Resources for Educators
Math & Science Connection
Whether you're using a collection of Dr. Seuss books to teach basic math skills like counting, adding, and subtracting, or exploring the different states of matter by melting a crayon with a hairdryer, a series...
Curated OER
Patterns in Nature
Research patterns in nature which illustrate biological and mathematical concepts. Your class will discover and explore aspects of fractals, Fibonaccis numbers, whale and butterfly migration patterns, whale identification, flower...
Curated OER
Patterns
Students create and extend patterns. In this pattern lesson, students learn to identify patterns using multiple senses. Students work at centers in small groups to explore and extend their understanding of patterns.
Curated OER
Planetary Place Value
Third graders explore place value to the ten thousands place. This incredibly thorough, 24-page lesson has learners construct, order, and compare numbers to 9,999. This three-day lesson includes reteaching and extension activities...
Curated OER
Leaf Patterns
First graders explore the existence of patterns in everyday items. In this science and math integrated lesson plan, 1st graders match leaves with a name word card and organize them into four patterns. This lesson plan includes a reading...
Curated OER
It's All in the Pattern
Here is a fantastic, nine-page, multi-session lesson plan on the Zia Sun Symbol (found on the New Mexico state flag), and the seasons of the Earth. Everything you need to implement the lesson is here, and the many engaging activities are...
Ahisma Summer Institute
The Power of One - Math in a Different Angle
In this 2-day lesson focused on exponents, middle schoolers will cross the curriculum by engaging in science, history and language arts activities. Exponential growth will be explored using grains of rice on a chess board. Exponential...
Curated OER
Fibonacci Numbers
Students calculate the Fibonacci sequence of numbers. Through the use of Fibonacci numbers in flowers, leaves, fruits, vegetables, pine cones, and other forms of nature; students explore how Fibonacci numbers occur in nature. Then they...
Curated OER
It Has Been Rubbish For Years
Students are presented with the problems of percentages and focus upon numbers in contrast to 100. They calculate problems with money and are engaged with the use of games as a teaching tool. Students also interpret data as presented in...
Curated OER
Integrating Math and Science
Student understanding of math concepts improves when math is integrated with science!
Curated OER
What Goes Up Must Come Down!!
Fifth graders look at actual sunrise and sunset times for their hometown to determine a pattern in the amount of daylight. They collect their data in Excel and create a chart to help them identify the pattern, then write an explanation...
Curated OER
Applications of the Pythagorean Theorem - Magnetism
Middle and high schoolers use the Pythagorean Theorem to complete a table showing with the magnetic field strengths in given cities. They find the average value of the Earth's magnetic field and plot one of the three-dimensional values...
NASA
Food For Thought
Science can be quite tasty. A delectable unit from NASA shows learners why it's important to consider food, nutrition, and health in space. Four lessons explore the idea in great depth, including testing cookie recipes. Along the way,...
Curated OER
Patterns in Nature
Students learn about artist Larry Schulte and view examples of his work. They create addition sentence for the first seven numbers of the fibonacci sequence and use unifix cubes to build that sentences. Students color and create three...
Curated OER
I Am Golden
Middle schoolers become familiar with patterns, the Fibonacci Sequence, and the Golden Ratio. They see how many places these occur. They have practical applications for using the calculator and making charts to extend patterns.
University of Colorado
Are All Asteroids' Surfaces the Same Age?
Did you know scientists can tell the age of an asteroid by looking closely at its craters? This final lesson of a six-part series focuses on two asteroids, Gaspra and Ida, in order to demonstrate the concept of dating asteroids. Scholars...
Curated OER
Estimation and Pattern Discovery
Students collect sunflower heads from their community garden. They estimate its seed count using different strategies. They graph their estimations on a graph and use calculators to find the actual total.
Curated OER
Finding Fibonacci
Students study and apply the Fibonacci numbers and how they occur in nature. Students solve problems using the Fibonacci numbers.
Curated OER
Get a Leg Up
Traveling through space is an amazing experience, but it definitely takes a toll on the body. After reading an article and watching a brief video, learners perform an experiment that simulates the effects of zero gravity on the...
Curated OER
Proportionality: Modeling the Future
Students explore and examine how patterns, measurement, ratios and proportions are utilized in the research development and production of airplanes. They meet a pilot from the Federal Aviation Association who describes the growth of air...
Curated OER
It's the Law: Periodically
Ninth graders examine the Periodic Table. In this element lesson, 9th graders observe the chemical reactivity of elements. They graph the properties and discuss the trend in the group and period of elements. The students use math to...
NASA
Benford's Law
In this Benford's Law learning exercise, high schoolers read about the first digit frequency of numbers. Students solve 3 problems about sunspot numbers, solar wind magnetism and the depth of the latest earthquakes by using on line sites...
Curated OER
How Tall is that Tree?
Students apply their math skills to develop an accurate estimate of the height of a tall tree. Three different methods are outlined. All grade levels should be able to perform the shadow method and the proportional method.
Curated OER
Is the Hudson River Too Salty to Drink?
Students explore reasons for varied salinity in bodies of water. In this geographical inquiry lesson plan, students use a variety of visual and written information including maps, data tables, and graphs, to form a hypothesis as to why...