NASA
Earth, Earth’s Moon, Mars Balloons
Very specific diameters are given for blowing up three different balloons to represent, in scale, the moon, Earth, and Mars. In groups of three, amateur astronomers explore scale measurements and distance in space.
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Reading Miss Lady Bird's Wildflowers
Students discover the impact "Lady Bird" Johnson had on America by reading a short biography. In this historical persons lesson, students read a multi page biography of the former first lady and write a summary of her life's work....
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A Village of Painters: Narrative Scrolls from West Bengal
Examine the process of making Indian patua-style narrative scrolls. Look closely at the images in the scrolls and have your young artists create an original patua painting. Using ink and watercolors, the class can illustrate their...
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Author's Purpose
How do you determine an author’s purpose? You ask the author, of course. Invite a local journalist into the class to respond to scripted student questions about his/her writing process. A review of basic classroom etiquette is also...
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Parallel and Perpendicular Lines
Fourth graders create a dance with a partner that shows parallel and perpendicular lines. In this lines lesson plan, 4th graders create symmetrical designs and line pairs with their partner.
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Things That Glow
Third graders study the concept of light as an energy source. In this energy lesson plan students participate in a lab that show them the concept of light as an energy source.
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The Beagle Brigade
Students develop an understanding of animal behaviors through reading a case study about detector beagles. They explore the interaction of innate abilities and learned behaviors.
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Parallel Timelines
Twelfth graders research the history of how a particular environmental issue moves through the Conservation Movement. They create timelines that show the progression of public sentiment and the legislation about the issue.
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What's Integrity?
Young scholars read a letter by Steve Williams to determine why self-discipline and integrity are important attributes for peace corps volunteers. They apply these concepts to their own lives.
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Spuds in Space
Students explore the effects of velocity on an object when it collides with another object. They design and outfit a potato astronaut in a spacesuit to withstand the hazards of high velocity impacts from space debris and meteoroids.
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Port of Entry
Students research patterns of immigration throughout American history. The focus is on the process of how immigrants came through Ellis Island. Students reflect upon the topic to develop critical thinking skills.
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Forces and Motion
Fourth graders study straight line motion and the forces that affect motion, including the terms force, gravity, and speed. They determine that gravity, weight, and other forces have an effect on speed and motion.
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Orienteering: Welcome to the Jungle
Students work together in groups to complete a treasure hunt. Using the school grounds, they search for pictures and stuffed animals of different species. They use a GPS to locate them and record which habitat they live. They calculate...
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What's Integrity?
Learners explore the trait of integrity. In this character education lesson, students read letters by Steve Williams pertaining to jobs that help others. Learners discuss the jobs WilIiams shares as well as integrity in their lives.
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Graphing Linear Equations with Two Variables
Can your class solve linear equations in two variables? They will be able to after they engage in this lesson. Individuals graph linear equations in two variables using slope and intercept and identifying the relationship between the x...
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Stellar Resorts
Students explore the future of "orbital vacations" and create fanciful tours of the Milky Way Galaxy. Students respond to the following prompt in their journals "Entrepreneurs are currently designing concepts for accommodating tourists...
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Scale Model of Our Nearest Stars
Sixth graders calculate a light day, light hour, and light minute from the standard of a light year. After establishing the distances, a one meter scale is created to demonstrate the distance between the sun and the planets of our solar...
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Futuristic Flights
Students study the orbital space plane, NASA's proposed spacecraft of the future. They work in groups to plan missions to take place twenty years from now and design orbital space planes in which to carry out the missions.
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How Far Did They Go?
Students create a map. In this direction and distance instructional activity, students come up with familiar places in the community and calculate the distances from these places to the school. Students create a map that displays these...
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Woman on a Mission
Students explore the July 1999 space shuttle mission while learning how to cite Web sites in correct MLA bibliographical format. They discuss the mission's goals and historic importance as the first American space flight commanded by a...
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Learning European Geography
Sixth graders discover locations and countries in Europe by identifying them on a map. For this European geography lesson, 6th graders read the book The Lost Little Elephant, with their class and discuss the geography referenced in...
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Jet Who?
Students explore the emerging budget flight industry and the resulting increased competition among airlines. They compare a budget airline with a legacy carrier in terms of cost, corporate profile, flight statistics, amenities, and...
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Life in Pictures
Learners share opinions about the typical images that represent life in New York City. They create their own scavenger hunts to find images that represent the intrinsic character of their respective communities.
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Explorers’ Experience
Learners investigate the Exploration Age. In this research skills lesson, students discover the impact of exploration as they locate information about selected explorers. Learners design and create relief maps that feature exploration...