Learners research how roller coasters work. In this physics lesson, learners research the history of roller coasters and the safety factors in the design of a roller coaster on the website www.learner.org/exhibits/parkphysics. They...

Students working in small groups will build tractors. They must design a tractor that is able to pull various weights.

Students explore aquariums. In this fish and ecosystems lessons, students establish a freshwater aquarium environment using materials provided. Students read about and care for the classroom fish.

Pupils explore the current plan by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg to retain underperforming third graders in public schools. They research and debate social promotion versus retention.

Middle schoolers build their own tower using concepts from previous lessons. They are given a set of materials to use and general guidelines. They share what they have created with their classmates.

Middle schoolers investigate the force of compression and how it acts on structural components through a hands-on group project. They use everyday products such as paper, toothpicks, and tape to construct a structure that will support...

Middle schoolers construct model landfill liners out of two-inch strips of garbage bags within resource constraints. The challenge is to construct a bag that will hold one cup of water without leaking. This represents similar challenges...

Students examine porosity and permeability and relate these concepts to groundwater flow. They use simple materials to conduct a porosity experiment and use the information to understand how environmental engineers decide on the...

Students dissamble and analyze the spring system of a click pen. They analyze a cross-section worksheet, dissamble the pens, fill in the missing parts of the cross-section diagram, and write a description of how the pen works.

As an experiment is demonstrated for them, young scholars write down their observations and brainstorm questions that can help them understand what they saw. After watching the experiment again—which demonstrates a soda can collapsing...

Eighth graders construct a car out of a block of basswood.  In this car lesson students research, design and construct their own cars.

Students examine the concepts of porosity and permeability. They conduct experiments to determine the porosity and permeability of gravel, sand, and clay. After performing the experiments they collect and graph data, comparing the...

Students make calculations in order to construct a kite in the shape of an isosceles right triangle. In this kite lesson students calculate altitude of their flying kites using a formula.

Learners investigate Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences. In this research based activity, students compare theories of intelligences and examine the implications of using these theories in schools and society.

Seventh graders discuss how energy is transformed from one form to another. In this physics lesson, 7th graders design and build their own hydro generator. They identify the factors that affect its energy production.

Learners examine how a consumer can make informed choices. They visit stores with a prepared shopping list, record the prices on a spreadsheet, create graphs, and create a Powerpoint presentation comparing the total cost of stores and a...