PBS
Blow the Roof Off!
Blow the minds of young scientists with this collection of inquiry-based investigations. Based on a series of eight videos, these "hands-on, minds-on" science lessons engage young learners in exploring a wide range of topics from making...
Virginia Department of Education
Linear Modeling
An inquiry-based algebra instructional activity explores real-world applications of linear functions. Scholars investigate four different situations that can be modeled by linear functions, identifying the rate of change, as well as the...
101 Questions
Thanksgiving Taters
What would a meal be without the taters? The question is, how long does it take to peel those potatoes? Given the rate of peeling one potato, scholars predict the time it takes to peel the bag. The twist is that the first potato was...
Longwood University
How Can We Help Maintain Our Water Supply? Conserving Water
Make young citizens aware of their environmental impact early. An inquiry-based lesson helps learners analyze their own water usage patterns and understand the effects of their habits. Individuals look at data to spot trends and see how...
Space Awareness
What is Time?
Does it ever seem like time is slipping through your fingers? Model the passing of time with an hourglass activity in which individuals determine whether hourglasses are the most efficient way to measure time.
Curated OER
Symmetry in Paper Airplanes
Students explore symmetry. In this geometry and scientific inquiry lesson plan, students design paper airplanes with middle line symmetry, as well as right, obtuse, and acute angles. Students measure the plane's angles using a...
Curated OER
The Life Cycle of the Mealworm
Fourth graders provide a habitat for live mealworms and observe their life cycle. In this animal life cycle and scientific inquiry lesson, 4th graders create a habitat for a live mealworm and observe and record related data as it grows....
Curated OER
Is the Hudson River Too Salty to Drink?
Students explore reasons for varied salinity in bodies of water. In this geographical inquiry activity, students use a variety of visual and written information including maps, data tables, and graphs, to form a hypothesis as to why the...
Curated OER
Math Investigations Facilitation Plan
In this math lesson plan, learners choose a topic involving math that interests them to investigate or research. Students make a plan detailing how they will investigate their topic; such as, keeping track of plant heights over time,...
Curated OER
Chain Across the Hudson Lesson Plan A - Locating the Chain
Students read a letter from George Washington requesting them to identify on a map a location that would stop the advance of British warships. They choose a location and justify their choice.
Curated OER
Charts, Maps, and Graphs Lesson on the Holocaust
Students practice interpreting data. In this Holocaust lesson plan, students research selected Internet sources and examine charts, maps, and graphs regarding the Jewish populations in and out of Europe. Students respond to questions...
Curated OER
Summer Science Lesson Plans
You can use these lesson plans to incorporate some science into your summer.
Curated OER
Cold Hard Facts? What Inquiring Minds Will Know -- Inquiry-Based Ice Investigations
Students are introduced to the concepts of perimter, diameter, circumference and measurements. In groups, they complete two worksheets in which they determine if the ice dimensions make a difference in the way it floats. They discuss...
Curated OER
Physical Science: Festival of Bubbles
Investigate bubbles through the use of scientific inquiry. Pupils blow bubbles using several methods and measure the resulting bubble print. Measurements are recorded on a data table and transferred to a bar graph. Results are discussed...
Space Awareness
History of the Universe
Your pupils may believe that you and their parents are the oldest things in the universe, but surprise! There are elements of the universe that are even older. Elementary scientists create a class timeline to demonstrate the expansive...
Curated OER
Mathematical Jeopardy
Middle schoolers use the popular game of Jeopardy to explore different mathematical concepts. They are highly engaged with the use of technology for this lesson. They function using higher-order thinking skills in order to create their...
Curated OER
Budget Bonanza
Young scholars demonstrate how to use a budget plan. In this consumer math lesson, students calculate the total cost of data and determine if they are within budget. Young scholars use calculators to determine the total cost. There is a...
Curated OER
Questioning NASA
Space science and math collide in this inquiry that investigates launching times for antacid-tablet rockets! Upper elementary or middle school learners collect data as they launch these mini rockets. They apply concepts of place value...
Project Maths
Integral Calculus
From derivatives to antiderivatives and back again. Building on the second lesson of the three-part series covering functions, learners explore the concept of an antiderivative. They connect the concept to the graph of the function and...
Project Maths
Introduction to Quadratics
Develop conceptual knowledge of a quadratic equation and its solutions in your classes. The third algebra lesson in a series of four introduces learners to solving quadratic equations slowly. The first activity explores the zero product...
Curated OER
Multi-dimensional Modeling of Ore Bodies Making Sense of Empirical Data
Math scholars identify four different rock types in that strata and use this identification and data to construct a two dimensional geologic cross-section. They use data tables to construct a three-dimensional geologic cross-section.
Alabama Learning Exchange
Abundant Area
Explore the relationship between perimeter and area. Learners input the area and perimeter for shapes on the Shape Explorer website, solve problems using geoboards, complete a worksheet, create a PowerPoint presentation, and take an...
Curated OER
Fill the Number Grid
Patterns emerge as the class works together to fill in a number grid. This whole group activity is designed to make all learners feel successful, and ultimately turns into a instructional activity on the least common multiple.
Curated OER
Density - An Intrinsic Property
Learners discover the property of density while participating in a lab exercise. For this scientific measuring lesson, pupils utilize a scale to measure the density of different metal materials. They document their work and present their...