EngageNY
Solve for Unknown Angles—Angles in a Triangle
Assist your class with each angle of geometry as they use exterior angles to form linear pairs with adjacent interior angles. They cover multiple vocabulary terms and work practice problems, complete with justifications, before...
University of Florida
A Walk in the Woods
Take class members on a field trip to the forest without leaving the classroom. Scholars learn content-related vocabulary and factors affecting forest health with class discussions and during a presentation. Scientists combine forestry...
Curated OER
Moth or Butterfly
Young scholars categorize butterflies and moths by identifying the unique characteristics of the two different species. In this classifying lesson, students discuss their prior knowledge about these insects before...
Curated OER
Balanced Forces
Examples and practice questions will help real-life understanding of the Principle of Moments concept. These great slides define the types of levers and pivots, and then give examples of the typical seesaw situations that help the...
Scholastic
Study Jams! Measure Length
Mia's pet lizard has grown a lot since he was a baby and she needs help measuring his length now that he's an adult. After choosing the best tool for the job, RJ goes step by step through the measurement process, modeling how to use both...
Macmillan Education
Celebrations: St Patrick’s Day
Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with a couple of fun English language exercises. After first activating students' prior knowledge about Ireland and Irish culture during a class discussion, learners work in pairs or small groups to...
Scholastic
Lesson One: The Earth, Background and Glossary
How much do you really know about our planet? Middle schoolers build up their prior knowledge about Earth, its placement in the solar system, its composition, and important geological vocabulary with an introductory earth science lesson.
Science Matters
Potential and Kinetic Energy
Everything has potential energy; learning to use it is the key to understanding all types of energy. Scholars learn the difference between kinetic and potential energy. They then apply the concept to drawing examples of both types...
US National Library of Medicine
Genetic Traits in Harry Potter
Explore human genetics through the world of Harry Potter. A thorough lesson develops the introductory concepts of genetics using characters of the popular book series. Learners study topics from DNA and chromosomes to Punnett Squares and...
Discovery Education
Sonar & Echolocation
A well-designed, comprehensive, and attractive slide show supports direct instruction on how sonar and echolocation work. Contained within the slides are links to interactive websites and instructions for using apps on a mobile device to...
PHET
Planet Designer: Retro Planet Red
What does the atmosphere on Mars look like? This fourth instructional activity in the series of five is designed for high schoolers. Scholars apply previous knowledge to add atmosphere to Mars in an online simulation. This comprehensive...
PHET
Planet Designer: Martian Makeover
Mars used to have liquid water, can you make it come back? Use the lesson and simulation to understand why Mars lost its magnetic field, why atmosphere is important, and what gravity has to do with it. This is the third lesson...
Virginia Department of Education
Atomic Structure: Periodic Table
The fifth lesson of seven in the series outlines an in-depth analysis of the periodic table. After direct instruction, pupils take turns practicing in the group before beginning independent study. The assessments include a...
National Wildlife Federation
Get Your Techno On
Desert regions are hotter for multiple reasons; the lack of vegetation causes the sun's heat to go straight into the surface and the lack of moisture means none of the heat is being transferred into evaporation. This concept, and other...
Cornell University
Buoyancy
Swimmers know to float by turning their bodies horizontally rather than vertically, but why does that make a difference? In an interesting lesson, scholars explore buoyancy and the properties of air and water. They test cups to see which...
Core Knowledge Foundation
Christopher Columbus
Take some time to focus on Christopher Columbus, his three ships, the purpose of his voyage, and the new land he discovered. Pay special attention to the included additional materials, they are the real value in this resource.
Curated OER
Using a Story: Miko the Monkey
Students discuss prior knowledge about monkeys with teacher and take a "Monkey Facts" quiz. In this language arts lesson, students make flash cards of vocabulary words and listen as teacher read Miko the Monkey. Students complete a...
Curated OER
Using Contractions
Second graders study the use of contractions. In this contraction lesson plan, 2nd graders examine what contractions are and how to form them properly. They use a song to learn which words to change when forming contractions before...
Pennsylvania Department of Education
Using Multiplication to Solve Word Problems
Fourth graders solve word problems using multiplication. In this multiplication lesson plan, 4th graders write and solve word problems using their prior knowledge of multiplication.
Bantam Books
The Tempest: Fishbowl Discussion Strategy
Readers learn together with a group discussion activity. As they read William Shakespeare's The Tempest, high schoolers prepare for a fishbowl discussion in which three or four learners sit in the middle of a large circle and...
American Chemical Society
Engineering a Floatation Device
Classes will definitely not be sinking after a buoyant lesson! A project-based assessment helps highlight the importance of prior knowledge as individuals design a floatation device for a cell phone. They use their knowledge of chemical...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Good Litter, Bad Litter
Which ones can be thrown on the ground? Discover the difference between natural litter and unhealthy trash, helping scholars by using several examples. Use the information here to give them a basic background, but also encourage prior...
Scholastic
Study Jams! Proportions
Join Zoe and Sam as they use proportions to budget money for their Green Earth Club. Watch as they set up and solve a series of proportions using cross multiplication and division. A great resource that brings together prior knowledge of...
Curated OER
Stargirl Lesson
Students read a short novel while filling in a graphic organizer for problem and solution. In this sociology lesson, students use a prior knowledge and relate the text to theirselves and to think about their own...