Chicago Botanic Garden
Historical Climate Cycles
Scientists use ice core samples to obtain temperatures of the earth from 400,000 years ago! The third of five lessons instructs pupils to interpret historical climate data to see changes over time. In part I, participants interpret...
Cornell University
Casting
Don't cast a great hands-on resource aside! Scholars learn about the process of casting by actually trying out an example. Plaster of Paris and cookie cutter molds help them complete the activity.
Virginia Department of Education
The Rate of Motion
How much time does it take to jump over three balloons? Pupils calculate the speed of tasks that require different motions. They determine motions for tasks such as walking, skipping, hopping, and jumping before creating a...
NASA
Cleaning Water
Give young scientists a new appreciation of fresh, clean drinking water. After learning about the ways astronauts recycle their air and water, your class will work in small groups creating and testing their very own water...
NASA
Cleaning Water
From their sweat to the water vapor in their breath, astronauts recycle every possible drop of water while in space. After watching a short video describing the different ways materials are recycled and reused in space...
Curated OER
Button Bonanza
Collections of data represented in stem and leaf plots are organized by young statisticians as they embark some math engaging activities.
Mathed Up!
Area of Compound Shapes
Scholars learn how to determine the area of compound shapes by finding the areas of the basic shapes that make it up. Pupils find the areas by adding areas together or subtracting them.
Bowland
Three of a Kind
One is chance, two is a coincidence, three's a pattern. Scholars must determine similarities and differences of a regular hexagon undergoing dilation. They look at lengths, angles, areas, and symmetry.
NOAA
Wet Maps
How do oceanographers make maps under water? Junior explorers discover the technologies and processes involved in creating bathymetric maps in part three of a five-part series designed for fifth- and sixth-grade pupils. The...
NOAA
Through Robot Eyes
How do robots assist ocean explorers in collecting data and images? The final installment in a five-part series has science scholars examine underwater images collected by robots and identify the organisms shown. Groups then calculate...
Exploratorium
Oil Spot Photometer
Are these two light sources the same? Groups use a white card and a little cooking oil to create a photometer that allows for the comparison of two lights. The Inverse Square Law provides a way to calculate the actual difference in...
EngageNY
The Distance from a Point to a Line
What is the fastest way to get from point A to line l? A straight perpendicular line! Learners use what they have learned in the previous lessons in this series and develop a formula for finding the shortest distance from...
Discovery Education
Weathering Cubes
Weathering is not necessarily a result of the weather. Scholars conduct an experiment to explore the effect of surface area and volume on the weathering process. They create their own sugar cube rocks using the same number of cubes—but...
Curated OER
Conversions: Metrics Made Easy
Students convert standard units of measurement to metric units using tape measures, meter sticks, rulers, and online conversion calculators.
Curated OER
Learning the Letters
Students identify the letters of the alphabet. In this letters lesson, students use an iPad to play games, draw pictures, and listen to videos about the alphabet. They use pipe cleaners to create their name.
Curated OER
Math is Everywhere: Part 2
Second graders identify shapes and measurements in everyday life. In this measurement lesson, 2nd graders locate rectangles in their classroom and use standard and nonstandard forms to measure them. Students view a video clip...
Curated OER
Perimeter
Learners use their hands, feet, computer, and rulers to measure the perimeter of objects. For this measurement lesson plan, students measure objects around the room and computer generated shapes.
Curated OER
Jumping Jaguars!
Second graders accurately measure the distances they and their classmates jump. They determine the mean, median and mode of specific jumps. They are required to have two measurements for each classmate, one for standing long jump and one...
Curated OER
Any Nook or Cranny
Students create a reading nook. In this measurement lesson, students find a spot in the classroom to turn into a reading nook. They need to measure how much space they need to fit students and supplies into their nook.
Curated OER
Weather
Second graders study the basic components of weather. They construct a thermometer and anemometer to measure temperatures, precipitation, and wind speed. In addition, 2nd graders discover how to find these components on weather maps.
Curated OER
How Much is a Million?
Fifth graders explore the relationship between customary and metric units of measurement. Through discussion and hands-on activities, they discover how units of measurement are related. Students create a millions book to aid in their...
Curated OER
Reflection Experiments
Seventh graders investigate with light rays. In this light activity, 7th graders determine the angle of reflection using simple materials. They continue the investigation by exploring the theory that light which is not reflected or...
Curated OER
CSI, Second Grade Style
Second graders conduct a classroom investigation. In this investigative lesson, 2nd graders spend their time observing, measuring, and collecting data. They simulate a forensic science lab by conducting a fingerprint, scent, footprint,...
Curated OER
Art and the Golden Ration
Students manipulate several metric measuring devices to become competent in their use. Students work cooperatively to complete a worksheet based on the Golden Ration. Students observe example of sculptures from different cultures and...