How does consumerism affect global poverty? Upper graders find out about cost benefit, wants and needs, and making good consumer choices as they explore this global topic. They role-play an impulse spending experience and work through...

Third graders experience optic illusions by creating flipbooks. In this optics instructional activity, 3rd graders view a demonstration of the workings of rods and cones using a camera. They are shown an optical illusion and work to...

Did you hear that? It's the main idea! Teach your class listening and note-taking strategies for determining the main idea by following the steps provided in this plan.

Encourage gratitude with a short film. Pupils first explore what grateful means and come up with five things they are grateful for. After a discussion, they watch the short film twice and discuss the content after each viewing,...

In this tree products lesson, young scholars read the book Tell Me,Tree: All About Trees for Kids, discuss how people make products from wood, define producers and consumers and then go on a treasure hunt for wood products at home and...

  Students explore the art of haiku's by listening to, modeling and creating them.  In this haiku poetry lesson, students choose an object to focus their haiku on.  After hearing a brief history of the haiku; students make...

Students explore Vietnam and prepare a studenT book about Vietnam using the five themes of Geography. These books be used to teach a younger classroom about Vietnam, as part of a service-learning project in our school.

Students in a foreign language class are introduced to the vocabulary and basic concepts involved in reading and interpreting a train schedule. They then complete a comprehension/application quiz based on a train schedule from a foreign...

Sixth graders build a working motor. In this instructional activity on motors, 6th graders use an inquiry method of learning to discover how to create a working electric motor with the supplies given to them. The teacher will guide them...

Learners learn along with Ms. Frizzle's class. For this Magic School Bus lesson plan, students travel upstream to discover how, like salmon, a homey smell can lead them, too.

Students understand the idea of a nonprofit organization, the service donated by others, and how it helps a community. In this philanthropic lesson, students explore the types of nonprofits that would be beneficial to a school and what...

Explore the idea of self-esteem through different mediums. Research what is needed for increased self-esteem: list three things one might do well in, take a photo of an activity where each student is performing well, and examine how the...

Students discover the importance of eating fruits and vegetables. In this health instructional activity, students participate in a guessing game, trying to identify fruits and vegetables without seeing them. Students discuss the...

In this time worksheet, students solve word problems dealing with the concept of time. Students complete 12 time word problems.

In this telling time learning exercise, students analyze the time on 7 clocks and match them with the correct time which is expressed in words. Times are to the nearest five minutes.

Should primary graders have their own computers? Should animals be kept in captivity? Young writers learn how to develop and support a claim in this short unit on persuasive writing.

Potentially get all the way across the water. The fourth of five design challenges asks pupils to develop a plan for a paddle-powered boat that will store its energy. Given a limited number of supplies, the class members design, build,...

Explore the connection of surface area to bonding within atoms. Learners complete lab investigations to model changing surface area with different sizes and concentrations of atoms. A flour fireball demonstration follows the labs to...

Discover an inverse variation pattern. A simple lesson plan design allows learners to explore a nonlinear pattern. Scholars analyze a distance, speed, and time relationship through tables and graphs. Eventually, they write an equation to...

Let your class become master builders. Scholars use Legos® or K'nex® pieces to create a structure that looks like an actual building in existence. The time limit is 12 minutes, so you better start building!

Whatever floats your boat—with some additional weight. The first activity in a five-part series challenges pupils to design a boat to hold pennies. Using the design process, learners design, build, and test their boats, making sure they...

Cost overruns are unacceptable—in the real world and in an engaging activity. Groups of pupils get together to build a bridge out of straws, paper cups, and tape. They keep track of costs ($1,000 for each material) and must stay within a...

What are employers looking for in prospective employees? Career-minded high schoolers examine their strongest technical skills as well as important 21st century skills, including leadership, empathy, clear communication, working well...

Use science to solve the mystery of the Poplar murder. Pupils use forensic botany to determine if a suspect could be the killer. By analyzing images from a Transmission Electron Microscope, learners determine if the material found on the...