NASA
Is It Alive?
Determining whether or not something is living can be more difficult than it seems. Put your young scientists to work defining their own criteria to identify life, then work with three samples to see if they are alive or...
EngageNY
Overcoming a Second Obstacle in Factoring—What If There Is a Remainder?
Looking for an alternative approach to long division? Show your classes how to use factoring in place of long division. Increase their fluency with factoring at the same time!
EngageNY
Using Sample Data to Compare the Means of Two or More Populations II
The 23rd segment in a series of 25 presents random samples from two populations to determine whether there is a difference. Groups determine whether they believe there is a difference between the two populations and later use an...
Baylor College
Why Is Water Important? Pre-assessment
This water worksheet is just the tip of the iceberg! It a multiple-choice quiz meant to be a pre-assessment for a wonderful water unit. There are 10 questions to be answered regarding the role, properties, and behavior of water. Make...
Baylor College
How Much Water Is in a Fruit?
Compare the volume of an orange to the volume of liquid that can be extracted out of it. Also compare the mass of an apple before and after it has been dried out. In both of these activities, children find that there is an appreciable...
Statistics Education Web
What Percent of the Continental US is Within One Mile of a Road?
There are places in the US where a road cannot be found for miles! The lesson asks learners to use random longitude and latitude coordinates within the US to collect data. They then determine the sample proportion and confidence interval...
EngageNY
There is Only One Line Passing Through a Given Point with a Given Slope
Prove that an equation in slope-intercept form names only one line. At the beginning, the teacher leads the class through a proof that there is only one line passing through a given point with a given slope using contradiction. The 19th...
EngageNY
Overcoming a Third Obstacle to Factoring— What If There Are No Real Number Solutions?
Time for pupils to use their imagination! Learners examine the relationship between a system with no real solution and its graph. They then verify their discoveries with algebra.
Brigham Young University
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead: Fishbowl Discussion
After reading through Act II of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, take some time to discuss the references to death in the play. For this fishbowl discussion, learners prepare questions, practice answering individually and with...
Curated OER
Introduce Vocabulary: Alexander, Who Use to be Rich Last Sunday (Viorst)
Although this vocabulary-in-context activity is focused on Judith Viorst's book Alexander, Who Use to Be Rich Last Sunday, the strategy can be applied to any book budding learners read with you. First, introduce the three...
Curated OER
Justice Is Blind, Colorblind That Is
It's so interesting to see kids respond to articles about education. To start the day, prompt learners to discuss the words colorblindness and diversity. Then, split your class in two and have one side read an article from 2007 and...
EngageNY
Prove the Pythagorean Theorem Using Similarity
Amaze your classes with the ability to find side lengths of triangles immediately — they'll all want to know your trick! Learners use the Pythagorean Theorem and special right triangle relationships to find missing side lengths.
Office of the New Jersey State Climatologist
Play Ball! – Or Not…Making a Decision Using Weather Data
Should the game go on or not? An engaging lesson asks small groups to make a decision using weather data. After analyzing a map, an updated forecast, and radar information, groups have to decide whether to cancel a baseball game. They...
Curated OER
Seeing the Image in Imagery: A Lesson Plan Using Film
In our increasingly visual society, it is often difficult for some readers to create a mental picture of a picture created only with words. An image-rich text like F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby can therefore, present a real...
Curated OER
Yesterday in Energy
Clever! Collaborative groups of environmental scientists create a museum exhibit and presentation for an energy-using activity such as heating a home or transportation. They must compare past to present use of energy for that particular...
Center for Mathematics and Technology
Whole Numbers: Using an Area Model to Explain Multiplication
There are many ways to work through a multiplication problem. Using an area model, kids complete several worksheets with different types of multiplication problems, including multiplying by ten, and explain how the new strategies differ...
American Chemical Society
Using Dissolving to Identify an Unknown
There is a solvent called aqua regis that can dissolve gold! After observing a solubility demonstration, groups receive four known crystals and one unknown. Based on the demo, they design an experiment to determine the identity of the...
Curated OER
Using Your Senses
Here is a terrific lesson that uses a special State Quarter as a learning tool. This one uses the Alabama State Quarter. During this lesson, pupils learn about their five senses. They make observations about what is in paper bags using...
University of Colorado
Is There Life on Earth?
To find life on another planet, scientists look for gases (atmosphere), water, and temperatures that are not extreme. In this activity, groups of pupils become "Titan-ians," scientists who want to explore Earth for possible life forms....
National Endowment for the Humanities
James Madison: Madison Was There
Madison was there! Scholars go on a journey to discover the person behind the founding father label as they explore James Madison's role in the formation of the United States government. The culmination is a writing assignment and...
Curated OER
Troublesome Words: What is a Troublesome Word?
Referring to words that are often used incorrectly, this resource identifies those "troublesome" terms that can produce confusion and shows learners how they should be used properly. Since even adults have trouble using such words as...
Curated OER
Using Gustar
Expressing that you like something in English is quite different from expressing that you like something in Spanish. Clarify gustar for your class with the information included here. Pupils can read the information on the webpage to find...
PBS
What Is Newsworthy?
What is news? What is newsworthy? Who decides and what criteria do they use? Introduce young journalists to the basics of reporting with this media literacy instructional activity.
EngageNY
From Ratio Tables to Equations Using the Value of a Ratio
Use the value of a ratio to set up equations. The teacher leads a discussion on determining equations from ratio tables in the 13th portion of a 29-part series. Pupils determine which of two equations to use to find the solution....