The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has developed a tremendous library of ocean-themed lessons that can be used in a variety of science settings. "Feeding in the Flow" is one of those activities; Its focus is on...

Analyze and graph oxygen isotope ratios in coral samples in relation to the distance from the outer skeleton edge. Compare the data to the mean monthly water temperatures. Uncover whether or not there is any correlation. In addition to...

Fifth graders work in small groups to compile job changes. They use data from the list of changes that the group generated together. Students analyze the data to determine: categories of changes, patterns or trends of changes, and future...

Students view macroinvertebrates, or discuss previous collection activity. They graph data on macroinvertebrates in the Hudson River. Students discuss the relationship between habitat, environmental changes, and invertebrate diversity or...

Students experiment with point graphs. For this math lesson, students are divided into groups and perform an experiment to see how high a ball bounces, recording their results on a point graph. Students then answer provided questions.

After reviewing biodiversity, learners work in small groups to analyze actual species distribution data. They learn to calculate the Shannon-Weaver diversity index for different communities. Though not particularly engaging, the content...

Eighth graders discover how the location of restaurants affects the future location of different restaurants. Using a fictionous town, they map the locations of all current restaurants and analyze the data to determine what type of...

Students conduct research on issues and interests by generating ideas and questions and by posing problems. They gather, evaluate and synthesize data from a variety of sources (e.g., print and non-print texts, artifacts, people) to...

Explore the concept of volume of prisms using an applet to perform the calculations. The link to the interactive applet is embedded into the lesson plan as well as a link to associated data sheets. Get your math class to the computer lab...

By examining a set of dice roll data, statisticians determine the probability of different sums occurring. They visit an interactive website and determine how many different vacation outfits Bobbie Bear will have based on the colored...

Students discover the life and work of an American author, either Samuel Clemens or Louisa May Alcott. In this study of visual and written portraits lesson, students take a look at the authors through four different sources: a portrait,...

Pupils distinguish between visualization and scientific visualization. They use the software program Spygalss to create images from two-dimensional arrays of numbers.

Students investigate wind and weather by creating a weathervane.  For this environment lesson, students identify the purpose of a weathervane and observe weathervanes in action on their campus.  Students create a weathervane...

Sometimes words aren't the best way to get information across to the reader. The eighth handout in the 24-part Writing the Paper series describes different type of figures and charts to display complex information in a paper....

Here is an authentic assessment task for Shakespeare's Macbeth. Young literature scholars prepare, perform, and record a news broadcast about the major events in the play. For example, groups may choose to report on the death of Lady...

How do you teach a student with visual impairments about the conservation of mass? You use tactile models that represent the theoretical concept. Baking soda and vinegar are used to add gas to a deflated balloon. Learners will feel the...

Students explore how to draw contour lines from limited data and extend this knowledge to real data sets. They participate in many opportunities from students to assess their own progress and the exercise is completely online.

Students use proportions to estimate the size of populations. They describe the data with using a graph or table of the estimate. Students use descriptive statistics to calculate mean, median, and mode. They also compare and contrast an...

Students conduct research on issues and interests by generating ideas and questions and by posing problems and gather, evaluate and synthesize data from a variety of sources to communicate their discoveries in ways that suit their...

Students conduct research on issues and interests by generating ideas and questions and by posing problems and gather, evaluate and synthesize data from a variety of sources to communicate their discoveries in ways that suit their...

Third graders review and expand their discussion of job training and education resources. They work in small groups to find information about the types of training people need to do specific jobs and use data from interviews carried out...

Learners explore linear measurement. They choose appropriate measuring tools, measure three classroom items, and record their results.  A class discussion ensues in which everyone decides the best way to present their data.

Class members select a science fiction novel for independent study. To verify they have completed the reading, they write a summary, a critique, and an outline of the plot for a sequel or prequel. They then deliver a five-minute...

First graders create glyphs (symbols or icons) which represents them, and read the glyphs of others using a legend to explain the data on the glyphs.