Exploratorium
Life Size - Explore the Size and Scale of Microscopic Biology
Compare sizes of microscopic items. Given a set of labels of microscopic objects, pupils try to place them in order from smallest to largest. Scholars then compare their lists to the actual comparisons along with the measurements of the...
Curated OER
Labeling Forces Correctly!
Define six common forces: propulsion, air resistance, water resistance, friction, gravity, and upthrust. A picture of a Smart Car is displayed with arrows showing all of the forces acting on it when it is motion. A picture of a rubber...
Curated OER
Measuring to the Nearest Foot
Second graders measure and record the length of five different objects around the room. They watch as the teacher measures items using a ruler. A ruler is a foot long. Everyone listens and watches as the teacher continues to teach that a...
Curated OER
Three Gorges Dam: Will China Sink or Swim?
Seventh graders study the Three Gorges Dam, which is the largest dam built in the world. They examine how the dam impacts China as it prepares for the 21st century.
Curated OER
How Big Is Your Head?
Students explore measurement by measuring classmates' heads. They record their measurements and they put the measurements in order from smallest to largest. Students figure the mean, median, mode, maximum, minimum, and range of their...
Curated OER
Dinosaurs and Classification
Second graders explore dinosaurs and identify them by their size. They compare the dinosaurs with objects around the school or on the playground. Students predict which dinosaurs are the largest and then measure the length of dinosaurs.
Curated OER
Volume of Rectangular Prisms
Introduce the procedure needed to find the volume of a rectangular prism. Learners rank various prisms such as cereal boxes and tissue boxes from smallest to largest volume. They use an applet to find the volume and surface area of each...
Curated OER
All Kinds of Numbers
Count and compare numbers and fractions using "greater than" and "less than." Learners count on by 2s and 10s and represent the end number with base ten blocks, counters, and cups. They use circle stickers to illustrate fractions and...
Curated OER
Castles On The Ground (2D & 3D Shapes)
Explore the relationship between 2D and 3D shapes by having your class view representation of shapes and investigate their symmetry. They will create a solid object from diagrams and describe the reflection or rotational symmetry. In the...
Curated OER
Measuring Perimeter
Have your class practice measuring the perimeter of various objects using this resource. Fifth graders place various-sized polygons in order (from largest to smallest). They use non-standard measuring tools to estimate the distance...
Curated OER
The Castle
Students build a castle to Ravi's design using the cubes. Students then make an original model of a solid object from diagrams which show views from the top, front, side and back. Students describe the reflection of rotational symmetry...
Curated OER
Step Into My Shoes
Students order their classmates from smallest to largest foot length. In this ordering their classmates from smallest to largest foot length lesson, students trace each of their classmates foot. Students read a story called, 'How Big...
Curated OER
Linear Motion 6
In this linear motion worksheet, students answer 12 questions about acceleration, velocity and distance traveled. They interpret diagrams and indicate the location of an object if it has positive, negative or no acceleration. They...
Curated OER
Space Science
Eighth graders study the objects in our solar system. In this space lesson students identify and describe planets, then classify them as terrestrial or gaseous.
Curated OER
The Stellar Magnitude Scale
In this stellar magnitude scale instructional activity, students use a scale showing the magnitude of objects in the sky to answer 5 questions about the brightness of the moon, the planets and stars.
Curated OER
What is the Evidence for Evolution?
Middle schoolers identify one object that would tell the story of their lives. In groups, they determine what can and cannot be told from objects left behind. After watching a video, they compare and contrast chicken bones to human...
Curated OER
Motion Experiment
Students experiment with the laws of motion. For this motion lesson, students explore Newton's Laws of Motion. Students work in groups experimenting with different objects and observing different types of motion.
101 Questions
Sticky Stickies
Don't let your classes get stuck on area calculations—grab their attention with an inquiry-based lesson! Scholars must develop a plan to determine how may sticky notes it takes to cover the surface of a door. They decide on the...
Curated OER
Operations with Decimal Numbers
Sixth graders demonstrate operations with decimal numbers. In this computation lesson, 6th graders play the game "Diabolical Decimals." The objects of this game is to construct the largest number after rolling a die five times. The...
Curated OER
The Louis Vuitton Project, using 3rd degree equations
Learners model three-dimensional objects using cubes. In this geometry lesson, students calculate the volume and derived the amount mathematically. They use different objects to create two and three-dimensional objects.
Curated OER
Estimation and Approximation
In this estimation and approximation learning exercise, students estimate multiplication and division problems containing decimals. They measure given objects, determine the possible error, the lower bound and the upper bound. Students...
Curated OER
How Small is Small?
Students view the video "The Invisible World" and discuss different types of microscopes and what can be seen with each type. They work in pairs to view several objects with a microscope.
Curated OER
Lattice Method of Multiplication Variances
Students explore the lattice method of mulitplication variances through the game "Multiplication Wrestling." They view a model of how to play the game and play three rounds, recording their patterns and discussing the strategies used to...
Curated OER
Measurement
Students investigate the relationship between metric length measurement and English length measurement units. They watch a demonstration of the use of centimeter and millimeter rulers before practicing using the Ladder technique to...