Curated OER
Math: Designing a Playground
Sixth graders design and draw a model playground to scale. They configure the layout to include a sandbox, slide, baseball field and other equipment. Their design includes adaptations for students with disabilities. Their designs are...
Curated OER
Designing a Playground!
Students design their own playground equipment. In this design lesson, students take pictures of equipment they like and make a class pictograph of their favorite ones. They investigate the design, research equipment around the world,...
New York City Department of Education
Designing Euclid’s Playground
Create a geometric playground. Pupils work through a performance task to demonstrate their ability to use geometric concepts to solve everyday problems. The accompanying engineering design lessons show teachers how the assessment works...
Center for Applied Linguistics
Practical Applications of Fractions, Percents, and Decimals
Young architects are prompted to design a playground in assigned groups. Using a 10 x 10 grid. Your fifth graders will apply their knowledge of fractions, percents, and decimals to the real-world task of designing a playground....
Purdue University
The Represented World: Recreational STEM
How are forces and motion important to a swing set? Scholars explore the concepts of force and motion using swing sets. In preparation for their own STEM design project, individuals take surveys and data from peers, complete labs on...
Curated OER
"Just Playing" Playground Design
Students design a playground. In this just playing instructional activity, students identify and measure a specified area surrounding their school to be used for a playground. Once identified, students measure the area for equipment....
Curated OER
Designing a Safe City Like a Civil Engineer
Students study civil engineering, safety apparatuses in their city, and design their own city. In this civil engineering lesson, students discuss their towns safety apparatuses and define civil engineers. Students then design their own...
Curated OER
Parallel and Perpendicular Lines
Fourth graders create a dance with a partner that shows parallel and perpendicular lines. In this lines lesson plan, 4th graders create symmetrical designs and line pairs with their partner.
Curated OER
Geometry Shapes Playground Safety
Students create a new playground design to present to elementary students during Playground safety week. They review basic geometry to use in observing and recording the equipment on a local playground. They research playground safety...
Curated OER
Percentages
Students examine the concept of percent and calculate percentages of one hundred and convert them into fractions and decimals. They view and discuss a one hundred square grid and identify percentages. Students design a playground...
Curated OER
Games on Echolocation
Get a little batty with life science! This fun simulation game replicates how bats use echolocation to hunt moths in their native Hawaiian habitat. After creating blind folds and discussing some basic principles of echolocation, students...
Curated OER
Real-Life Problems
When did math become so relevant? Scholars choose from four operations to solve five word problems dealing with money and measurements. They show their work in a designated space, and must include units in their answers. Learners work...
Curated OER
Outdoor Activities/Problem Solving: Home Design
Students create with sticks and stones. For this early childhood lesson plan, students use their problem-solving skills to make houses out of items they find outdoors.
Curated OER
"Polly"gon Pockets
Explore polygons with your elementary learners. Divide the class in 12 to configure the polygon puzzle before them. They list the attributes of each type of polygon they see, and if there's time, they jump on the interactive website...
Curated OER
Mapping a Site Using a Coordinate Plane
Learners map their playground as if it were an archeological site. They locate objects on the playground and determine their location using coordinate points. A related lesson is Coordinate Grid: Mapping an Archeological Site.
Curated OER
School Yard Waste
Fourth graders examine the types of garbage that they collect on the playground. They collect the information in a spreadsheet and create a graph that displays the number of types of trash found. They design and monitor a playground...
Curated OER
Stressed and Strained
Students explore stress and strength in engineering design. For this engineering lesson, students become familiar with terminology associated with stress and strain on building material. They will have a class discuss about how their...
Curated OER
Shape Hunt
Explore the world of shapes! After free tangram exploration and pair share time, learners describe various patterns and shapes in both the natural and designed world. They investigate the use of tangrams to create patterns and shapes.
Curated OER
100th Day of School
Young scholars participate in various motor skill activities while counting to 100. These activities are designed to go with the 100th day of school. They will complete various tasks such as jumping rope, tossing, running, and catching...
Illustrative Mathematics
Shape Hunt Part 1
The hunt is on! Send young mathematicians on a search for shapes in the first lesson of this two-part series. Each time a child finds a hidden shape, he draws it on his paper, and continues searching for the rest. Perform this activity...
Curated OER
GPS Art
Students design their own logo or picture and use a handheld GPS receiver to map it out. They write out a word or graphic on a field or playground, walk the path, and log GPS data. The results display their "art" on their GPS receiver...
Curated OER
Patchwork Math
Students recognize and identify shapes in their environment. They investigate why objects can be composed of several different shapes. They follow a pattern to recreate designs using various shapes.
Curated OER
Points on a Line
Get your learners up and moving, all while reviewing numbers on the number line! For this activity, learners are grouped in teams outdoors. The teacher will have already created number lines on the ground (with chalk, tape, etc.), and...
Curated OER
Lesson 2: Measurement Tools
Elementary schoolers examine the uses of rulers, scales, and measuring cups. They determine the criteria for the use of each tool and visit different areas of school to find items that can be measured with these tools. Everyone takes...