Water with varying amounts of dissolved salt are dyed and then used to compare densities. The objective is to discover the effect of salinity, and therefore density, on ocean water on the stability of the ocean. Many branches of science...

This lesson is intended for a music class but would be a great way to teach compare and contrast to any class. Kindergarteners dance the Hokey Pokey to four different styles of music and examine two paintings of Humpty Dumpty, then...

Young scholars collaborate in groups to read excerpts or entire selections from two Harry Potter books, use educational software to create concept maps detailing similarities and differences between first two Harry Potter books, and...

Kids make big artistic gestures, just like the abstract artist, Lisa Signal. They use her work as inspiration for making simplistic, abstract, statements in an artistic way. They analyze her work, then walk through an unfamiliar...

Middle schoolers work on summarizing a story, and they determine if it is a legend, a myth, or a fable. Working in groups to read and summarize stories, they then list evidence whether the tale is a myth, fable, or...

Combine your pupils' love of music with their growing knowledge of poetry! First, have them bring in their favorite songs for a discussion on word choice and literary devices. Then, use a Venn Diagram to compare and contrast the...

Guided reading questions can keep kids focused. Here they read about Mayan Civilization and then answer 9 fill-in-the-blank questions. They must use evidence from their readings to support their answers. The activity includes 3...

These four lesson plans build algebra skills for working with numbers in exponential form and for examining triangles. Be aware that in the text, scientific notation is referred to as index notation and the laws of exponents as the laws...

An interesting presentation that shows the work of four masters. Learners view paintings of Van Gough, Picasso, Matisse, and Renoir and then express their opinions about the pieces of art. The final slide asks learners to choose their...

Class discussions can really make concepts come to life. The class discusses the differences between compare and contrast, read a book, then talk about ways they can compare events or characters in the story. Good leading question are...

How do you create parallel structure? Here, the first section details parallelism, providing many examples. The next two sections provide your class with practice opportunities. The first one requires learners to identify the sentences...

All cultures express similar thoughts, feelings, and ideas. But, often times those things are expressed differently. Learners compare and contrast traditional dances from two cultures. They watch videos of each performance, stop to...

Money, money, money. A complete lesson that makes use of different representations of simple and compound interest, including written scenarios, tables, graphs, and equations to highlight similarities and differences between linear and...

Here is a lesson that starts with having geometers translate points using compass directions into an accurate picture of the problem. Then they must use their knowledge of the Pythagorean theorem or similar triangles to solve. This makes...

The Pledge of Allegiance, the Gettysburg Address, the National Anthem, and the Preamble to the Constitution all get close attention in an exercise that asks learners to rewrite these formally-worded documents into informal language....

How can art represent math? Use a lesson on place value collages to illustrate the different meanings that numbers have in their designated places. Kids observe photographs and paintings that show place value, then work on their own.

Learners create a standing cube with four panels that display information on the North and South's economy, geography and climate, society, and means of transportation before the Civil War. Through discussion and reading...

In this second lesson of the series, pupils learn to observe similarities and differences in photos of the sun and record them in a Venn diagram. Then, small groups practice the same skill on unique images before presenting their...

The form of a quadratic function paints a picture of its graph. Young mathematicians explore this connection by locating key features on a graph and then writing the corresponding equations. The interactive tutorial highlights key...

There are architectural parabolas all around us! A creative lesson analyzes the architecture of a parabolic bridge. Learners must manipulate the bridge to satisfy given criteria and then answer questions about the dimensions of the...

Study logarithmic properties using a triangle. A clever manipulative shows how a triangle can represent the three parts of a logarithmic or exponential equation. Pupils review the concept and then answer guiding questions to further...

Who wouldn't want to wear four pairs of sunglasses? Each pair of sunglasses reduces the percent of incoming light by one-half. An interactive tutorial helps young mathematicians build a graph that models this scenario. They...

Explore the conversion of numbers to scientific notation and back again. Learners begin with a matching activity to identify equivalent expressions. Then guiding questions test and extend their understanding.

Do antacid tablets really do what they claim? An experimental lesson plan attempts to answer this question. Individuals practice the process of titration during the first part of the experiment. They then use those skills to neutralize...