settle in space. As a class, they share what they already...
Curated OER
Airplanes
Fourth graders experiment with gravity and lift by building paper airplanes. In this physics instructional activity, 4th graders compare the falling rate of a crumpled vs. flat sheet of paper. Then after class discussion and...
Curated OER
What is Work?
Young scholars investigate the connection between work, potential energy, kinetic energy, and heat. In this physics lesson, students use pulleys to produce mechanical advantages and incline planes to demonstrate energy conversion.
Curated OER
How am I like George Washington?
Young scholars view a picture of people working at Pope's Creek Plantation and write about the picture for 15 minutes. They share their writing with the class. They either visit or research George Washington's Monument and compare...
Curated OER
It's Your Choice
Students compare data and determine the appropriate way to organize the data. They use physical graphs, pictographs, and symbolic graphs to display their data. In addition, they complete a Venn diagram.
Curated OER
Intro to 1D Kinematics with Physlets
Twelfth graders examine illustrations and animations on a Physlets CD in which they must describe motion, analyze graphs, and calculate initial velocity. The Physlet assists in providing active class participation in discussion.
Science Matters
Peanut Energy
How do humans get energy since they aren't mechanical and can't photosynthesize? Learners explore this question by relating potential energy in food to human energy levels. Scholars measure the change in mass and a change in...
Curated OER
Backpacks and Hills
This machines PowerPoint reviews effort and force in relation to work and informs students about different types of machines and the different ways forces are applied and how they work to increase efficiency.