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Slippery Slope
Middle schoolers use a computer to complete activitites about slope. They find the slope of mountains, roofs, and stairs using rise over run. Pupils are shown different types of slopes and have to identify if the slope is positive,...
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Graph Paper Patterns
Young artists divide a piece of graph paper into sections using rectangles, squares, and triangles. They then fill each section with patterns of shape and color. Elementary graders describe how their patterns are organized. Secondary...
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Irregular Word Accuracy, Word Relay Race!
Ready, set, go! Practice irregular words by playing a relay race game. Start by dividing your class into two teams of four or five kids. They line up in front of their team's bucket of words and pick out a word from the bucket and...
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Food Pyramid Abacus
Students investigate the Food Pyramid by constructing a creative project known as a Food Pyramid Abacus. They correlate the color beads withe each food group and the number of recommended servings from each. The abacus is a learning tool...
SeaWorld
Polar Animals
Young scientists explore some of the scientific equipment that is used by explorers during expeditions to the North or South Pole. Then, they have a relay race! All of the equipment is lined up at a spot 25 yards away from the lines. The...
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Count on Me
Fourth graders use inductive reasoning to find algebraic patterns in geometric figures. They use technology (i.e., calculators, computers) and manipulatives to discover number patterns involving geometric concepts. They solve concrete...
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"I am a pirate with a wooden leg": Stomping Iambic Pentameter
What is blank verse? Iambic pentameter? Meter? Use the attached document to review these ideas with your middle schoolers. This plan has learners get up and stomp to iambic pentameter, which is a fun change from just clapping the...
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Nascar Unit Activity 2
Eighth graders divide into groups of 4 or 5. They go to the track and have every student run/walk one lap around the school track. Call out their times as they cross the finish line. In the computer lab, have the students create a table...
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Class Books
Students brainstorm a list of personal information based on a variety of categories. After writing positive comments on their classmates, they spilt into two groups with one entering the information into a database and the other...
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Poetry Beyond Words: Creating Poetry with Linguistically Diverse Students
Models of and directions for how to write 20 different types of poems are featured in an NCTE resource. The introduction to each form highlights the embedded concepts. For example, tongue twisters encourage poets to use alliteration and...
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Popcorn Fractions
Upper graders explore fractions to determine a fractional part of a whole. They are given 30 pieces of popcorn and asked to divide it into halves, thirds, etc. Students practice representing the popcorn groups as a numerator and...
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Spell, Shoot, Score!
Games are great ways to motivate. The class is split into two teams; each team earns points by correctly spelling given words. To score bonus points, teams get to shoot baskets with a small ball. Tip: This game could be used to reinforce...
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100 Questions
Gather around to play a game! Middle and high schoolers answer questions (provided here) using various reference materials. Bring encyclopedias and other reference materials to class, as each group has limited Internet access! An answer...
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It's All In How You Look At It
Students work collaboratively to create artistic renderings of digital photographs using a color value scale and grid techniques in this late-elementary school lesson based upon Ted Rose's book Discovering Drawing. The lesson includes a...
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Shadow Casting
Eighth graders use a meter stick that is placed on a horizontal surface and an object is moved along it so that the shadow length can be measured at different distances from the light source. They solve real-world problems involving...
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Add or Subtract Whole Numbers Up to 1000
Elementary schoolers solve practice problems on the board and are shown how to line up the numbers for addition. They solve various addition problems in small groups. Everyone continues the same process for solving subtraction problems.
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Mars Fraction Hunt
Students use fractions and words to find a coded message and the first student to solve the message wins a candy bar.
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Vive Le Quebec Libre!
Students use video, the Internet and CD-ROM's to investigate the cultural and linguistic traditions of Quebec, Canada. They identify the reasons behind the secession from Canada movement.
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Forces and Motion
Fourth graders study straight line motion and the forces that affect motion, including the terms force, gravity, and speed. They determine that gravity, weight, and other forces have an effect on speed and motion.
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Degrees Of Meaning
Introduce the idea of a word and its synonyms having different degrees of meaning. Each individual chooses a word that he or she wants to work with and fills out the included worksheet using a thesaurus. Consider having a word bank of...
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Word Review Card Activity
Pupils play a card game where they match the meaning of the word to the word or its prefix/suffix. They listen for the teacher to call out the definition and, with two players facing off, the first one to slap the correct card wins! Kids...
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You Know the Answer: Math Riddle
Although the riddle is an outdated political reference, this math challenge is a good practice in operations and domain-specific vocabulary. Learners complete 18 problems, using multiplication, division, subtraction, and addition. Some...
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Probability: The Study of Chance
Students conduct an experiment, determine if a game is fair, and collect data. They interpret data, then display line graph. They conduct analysis of game for probability.
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Wetland Pictionary
Students create a game for reviewing vocabulary. They make cards with definitions of the words. Then the cards are used to play the game of Pictionary or a modified game. The teacher could have the students generate their own game in...