Space Awareness
Coma Cluster of Galaxies
Scientists classify everything from the smallest cells to the largest galaxies, but how do they decide on a classification system? Scholars use 40 pictures of galaxies taken by the Hubble Space Telescope to sort and try creating their...
PBS
Stories of Painkiller Addiction: Commitment to Recovery
Recovery from substance addiction is an ongoing process. The final lesson in a series about painkiller abuse and addiction prompts learners to research various recovery options before writing a short story about a character who is going...
Space Awareness
The Thermal Layers of Oceans
How much does the sun heat up a lake or ocean? Scholars use a cup and a strong lamp to investigate the heat transfer and thermal layers in the ocean to come up with the answer. They collect data and graph it in order to better understand...
Space Awareness
Oceans as a Heat Reservoir
Oceans absorb half of the carbon dioxide and 80 percent of the greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere. Scholars learn how and why the oceans store heat more effectively than land and how they help mitigate global warming. Pupils...
Space Awareness
The Engine of Life
There is a specific zone, or distance from a star, that a planet must be in order to have water in a liquid form. The activity demonstrates how flux density depends on its distance from the source. A photovoltaic cell gets power to...
Space Awareness
Continental Climate and Oceanic Climate
There's nothing better than a cool breeze blowing in from the ocean. Scholars explore how water affects change in temperature using a hands-on experiment on climate. They use measurement tools to compare the continental and oceanic...
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum
Red States/Blue States: Mapping the Presidential Election
Young historians investigate how voting patterns have changed by comparing the outcome of the 1960 election to the outcome of the recent election. A creative final assessment has participants making a news show wherein they provide...
Boston Symphony Orchestra
The Elements of Music—How do Composers Plan?
The introduction to Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake and the finale of his Symphony No. 4 provide young musicians with an opportunity to investigate the music elements composers employ to develop the themes they want to create. They compare the...
Space Awareness
Model of a Black Hole
Even light cannot leave the force of a black hole! Learners use a model to explore the gravitational force of a black hole. An elastic bandage and heavy ball serve to create the hole, while marbles become the victims of its strong force.
Curated OER
Experiencing "Romeo and Juliet"
Ninth graders read and analyze the William Shakespeare play "Romeo and Juliet" and compare it to the 1996 modern version of the play and the movie "West Side Story." They write an essay comparing and contrasting the three versions.
Federal Reserve Bank
What Really Caused the Great Depression?
Falling wages. Rising unemployment. Falling prices. Sound familiar? Young economists look at the role the US banking system had in causing the Great Depression.
Curated OER
Fourths of Sets
Learners create a set of cards that represent factors of four and use these cards to play a game in which they practice separating numbers into fourths. They first practice separating numbers into fourths with a projected computer...
Curated OER
If You Were Katy: Let's Play a Game
Students simulate sound effects from Katy and the Big Snow. They read and discuss Katy and the Big Snow, create sound effects for the objects in the book and practice sounding out beginning sounds for words. After sounding out the words,...
Curated OER
Create a Book About Your Town
Students explore how to create books about their towns. They read and discuss Katy and the Big Snow to identify how it relates to their community. They identify environmental print and its importance in early readers. They create books...
Curated OER
Using a Graphic Organizer to Critically Observe Televised News Broadcasts
Students compare two television news broadcasts. They discuss how to organize information when comparing two objects and read and discuss two books to create a Venn diagram to compare both books. After creating the diagram, they view...
Curated OER
Picture Word Book
Students create a book. In this vocabulary and word identification lesson, students make a book by gluing pictures on construction paper, then the teacher writes words in the book to label each picture.
Curated OER
Why Ask WHY???!!!!!!
Young scholars participate in a reading literacy lesson with the goal of improving reading comprehension. They practice asking meaningful questions about different types of texts. The practice of asking questions helps students connect...
Curated OER
Math: Football League Statistics
Young scholars examine a soccer league final standings chart and then answer 12 questions based on the information provided. They calculate some answers in both fractions and percentages.
Curated OER
Simple Machine Research
Fifth graders demonstrate the ability to use scientific skills and Processes to describe forces that act upon objects to cause specific changes in motion. They identify and describe a science problem related to forces and simple machines.
Curated OER
Scavenger Hunt
Fourth graders demonstrate the ability to locate, retrieve and handle media and equipment. They compose a written discourse to inform. They participate in a library media center scavenger hunt.
Curated OER
Random Album Covers
Young scholars design a random album cover. In this album design lesson, students display their photo manipulation skills as they make a cover for an album. They examine covers of albums from classic bands before designing their own.
Curated OER
Phonemic Awareness Infusion
Students explore and describe various kinds of work experiences and skills practicing the regular past tense -ed sounds. They practice pronouncing those sounds with verbs within their reading passages as well. In addition, they repeat...
Curated OER
Horseshoe Crab Fun
Marine biology masters will meet the horseshoe crab and red knot shore birds that feast upon the crab eggs. Begin with a discussion and then have learners write postcards from each animal detailing their migration trips. A few math...
Curated OER
Keep Finding the Positive
Fifth graders discuss how a positive self-image can improve their school community. In groups, they are given a set of card in which they examine the role of each. After being given the presenter card, they create a collage about their...