Purdue University
The Case of the Pilfered Pin: A Measurement Inquiry Activity
Who pilfered the pin? Scholars practice measurement skills as they solve the mystery of a stolen pin. They measure length, temperature, and mass and determine which of select suspects committed the crime. During the STEM hands-on...
Curated OER
The Shortest Line Mystery
Students calculate the shortest distance of various scenarios. In this algebra lesson, students interpret graphs of optimization problems. They use a graphing calculator to assist them in graphing and making predictions.
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Lesson 3: Graphing Ordered Pairs on a Coordinate Plane
Students study how to graph ordered pairs on a coordinate plane. After a teacher demonstration, students work together to complete problems. They explain and share their answers. As an activity, they solve a mystery story about the...
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Improving Deductive Reasoning Skills
Students develop a strategy list for problem solving by working with different types of problems. They recognize problems that may be solved using deductive reasoning and solve deductive reasoning problems.
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Oobleck and the Mystery Powders
Pupils listen to the book, "Oobleck," by Dr. Suess before experimenting with mystery powders. They determine the proper ratio of powder to liquid to make the Oobleck.
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Mystery Words - Part Two - School Terms
Students increase their vocabularies with the mystery words activity. For this vocabulary lesson, students solve the mystery words using clues.
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Super Science By Any Means Necessary!
The animated S2 Unit will use the adventures of a Super Hero and her sidekick to teach basic science and math concepts. Educators can use comic books, Saturday Morning Cartoons and the adventures of Super Heroes to teach a nine-week...
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Divisibility Rules
Sixth graders strengthen their knowledge of the divisibility rules. Students access that mental math can be faster than the calculator for certain types of problems.
Students can make generalizations and discover patterns in finding the...
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Adventure Into The World of Shapes
Students view Elmer Holtzrichter's work Mystery Planet and discuss basic shapes and patterns. They create their own collage. and discuss the patterning they created. Students demonstrate how this pattern would sound with clapping and...
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Secret Agent Stan
Young scholars answer time and money questions to solve a mystery. For this time and money lesson, students act as detectives to find Secret Agent Stan's identification number by answering questions from his logbook involving elapsed...
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Number-Line Squeeze
First graders investigate numerals and size by ranking different numbers based upon value. In this number sense instructional activity, 1st graders practice using the terms smaller, larger, less and more in order to organize numbers on a...
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Who Took the Cookies
Students find the missing cookies. In this language arts lesson, students solve the mystery of who is taking the cookies from the cookie jar. Students are read several books with the same mystery of cookies being taken from the jar.
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Order of Operations
Fourth graders develop an understanding of the order of operations by relating to putting on a sock and shoe. In this order of operations lesson, 4th graders a mnemonic device to complete math examples. Students can communicate the...
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Mystery Jars: Make Your Own
Students explore the concept of estimation. In this estimation lesson, students create their own estimation jars and fill them with objects of their choice. Students then count the exact number of objects and trade jars to...
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Methods of Mystery
Students utilize the scientific method to discover the age of an item. For this historical dating lesson, students compare and contrast a 400 year old cabinet to one made within a few years by using carbon dating. Students...
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Mystery Graphs
Learners study graphs and learn how to display information into a graph. In this graph lesson plan, students construct a graph of their own sorted data, and pick out things in graphs that are inconsistent.
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The Mystery of the Accelerating Race Car
Students define and discuss acceleration and how to compute acceleration. They observe examples of computing acceleration, and complete a worksheet using the correct formula.
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Women in Math
Students explore the concept of women in mathematics. In this women mathematicians lesson plan, students research the role of women in mathematics using books and the Internet.
Baylor College
What Dissolves in Water?
One of water's claims to fame is as the universal solvent. Young physical scientists experiment to discover which materials dissolve in this special compound. You could never be more prepared for teaching this lesson than by using this...
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An Archaeological Adventure in Athens
Learners review map skills and practice finding locations on a map. In groups, they create maps with mystery locations identified by hidden stick-on magnets. Other groups attempt to find the mystery locations and then check their work...
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Honing in on Hummingbirds
Students explore ruby-throated hummingbirds. In this cross-curricular hummingbirds instructional activity, students listen to the book The Mystery of the Missing Hummingbirds and choose related topics to research with a partner....
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Discovering the Magical Pi
Students calculate pi using data on the circumference and diameter of various objects. They define key vocabulary terms, measure the circumference and diameter of various circular objects, organize the data on a table or chart, and...
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Mathematical Reasoning
Ninth graders solve mathematical mysteries associated with a real life situation. In this ninth grade mathematics instructional activity, 9th graders choose a scenario from Real Life Math Mysteries by Mary Ford Washington and solve...
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Alien Invaders!
Students play math detectives and solve a series of story problems or word problems in order to finish an adventure. The activity connects math and reading while reinforcing critical thinking and problem-solving skills