In this angular size and similar triangles worksheet, students use the properties of similar triangles and the ratios of sides to solve for unknowns in given diagrams.

High schoolers calculate the height of a tree or flagpole. They measure the shadow of the tree or flagpole and the length of a shadow of a meterstick. Using similar triangles, calculate the heigh. Devise two additional ways in which to...

The earth only revolves around one thing — and it's not any of your pupils. The instructional activity includes two activities dealing with the distance to the sun and the moon. First, scholars create a pin hole camera and use the rules...

Young scholars explore what the Bermuda triangle is and the theories as to why it is so mysterious.  In this mystery lesson students read and discuss the history and the mystery behind the Bermuda Triangle. 

In this nebula worksheet, students read about the Chandra X-ray Observatory that captured the given image of a pulsar and its nebula. Students solve 3 problems including using similar triangles and proportions to find the image width,...

How did ancient peoples determine the height of really tall objects? Young scientists and mathematicians explore the concept of using shadows to measure height in a hands-on experiment. Paired pupils measure shadows, then calculate the...

Learners use protractors, strings, and straws to construct a device used to determine the height of tall objects. In this applied geometry lesson, students use common objects to construct a tangent height guide. They use principles of...

Scientists don't have a ruler long enough to measure to the stars, so they rely on math. Scholars learn to calculate the distance from Earth to a star using the parallax method. They use angle measures from different perspectives to...

Learners pick a tree they see everyday. They measure the tree's circumference and estimate its height using similar triangles. Students are introduced to Computational Science. They use computers and calculators to compute values...

Engage in a shady activity to practice measurement techniques. Classes venture outside to collect measurements of various trees, using different strategies to measure the height, trunk circumference, width, and crown size. Then they...

Students investigate the physical properties of fire by creating storyboards.  In this elements lesson plan, students view a video clip of forest fires and identify the cause.  Students create large storyboards defining the...

Students use descriptive vocabulary to discuss the attributes of matter. Then, they sort objects or pictures by the type of matter they are comprised of. Finally, students match objects of matter with similar attributes and create a...

4th-5th graders will compete in a game similar to Jeopardy in which they answer questions from a variety of subject areas including science, language, and math. The questions are based on an extremely wide variety of topics, so would be...

Students create spider webs. For this spider webs lesson, students research various types of spider webs then write a report about  a spider of their choice.  Students also make their own web similar to an orb spider. 

The Kuril islands stretch from Japan to Russia, and the ongoing dispute about their jurisdiction prevents many scientific research studies. Scholars learn to create a topographic profile of a specific area around their schools. Then they...

A lamp, four globes, and some signs taped around the room are all you need to set up a solar system simulation for teaching how Earth's tilted axis creates the seasons. (Sticky dots are also needed, but not mentioned in the materials...

Bridge the gaps in your knowledge of bridges. Individuals learn about bridge types by building models. The activity introduces beam bridges, arch bridges, truss bridges, and suspension bridges.

Represent motion with arrows and call them vectors! The lesson is a presentation that models the mathematics involved when determining a resultant vector. It addrssses motions that are parallel, perpendicular, and a combination of...

Zero in on an interesting resource involving radar technology. Groups construct a radar sensing unit and learn to calibrate the system. Using the radar system and the Pythagorean Theorem, they calculate distances between objects.

So many shapes in our vast oceans. Young explorers can discover new shapes in a variety of ways in this lesson. One way is having free exploration with a pattern shape kit handed out by the teacher. Another is by viewing a...

Fourth graders design a classification system to categorize animate and inanimate objects. They discuss the advantages of grouping things as they classify buttons, leaves, shells.

In this stars rise in the east worksheet, students use geometry to show how the Earth rotates from west to east and why celestial bodies appear to rise in the east and set in the west. Students draw a figure and label given points in...

Students participate in an experiment to discover the properties of lift. They work together to complete calculations and collect data. They share their results with the class.

Learners examine the physical properties of matter. They identify and classify a variety of objects based on their physical properties.