Students analyze poetry. For this cultural perspectives lesson, students read the poem "Soccer Until Dusk" by Mark Brazaitis. Students analyze the poem and consider the cultural perspective it reveals.

What is an urban heat island? Middle school meteorologists find out by comparing temperatures at different locations on campus. They relate their findings to what might be happening in a concrete jungle and how it impacts local weather....

Learners determine the number of pennies needed to fill a room.  In this pennies lesson plan, students work in groups to determine the number of pennies needed to fill a room.  They compute the probability of the head of a pin...

Students examine data to investigate the impact of lead shot pellets on waterfowl populations. They graph their findings and discover how lead in ingested by birds and poisons them. As an extension, students research legislation and...

Students measure temperature and become aware the the temperature above and below the snow is different.  For this winter temperature lesson, students measure temperatures to find variation based on how the snow is packed. Students...

Learners calculate the surface area of different polygons. In this geometry lesson, students practice calculating the volume of spheres. They work with cones, cylinders and rectangular prisms.

Students identify and sketch the nets for sphere. In this geometry instructional activity, students differentiate between two and three dimensional shapes. They find the surface area of each sphere.

Students discover the relationship between the circumference of a circle and its diameter. They find the length of an arc of a circle.Students use estimation strategies in real-world applications to predict results (i.e., interpolation...

Introduce your class to map projections and coordinates, the basics for the work done in a GIS, with an activity that uses Google Earth to challenge learners to think about the earth's shape. 

Don't stuff money under your mattress. To find out why learners first complete a task determining how $24,000 in cash would affect the height of a mattress and whether this same amount would fit into a suitcase of given dimensions....

Polygon ... an empty bird cage? After finding the angles of a polygon, young mathematicians use the provided methods to solve the problem in multiple ways.

Fifth graders investigate mathematical concepts related to the construction of a three dimensional cube. They construct the cube from two dimensional patterns and compute the surface area. Students also define the faces, edges, and...

Students create nets of cylinders. In this geometry lesson, students calculate the surface area of cylinders and other solids. They show their understanding of three-dimensional shapes by solving problems.

Students calculate the area of triangles using a variety of materials including computer applets.

Students demonstrate geometric relationships of finding area of rectangles and squares. They apply determine the quantity of paint needed to cover the area by using the concept of quantity.

Students design a collage of pictures for a yearbook that make a shape. They determine the area of the shape and the price of putting the collage in the yearbook.

Compare surface temperatures when the solstice occurs in the different hemispheres. Young scientists draw conclusions from their investigation of data collected using spreadsheets and a globe.

Ever heard of a stygofauna or a stygobite? How about an anchialine cave? Set your young biologists on a quest to find information about organisms that live in and have adapted to life in caves located near the water. Class members then...

Middle schoolers use satellite data to compare precipitation and surface temperatures on different islands.  In this satellite lesson students create graphs and explain the differences between weather and climate. 

To go or to not to go — the question for a mission to Mars. This resource provides details for a possible manned mission to Mars. Details include a launch schedule, what life would be like on the surface, and how the astronauts would...

How can organisms light up in water? Bioluminescence is light produced in a chemical reaction that can occur in an organism's body. First, learners determine what happens to light/color as you move into the deep ocean. In groups, they...

Learn about polar bears and the Arctic circle with a lesson about the countries and conditions of the region. After examining how the area differs from Antarctica, kids explore climates, animals, and geographical position...

Open learners' eyes to the challenge of finding safe drinking water – something we often take for granted in our country. The PowerPoint presentation includes images, graphs, diagrams, and even a video to stimulate discussion on how we...

Let's go fly a kite ... oops, a paper airplane! The 13th segment in an aviation unit of 22 relates the parts of an airplane to paper airplanes. Pupils learn the functions of the control surfaces of a plane to really make their knowledge...