Fourth graders observe and identify the effects of weathering and geological activities. They take part in an excellent hands-on group activity called "Erosion Race," in which each group tries to simulate erosion of soil in the quickest...

What type of writing is this? Learners read a brief introduction to various types of text: instructions, explanations, poems, folk tales, novels, informative, and arguments. The introduction doesn't explain these, so...

Explore transparancy with a science experiment on different materials. After reading an explanation on how to determine if something is see-through with a flashlight, kindergartners decide if certain materials are opaque or not....

When comparing groups of objects, it's easy for children to identify which has more, but it's not so easy for them to explain their reasoning. This simple whole-group activity provides multiple opportunities for learners to compare...

Elementary schoolers utilize a pattern worksheet embedded in this plan to work on a deeper understanding of geometric concepts like symmetry and congruency. Since geometry is such a visual form of mathematics, this instructional activity...

Provide pupils samples of different types of poems including haikus, narrative, nonsense, shape, and rhyming poems. In groups, class members read the poems, establish their general meaning, identify poetic devices, and rate the poems,...

Go study the universe. Pupils learn seven aspects about astronomy and astronomers. They begin to learn about constellations; distance and motion between objects; gravity; the electromagnetic spectrum; dark matter and energy; and teams of...

Dive into the mystery of sound waves!  Scholars brainstorm questions about how sound travels and why different items make different sounds. They then conduct experiments to answer their questions.

Can your class write linear equations three different ways? Here is a study guide that includes slope-intercept, standard, and point-slope forms. Learners are given the slope and a point on the line, or two points and are asked to write...

What was Bryce's mistake? Through analysis of a student work example, learners develop their own ability to compare the fractions one fourth and one half. Central to this activity is the concept that, when comparing fractions, the whole...

Oh my, the desert never looked so good! Here is a great art project that spans three days and several different art techniques. The class will create beautiful backgrounds and striking cacti, which the'll put together to make a wild west...

Which image represents one half? Answer the question surrounding four shapes, some of which represent one half and others representing a different amount. The last two questions ask learners to explain why some shapes represent one half...

Young analysts examine two letters, one written by President Hoover and one written by FDR. Each letter contains that president's response to the role of the Federal Government during times of crisis (The Great Depression). They analyze...

Reading and writing take on a whole different meaning in math class. Young mathematicians learn to read verbal phrases by focusing on operation words. They write equivalent algebraic expressions for both mathematical and contextual...

Those key operation words sure come in handy. Groups continue their work with converting between different notations for algebraic expressions. They work in stations to write the symbolic form for given verbal phrases. This is the 17th...

Which is more likely: 130 children followed a magical piper out of Hamelin and disappeared forever, or that they died of the plague? Or could they have escaped from Hamelin via a secret tunnel to Transylvania? Learners investigate...

Students examine the different features of culture. They determine which features are visible and invisible. They describe how the two types affect each other.

How do you show that something is a rectangle? This activity starts with four coordinate points and asks young geometers to explain whether they create a rectangle. Knowledge from both geometry and algebra come into play here, as well...

See how famous books of literature have different perspectives with a short learning exercise. After reviewing the difference between first and third person points of view, learners look over six passages from various novels and...

Tune in for savings! Scholars investigate pricing schemes for two different online music download sites. After comparing the two, they determine the numbers of songs for which each site would be cheaper.

Verbs are the most exciting words because they describe action. Kids can get excited about verbs too! Once they are provided with a solid description of what they are, how they are used, and what they look like in sentences, verbs will...

Congratulations, you've just hit the word problem jackpot! Covering an incredible range of topics from integers and fractions, to percents, geometry, and much more, this collection of worksheets will keep young mathematicians...

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 lesson.

The higher the number of letters in the final word for the National Spelling Bee, the higher the number of people killed by venomous spiders. Obviously, those two facts correlate, but no causation exists. Scholars view data based on...