Curated OER
Smart Design
Share pupil responses to an interactive slide show about a design initiative intended to help the world's poor. The class works in groups to brainstorm ideas, and then prepares sketches of their own design solutions. Each rendering...
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Popsicle Bridge
Using popsicle sticks and glue, groups must work together to design and build a bridge that can support weight and is aesthetically pleasing. The lesson plan begins by learners reading about different features of bridge architecture,...
Curated OER
A Walk on the West Side
Students comprehend what makes up the physical community. Read and construct scale drawings and models. Explore the history of infrastructures and how the contributions of science, math and industry have led to the development of their...
MENSA Education & Research Foundation
Utopia/Dystopia: The American Dream
America was founded by dreamers, and the American dream still resonates in our country today. Track the American dream from its Puritan beginnings to its optimistic descendants with a instructional activity that focuses on speeches...
Curated OER
Cities
Students examine U.S. Census figures. In this urban centers lesson, students compare city populations across the span of 50 years. Students create line graphs based on the data.
Curated OER
Progressive City Planners
Young scholars plan cities. In this environmental racism lesson, students design imaginary cities taking into consideration the amenities and environmental hazards that exist. Young scholars discuss city planning challenges.
Curated OER
The Birth of a City
Third graders understand the role of rules and laws in our daily lives. They research the basic structure of the United States government. They participate in a simulated City Council meeting.
Curated OER
Our Designs For The World Trade Center Site
Students design specific structures appropriate for the World Trade Center site. For this architecture design lesson, students use the Internet to research the original structures at the World Trade Center site and use painting or...
Curated OER
Book Cover Design
High schoolers design book covers. In this graphic design lesson plan, students are introduced to designing book covers. High schoolers develop skills on how to promote their designs to clients. Students then create their own book covers.
Curated OER
Exploring A Streetcar Named Desire
Students investigate the dramatic elements of a Streetcar Named Desire. In this drama lesson, students explore the theme of the Tennessee Williams play as they read the play and watch performances of some of the acts. Students then write...
American Institute of Architects
Architecture: It's Elementary!—Fifth Grade
Young citizens construct an understanding of urban planning in this cross-curricular unit. Covering every aspect of city development from the political, economic, and social influences to sustainable building practices, this...
Federal Reserve Bank
Beatrice’s Goat: A Lesson on Savings Goals
Youngsters learn the meaning of saving and how to reach savings goals by first reading a story of a young Ugandan girl who is gifted a goat, and then discovering the opportunity costs of savings decisions made by her and her family.
Teach Engineering
A Shot Under Pressure
You've got to pump it up! Using the equations for projectile motion and Bernoulli's Principle, class members calculate the water pressure in a water gun. The pupils collect data on the number of pumps and distance traveled in order...
Curated OER
2008 U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad Part III
In this chemistry olympiad lab learning exercise, chemists are required to design two experiments. In one, they design an experiment to identify seven solutions given to them in pipettes. In the other, they design an experiment to...
California Academy of Science
Optimal and Sustainable: Renewable Energy Revamp
More than 100 cities around the world have shifted from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. Scholars investigate a city wanting to make this switch, but needs help determining how to make the shift. Groups consider all options,...
Curated OER
Understanding Tiananmen Square
William Bell's Forbidden City is used as the basis of a study of China, Chinese culture and government, and especially of the events in Tiananmen Square in 1989. Class members select a topic for Internet research and then prepare a...
Curated OER
Sim's Cities
Students investigate city management and government by creating a fictional city in groups. For this civics lesson, students create rules and a mascot for their fictitious city which they create from poster board cubes....
Curated OER
Emerald City
Students read "The Wizard of Oz." They list descriptive words and information about the Emerald City. Students plan, design, and build their own 3-dimensional Emerald City. They create a dazzling Emerald City with recycled produce trays...
Curated OER
Paper Architecture - Designing Human Spaces
Learners design, then construct an architectural structural model of a two-person dwelling. Then, Students, in groups, plan a city layout.
Curated OER
Life As A Tree
Third graders design a plate to represent the three parts of a tree. In this tree parts lesson plan, 3rd graders learn about the functions of each part and design the plate to resemble the rings of the tree.
Scholastic
STEM Challenges and Activity Sheets for Grades 6–8
From 3-D cities to building bridges, young engineers engage in innovative STEM challenges that promote brainstorming and collaboration. Learners take on the roles of different types of engineers as well as become familiar...
Curated OER
K-5 Mathematics Module: Number and Number Sense
Reinforce number sense with a collection of math lessons for kindergarteners through fifth graders. Young mathematicians take part in hands-on activities, learning games, and complete skills-based worksheets to enhance proficiency...
Judicial Branch of California
Public Service Announcement: Civic Responsibility
Get your message across. Scholars use their prior knowledge and artistic skills to create public service announcements. The project is designed to explain the importance of civic harmony and the responsibility of all citizens to...
Curated OER
Understanding Space Travel
High schoolers study the unique environment of the moon and Mars. In this space science lesson, students design a city located in the outer space. They create a computer aided design, models or drawings of their cities and share them...