Curated OER
Graphing Systems of Inequalities
Solve equations and graph systems of inequalities. Designed as a lesson to reinforce these concepts, learners revisit shading and boundaries along with solving linear inequalities.
Illustrative Mathematics
Seeing is Believing
How many visual models can be used to show multiplication? Three basic kinds of models can be used to represent and explain the equation 4 x (9 + 2). The commentary section provides description and graphics to explain the set...
Curated OER
Exponential Functions
Analyze functions by their shape and equation and identify decay and growth based on the equation given. Learners graph their exponential functions and differentiate it using the logarithmic versus the exponential function.
Willow Tree
Functions
What makes a function a function? Learn the criteria for a relation defined as a function both numerically and graphically. Once young mathematicians define a function, they use function notation to evaluate it.
Curated OER
Cartoons for the Classroom: Fair Elections?
Rigged elections make for both intriguing current events and hilarious political cartoons. In this analysis learning exercise, pupils read background information to help them grasp a cartoon about rigged presidential elections in 2007 by...
Curated OER
Cartoons for the Classroom: Presidential Candidates
Build critical analysis skills with this cartoon for the classroom. Upper graders answer three critical thinking questions to help them analyze a political cartoon, which depicts how Presidential Candidates are judged and chosen. Put...
Curated OER
Cartoons for the Classroom: Politics of Change
Empty rhetoric in Washington timelessly inspires political cartoons. Examine this concept through an analysis handout, which features a cartoon by Pat Oliphant (archived work is linked for possible extension activities). Although this...
Curated OER
This Land is Your Land - Travel Posters
Eleventh graders compile a list of places in the United States where they have either traveled or where their relatives or friends live. They collect travel posters, brochures, postcards, and maps from their region of the United States.
Curated OER
The East Fork Project
Students identify possible sources of health risks, types of exposures, routes of exposure, and populations that could be affected after discussing water pollution and environmental health hazards. After discussion, students conduct a...
Curated OER
Audio Aesop: Listen to the Lesson!
Aesop's Fables are the focus of this language arts lesson plan. Young philosophers study and discuss the morals found in the most famous of Aesop's Fables. They write an original fable that teaches a common moral. A "Fable Listening...
Curated OER
Fill in the Blanks
Archaeologists, historians, and scientists all work together to create a timeline of our past. Engages learners in a series of activities that all filter through the NOVA video, "Mysteries of the First Americans." Each activity is...
Curated OER
Perceived Risks
Students rank a list of everyday risks to compare with classmates. They rate each risk on both its ability to be controlled and its observability in the environment. Results are graphed.
Curated OER
"I Believe..." Podcast Style
Use this communication skills lesson to emphasize evaluating a speaker's main point and argument. After reading Martin Luther King's, "I Have a Dream Speech" and John F. Kennedy's speech, "I Believe in an America Where the Separation of...
Curated OER
With Your Own Two Hands: Are You Changing the World or "Waiting for the World to Change"?
Can your pupils change the world? Explore this question with Ben Harper's song "With My Own Two Hands" and John Mayer's "Waiting for the World to Change." After listening to the songs, they discuss the tools at their disposal for...
Curated OER
Narrative Lesson Plan Ideas
Narrative writing lessons can inspire students to write about and share their experiences.
Illustrative Mathematics
Calculating the square root of 2
Does a calculator give you the exact value of the square root of 2? Here, learners must decide if 1.414236 is equal to the square root of 2. They must also explain why the square root of 2 could never be equal to a terminating decimal....
Denver Art Museum
Tea Gathering Quick-Write
Japanese tea gatherings are the inspiration for a great activity. Learners are provided with an image of a tea caddy made for thick tea and asked to describe what they notice and what that might mean. This leads into a larger activity...
EngageNY
Exponents
Powered up! Here's a great resource on exponents. Scholars build on their previous understanding of exponents to include all positive real number bases. Distinguishing between an and a^n is a major goal in the fifth lesson of a 36-part...
Curated OER
Cartoons for the Classroom: Why is Freedom of Speech a Burning Issue?
For this current events worksheet, students analyze a political cartoon about the freedom of speech and respond to three short answer questions
Curated OER
Cartoons for the Classroom: Social Commentary
Expose your class to the genre of political cartoons less concerned with serious political issues. This political cartoon analysis handout features social commentary on the many entertainments of youth, ironically paired with their...
Curated OER
A Valuable Quarter
Your young bankers model an account balance with an exponential function and solve the equation by extracting a root or taking a logarithm. The task involves the context of annual and compounding interest as well as some interesting...
Curated OER
Perceptions of War
Tenth graders share perspectives on war with Iraq with students from various countries, and write position papers expressing specific stance on issues.
Curated OER
Starlight
An introductory exploration of the nature of light is provided via activities and demonstrations. Science superstars observe various light sources, learn how to apply inverse square law, and practice using a light meter. Follow-up...
Curated OER
Oxidation
For an introductory physical class, you can use these vivid activities to introduce learners to chemical reactions. Spontaneous combustion, melting and burning, tarnishing and rusting all are evidence that a chemical reaction has...