Teach Engineering
Linear Regression of BMD Scanners
Objects may be more linear than they appear. Scholars investigate the relationship between the number of bone mineral density scanners in the US and time. Once they take the natural logarithm of the number of scanners, a linear...
Teach Engineering
Light Intensity Lab
Let there be light. The last installment of a seven-part series has pupils conduct an experiment on light attenuation through different numbers of transparency sheets. They then relate the results back to how X-rays measure bone density.
Teach Engineering
Let's Take a Spin: One-Axis Rotation
Investigate the effect of one-axis rotations on geometric figures. Scholars learn to use snap cubes and the right-hand rule to draw figures after rotations about the x-, y-, or z-axes. They try their hands at examples created by the...
Teach Engineering
Efficiency of an Electromechanical System
How efficient is a motor in a LEGO set? Future engineers conduct an activity where a LEGO motor-generator system raises an object to a specified height. They then show what they learned and use their measurements to calculate the energy...
Teach Engineering
Egg Drop
Don't drop the ball on the resource ... drop an egg instead! A teacher-led demonstration has the class consider how to drop eggs into glasses when a tray is in the way. Hint: If you've ever seen a magician pull a tablecloth off a table,...
Teach Engineering
Live Like an Animal
When your parents say that your room's a pig sty, tell them about biomimicry. The sixth installment of a nine-part Life Science unit has scholars research the shelters used by animals in the natural world, like turtle shells. Using the...
Teach Engineering
Design Inspired by Nature
Let nature guide your engineering designs. By taking apart a flower, pupils learn about reverse engineering. They use the results to brainstorm designs for new products or ideas. This is the seventh installment of a nine-part Life...
Teach Engineering
Extinction Prevention via Engineering
It's time to save endangered species through engineering. The third lesson in a nine-part Life Science unit has young environmentalists study species extinction. An engaging discussion leads to some ideas on how to use engineering design...
Teach Engineering
Messin' with Mixtures
Do you separate your trail mix before eating it? Then you've been separating mixtures your whole life! Scholars model a contaminated soil sample using trail mix and estimate the percentage of each component. They consider how to clean up...
Teach Engineering
Maximum Mentos Fountain
A messy fountain is potentially an energy experiment in disguise. Groups investigate the variables in creating a fountain from soda and Mentos. The last activity in a six-part series on energy has the class observe the fountain in terms...
Illinois Valley Community College
STEM Activities for Middle School Students
Use STEM activities within the class to provide connections to concepts. The resource includes activities that range from working with buoyancy to building rockets and launching them. Other activities involve the engineering design...
Curated OER
Angles - Unlocking Geometry
Students investigate the concept of angles and how they are used in geometry. They construct polygons using various types of angles and then classify them according to their physical properties. Students use a computer program in order...
Curated OER
What's Shaking? Three-Lesson Unit
Your young architects use the Internet to research tall structures or sky scrapers to help in the design of their scale drawings. This is lesson one of three in which learners design, build, and test model skyscrapers for seismic safety....
Curated OER
Hurricanes on Track
Fifth graders develop a questionnaire to investigate weather in different part of the US. They investigate how weather in one part of the country affects weather in another part. They predict the development of hurricanes.
Curated OER
Will the Leaning Tower Fall?
Students research the Tower of Pisa and write a report about its history. They examine the physics of why it leans and whether it might fall. Students plan a trip to Italy to view the Tower. They develop an itinerary and budget for the...
Curated OER
Virtual Field Trip
Are we there yet? Young trip planners learn about their state and plan a trip. They will select sites to see in three cities in their state, and record associated costs in a spreadsheet. While this was originally designed as a...
Curated OER
Student Census
Learners collect data from their peers and store the information in a database. As students manage the information they realize the usefulness of a database as a tool to manage large amounts of information in an efficient and accurate...
Curated OER
Decimal Multiplication
Students use base ten blocks to lead them in the concept of understanding multiplying numbers with decimals. In this multiplication of decimals lesson plan, students also use digital activities to help them with the multiplication.
Curated OER
Geometric Figures and Applications
High schoolers study geometric figures. They use graph paper or Geometer's Sketchpad to construct and decorate geometric shapes, and also create a 3-D polygon using construction paper and a given template.
Curated OER
Time Management
Students record their daily activities and graph the results using the educational software program called Inspiration. This lesson is intended for the upper-elementary classroom and includes resource links and activity extensions.
Curated OER
Weather, Weather, Everywhere!
Sixth graders collect weather data to compare temperatures around the world. Using the Internet, learners collect data, put it into spreadsheets, and analyze and graph the results. An interesting way to cover the topic of weather.
Curated OER
Basic Multiplication Facts - MathKeys Software
Learners explore multiplication concepts. In this multiplication lesson, students define "array" and draw several arrays to represent multiplication number sentences. Learners construct arrays on the computer using MathKeys...
Curated OER
Symmetry and Geometric Shapes on Campus
Build on your learners' previous knowledge of geometric shapes and symmetrical figures. Then set them out to take photos of geometric shapes on campus. They assess whether the photos contain symmetry or not.
Curated OER
Try a Money Bee for a "Change"
Students take the spelling bee format and adapt it to provide practice in making change and work on their money skills. They simulate the process of making purchases with money and making change as necessary to complete the purchase.