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Lesson 2: Measurement Tools
Elementary schoolers examine the uses of rulers, scales, and measuring cups. They determine the criteria for the use of each tool and visit different areas of school to find items that can be measured with these tools. Everyone takes...
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Inverse (Indirect) Machines
Students observe relationships between quantities. Students complete activities for three different classes of levers. In groups, students build each type of lever. Students identify levers in their daily surroundings. Students observe...
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Twists and Turns
Students reflect, rotate, translate, and dilate figures in the Cartesian coordinate plane using grid paper and dot paper. They use transformations (i.e., reflections, translations, rotations, and dilations) to describe geometric patterns...
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Make a Windmill
Students explore Earth science by conducting an energy experiment in class. In this windmill lesson, students identify how wind has been used to pump water throughout history and the latest developments wind energy has produced. Students...
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Inductive and Deductive Reasoning
Students use logical arguments and inductive reasoning to make or disprove conjectures. After observing a teacher led demonstration, students discover that the deductive process narrows facts to a few possible conclusions. In groups,...
Space Awareness
Navigating with the Kamal
Historians have proven that as early as 1497 skilled navigators were using a kamal to sail across oceans. Scholars learn about navigation tools and astronomy before building their own kamals. They then learn how to use it to determine...
Cornell University
Hydrophobic Surfaces—Deposition and Analysis
Couches, carpets, and even computer keyboards now advertise they are spill-resistant, but what does that mean? Scholars use physical and chemical methods to coat surfaces with thin films to test their hydrophobic properties. Then they...
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Time For Breakfast
This unit encourages students to assess the validity of a set of statements and then plan and carry out investigations to find out whether the statements are true. Students then carry out statistical investigations of their own.
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Polar Bear Cubs and ME
Students visit the following web site to find out the birth weights and lengths of polar bear cubs- Ask Jeeves for Kids. They then enter the information found at this site relating to the birth length and weight of polar bear cubs into a...
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Blowing in the Wind
Students compare hurricanes and tornadoes. They write a paragraph explaining how to prepare for a storm. Students give an oral report. They use weather facts to practice math skills. Students record observations of a storm.
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Beanies
Fifth graders explore ratio problems. They study how to solve ratio problems using simple algebraic equations. Students use equations to represent practical situations and solve equations.
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Houses
Third graders use a number of problem solving strategies in this unit of lessons. They determine how to draw and model three-dimensional objects, use co-ordinate systems, determine probability of events, and identify paths of simple...
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The Sum of the Parts
Second graders observe some everyday common objects in order to attempt to learn about simple systems and how they fit together. They observe small details in order to identify the parts of a whole design.
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Theoretically Speaking
Students define probability. They determine outcome from a given situation based on simple probability. Students create experimental data using a coin and a number cube. They write how theoretical and experimental probability are different.
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Computers Can Only Add
Young scholars explore using mathematics to solve problems in base two. After a teacher demonstration of using base two to write numbers. students model similar problems to explore the concept of number systems in different bases. To...
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Asthma "Outbreak" Exercise
Students investigate numerical data on a possible asthma epidemic. Using statistical information, students graph and figure ratios of the epidemic. They evaluate the mortality rate from severe smog in the 1950's in London.
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Marshmallows
Third graders estimate the volume and mass of one marshmallow using appropriate standard units. They design and carry out an investigation to find the average of volume/mass of one marshmallow.
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ENERGY USE ADDS UP!
High schoolers investigate the amount of power used in your home and what appliances use the most. They analyze the concept that producing energy costs us money, affects our environment and produces waste products. Students come up with...
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Beep, Beep, Vroom, Vroom
Students practice identifying, creating and labeling simple patterns. They recreate patterns in used in Stuart Murphy's book, Beep, Beep, Vroom, Vroom.
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Squirt
Fourth graders using the idea of "how many more squirts" fill a container to develop multiplicative thinking. They also investigate the idea of conservation of volume when working with oddly shaped containers. They attempt to use...
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The Case of the Gigantic $100,000 Bill
Students investigate the money creation process and calculate the upper bound of the money creation process using a money multiplier. In this money creation lesson, students use a imitation $100,000 bill. Students demonstrate successive...
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The Mandelbrot Set
Students explore the Mandelbrot Set. They are introduced to the concept of a complex number and function in order to motivate the discussion of Julia and Mandelbrot sets. Students investigate fractals and how they are built.
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Mine Lesson #1: Slope slider
Eighth graders investigate linear equations. In this Algebra I lesson plan, 8th graders explore the effects that manipulating a linear equation has on the graph of the function through the use of a java...
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The Basketball Tournament
Students estimate how many games are played if six teams play each other once. They investigate their own way and discuss possible strategies they might use. They then share their findings with the class.