Curated OER
The Polymer Schoolhouse
Students study various objects and determine plastic and non-plastic. For this creative lesson students get into groups and create a diorama to show the different properties they discovered.
Curated OER
Probability - What Are the Odds?
Students study the concept of probability. In this probability lesson, students define probability and visit an interactive spinner website to learn about theoretical and experimental probability. Students use pennies and work in pairs...
Curated OER
Bug-O
Middle school special education students (moderate to severe) learn about insects by playing an entomological version of bingo. They cut out pictures of different bugs and glue them onto a grid. Place the game card inside a sheet...
Curated OER
Singing Along with the American Revolutionary War
Fifth graders read Chapter 12 in their social studies book, as well as trade books, and encyclopedias. They identify major events that took place during the American Revolutionary War. Students create a song (groups of 4-5 people) using...
Curated OER
Skittle Around with Fraction and Percentages
Fifth graders investigate the interchangeable relationship betweeen fractions and percents. They discuss the concepts using teacher provided questions. Then sutdents work in cooperative groups to maximize scaffolding.
Curated OER
The Soup Roll
Fifth graders roll different sized cans down an inclined ramp in order to determine if the contents of a can affect the speed at which is rolls. In this physics lesson plan, 5th graders work in small groups to send each can down the...
Curated OER
From Future Flight to Past Flight
Students complete a set of CD-ROM's to introduce them to the flight program at NASA. In groups, they research a topic related to flight and put their information on a CD-ROM. To end the lesson, they share their material with other...
Curated OER
Take Two and Call Me in the Morning
Eighth graders are introduced to the workings of the major systems of the Human Body: circulatory, digestive, respiratory, nervous, skeletal, and endocrine Systems. They learn the major organs of the systems and their functions.
Curated OER
Latin American Colonial Diary
Middle schoolers examine the class systems of New Spain. In small groups, they create a five-day diary about the family life, food, occupation, and government involvement of an assigned personality from the time of Colonial Latin America.
Curated OER
Project Based Lesson - Civil Rights
Students explore the Civil Rights movement. They investigate the changes in legislative, social, and civil arenas concerning the matters of race, sex, and political pacifism. In groups, students gather information concerning the...
Curated OER
To Infinity and Beyond...Magazine of Planetary Studies
Students demonstrate their creativity by creating a magazine to express expository text. In this expository text lesson plan, students create a magazine in groups to creatively make text interesting.
Curated OER
Transforming Anansi Folktales Into Storyboards
Students work in small groups to illustrate a story board of a folktale. They develop the meaning of a trickster as a humor device in folktales by listening to several about Leprechauns and the Coyote of Native American tales. They then...
Curated OER
Introduction to Fractions
Fourth graders break into groups having 10 come to the front and figure out the fraction of students are wearing jeans, glasses, have brown hair, etc. They write the fraction together. Each student then makes a picture and be able to...
Curated OER
Learning About Bears And Dolphins
Seventh graders engage in a study that compares the body structures of bears and dolphins. They conduct research to find information and use questions to find the differences or similarities and then conduct a class discussion about the...
Pennsylvania Department of Education
Properties Everywhere
Students examine and sort objects by specific attributes and apply prior knowledge. In this properties everywhere activity, students work in groups to arrange objects in categories then discuss various sorting options while...
Edgate
Why Map a Map?
After brainstorming reasons why Native Americans mapped their lands, your young critical thinkers will work together to review their ideas and determine the definition of a map. With today's extensive use of mapping technology and GPS...
Curated OER
Shizuko’s Daughter: Discussion Web
Is Yuki a selfish character? Analyze her motivation and behavior during a unit on Shizuko's Daughter by Kyoko Mori. Readers fill out two sides of a graphic organizer with reasons why or why not she is selfish, and then come up with...
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Section One: What is Biodiversity?
Four intriguing and scientific activities invite learners to explore the natural resources of their town. The activities cover concepts such as genetic traits, organizing species in a taxonomy, the differences between different species...
Teach Engineering
Design Step 3: Brainstorm Possible Solutions
Our young scientists have now specifically identified a problem, and this step helps them think of possible solutions. An outline, including guidelines, for brainstorming helps scholars stay on the right path. The resource includes...
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Fun with Speedboats!
After reading about marine engineers and naval architects, it's all hands on deck to design and test a speed boat. This lesson is designed for the Next Generation Science Standards in engineering and can be a centerpiece for a STEM...
School Improvement in Maryland
Smart Growth
New roads, new businesses, new developments, new mass transit systems. All growth has both positive and negative effects on communities. Government classes investigate the principles of Maryland's 1997 Smart Growth program and...
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Adaptive Device Design
After reading about how engineering has made adaptive devices possible for people with disabilities, pupils work in groups to discuss different devices to determine whether or not they are adaptive. They also disassemble a pair of...
Space Awareness
History of the Universe
Your pupils may believe that you and their parents are the oldest things in the universe, but surprise! There are elements of the universe that are even older. Elementary scientists create a class timeline to demonstrate the...