W.K. Kellogg Biological Station
Succession: Patterns in the Field and in Seeds
Have you been wondering how to use that natural trail at or near your school? This activity gets kids outside with a purpose: learn about ecological succession through field observations and collecting seed and soil samples. The resource...
App State
Brainstorming
Get your young writers outside of the traditional essay writing mode with Free Write Friday. Free Write Friday encourages your class to use personal experiences or knowledge to write more creative pieces. Young writers could experiment...
Pennsylvania Department of Education
Numbers Are Made of Parts
Children play with barnyard animal cards to practice composing and decomposing numbers. With their "secret number" of animal cards in a cup, they shake and spill them onto a barn story board, counting how many animals fall in the barn...
Curated OER
Estimation and Measurement
Get second graders outside to estimate and measure how long 800 meters is on their school campus. They then measure the actual distance in yards to see how close their estimate was. An interesting teaching idea!
Curated OER
Formal and Informal Language
Use this resource to prepare your class for an interview unit, a presentation activity, or to simply rid their writing of informal expressions. It prompts learners to identify whether listed expressions are formal or informal. Note: The...
Indiana University
British Literature Restoration Unit: The Pillow Book – Sei Shonagon
First drafted in the year 996, The Pillow Book contains reflections of those met by a lady-in-waiting in the Japanese court. A brief summary, historical context, and discussion questions are provided on the first two pages. Then, two...
Curated OER
Compass Reading
Here's a basic instructional activity on reading a compass. Learn the names of the parts of a compass. Learn how to read a bearing in degrees. Then go outside and follow a course of cones set up on the grass or in a clear area. Starting...
Curated OER
Plants Scavenger Hunt Activity
The hunt is on! Provide young botanists with a list of eighteen plant-related questions and let them loose as they search for answers on corresponding fact cards. Perform this activity in the classroom or use it as an opportunity to take...
Curated OER
Field Guide to Schoolyard Insects and Their Relatives
Your entire class works together to create an illustrated insect field guide. The intent is that they venture outside of the classroom, find a critter, and then research it using reference materials, insect books, and the Internet for...
Prestwick House
Touching Spirit Bear: Individual Learning Packet
Whether using Touching Spirit Bear in the classroom, as an outside reading assignment, or in a homeschool situation, your readers will benefit from this eight-page packet of essay and discussion questions, vocabulary lists, and reading...
Peaceful Playgrounds, Inc.
10 Rainy and Snow Day Activities for Indoor Recess and PE
Don't let the rain and snow put a damper on your PE lessons. This collection of indoor activities is a perfect way to keep students active regardless of the weather outside.
CK-12 Foundation
Evaluation of Square Roots
Think outside the box and use an engaging, interactive app that shows the relationship between square roots and squares using an actual square. Pupils find that moving a slider increases the side length of a square and its associated area.
Curated OER
Pumpkin Investigation
Students examine pumpkins and make a book depicting and describing the inside and outside of a pumpkin.
Curated OER
No Child Left Inside Lessons
The benefits of taking students outside for outdoor activities and lessons can be substantial for everyone.
Curated OER
New Year's Resolutions
Learners write about New Year's Resolutions made about personal improvement, family and friends, and school and the outside world. They write a first draft and a final draft of a five-paragraph essay about their resolutions.
Curated OER
Pets
Students select pets from available graphics to represent pets they own. They categorize the pets according to those that live inside the home, pets that live outside and a pet they would like to own. They generate sentences about each.
Curated OER
The Rules of the Game
Students debate whether college athletes should be held to a higher behavioral standard than non-athletes. Students determine whether behavior outside of school should be punishable by university administration, then write letters to the...
Curated OER
The Water Cycle
Fifth graders investigate evaporation, condensation, and precipitation. They observe a water cycle kit and record their observations, and examine how water condenses on the outside of a cup. Next, they observe an evaporation...
Curated OER
Reflectional Symmetry And Rotational Symmetry
Fifth graders study reflectional symmetry and rotational symmetry. They go outside and explore symmetry in the environment. They come back inside and make symmetrical masks that represent their way of life.
Curated OER
Honors Chemistry Ideal Gas Law
In this ideal gas law worksheet, learners are given a problem to solve using a hot air balloon. They are given the volume, mass, temperature of the air inside the balloon and the temperature outside the balloon. They determine if the...
Curated OER
Making Predictions
Students collect and classify items. For this making predictions lesson, students go outside and collect specimens of plants, insects and minerals. They classify each item and place them in a Venn Diagram. Students compare and contrast...
Curated OER
Clouds
Students explore basic cloud types and the weather associated with each one. In this earth science activity, students participate in numerous activities including going outside to observe the clouds they see, making a cloud in...
Curated OER
Practice Your Escape Plan
Young scholars practice escaping from a fire. In this fire safety lesson, students listen to the smoke alarm and discuss what it tells them to do. Young scholars learn what to do when the alarm goes off during the day. ...
Curated OER
Dig Into Soil
Students discuss what is found in soil. In this science lesson, students observe the soil outside and write down information in regards to location, vegetation, and topography. Students experiment with the soil and its many properties...