Individuals analyze tree rings to determine the health of an ecosystem. They then look at otoliths of fish, hard calcium carbonate structures located behind the brain, in the same manner. 

Hot off the press: a mini-unit for class members to create their own newspaper. Complete with graphic organizers, extension activities, and helpful learning targets that teach parts of a newspaper, the resource contains everything needed...

Brown rice contains vitamins B and E, while white rice lasts longer in storage. The availability of rice around the world makes it a great candidate for genetic engineering. Scholars apply their knowledge of genetic engineering to solve...

Historical fiction novels give readers a chance to step into someone else's shoes. An educator's guide from Penguin Common Core Lesson Plans provides resources to accompany three historical fiction novels written by Ruta Sepetys: Between...

Creating buildings that reach hundreds of feet into the sky is no easy task. The third instructional activity in this series begins with four activities that engage young architects in exploring the major challenges that are faced when...

Score a touchdown with an exciting game of financial football! Middle schoolers choose their favorite teams and play a virtual game of football as they answer various questions about economics.

Young scholars examine the changes in the U.S. in the period of industrialization before the Civil War. They analyze census data, list/describe inventions and innovations, explore various websites, conduct a Factory Simulation activity,...

Students investigate the First U.S. Industrial Revolution. They identify positive and negative effects of early industrialization, read first-hand accounts, role-play and interview individuals, and participate in a debate.

Read about the physical features of whales and how they are grouped according to their method of eating food. A neat activity is described on the page; consider carrying this out in class. The resource makes a nice addition to a lesson...

Is journalism more or less reliable with the influx of Internet sources? Learners investigate the issues of freedom of speech, journalistic ethics, and social responsibility in the age of Twitter and Facebook. After examining the...

Three, two, one...liftoff! Elevate math skills to new heights while having a blast. A great resource that combines entertainment and education for children of all ages.

Through detailed secondary source reading material and an interactive "true/false" activity, learners discover the depth and complexity of the executive branch in the United States government. Topics covered include executive...

Class members identify bullying in contemporary texts and role play how they might change those scenes to examples of anti-bullying. They then re-define their initial definitions of bullying and discuss what they...

Boost digital citizenship with an engaging infographic that promotes the importance of being a positive digital agent, self, and interactor.

Ask a question! Listen up! Stay connected! These three strategies are at the heart of a guide that teaches how anyone can safely help someone in an abusive relationship.

Students explore the nature of the air we breathe by observing petri dishes that have accumulated particulate matter from the atmosphere. Students make mathematical calculations and inferences about the effect of this matter on...

Students identify their personality and discover which career is the best for them. They research careers they are interested in and if possible complete an internship. They answer questions about their experience to end the...

Students identify examples of community services, identify jobs/services performed by community helpers and relationships between community needs and community services, and work cooperatively to create Bubble map, flyer, and Powerpoint...

Students become familiar with the concepts of conflict and change and the relationship between them. They then analyze medieval social groupings to understand relationships among people and people groups.

Eighth graders construct a car out of a block of basswood.  In this car lesson students research, design and construct their own cars.

Pupils research the basic concepts of heart health and disease and become an expert in an area as it relates to the heart and circulatory system. They prepare a multimedia presentation of their findings.

Students make connections between the rule and reign of Julius Caesar and the leaders of other countries. They then create a news show that communicates their understanding of four essential questions that are included in the lesson.

Students explore the importance of vaccines in fighting childhood disease.  In this health lesson, students play a game to model how vaccines protect against the spread of infectious disease. Students play a tag based game in which...

Students investigate the origin of the modern periodic table of elements, and explore an interactive version that teaches them how to extract information from it.