Going through puberty isn't easy, or for the faint of heart. Prepare middle schoolers for the challenges of the changes with activities that ask them to assume the role of a reporter for the Human Body Olympics. Writers craft a news...

Because of the Electoral College, it is possible to win the popular vote in a US Presidential election and still lose the election. After researching the pros and cons of the Electoral College, class members engage in a structured debate...

As part of a study of Jason Reynold's Ghost, readers take a close look at sneaker culture and how Reynold uses sneakers as a symbol in his award-winning young adult novel. Groups explore links to "Sneakerology 101", a Carnegie...

It's all in the cards. Using cards to simulate a disease's attack on the immune system, pupils develop an understanding of how the immune system and pathogens react to each other and why at times the pathogen wins. Groups play a game to...

The biggest balloon wins! Pupils play a balloon race game, answering questions about careers in business and marketing while blowing air into balloons. Additionally, scholars research two similar companies to study their marketing...

A powerful, award-winning video launches a lesson about socially conscious social networking. After watching the video and engaging in a full class discussion, individuals share their ideas about healthy social networking in a podcast or...

Six small groups perform skits that showcase positive sporting behavior. Actors highlight how players try their best, encourage others, win gracefully, think positively, show respect, and resolve conflict. A class discussion and an Exit...

Following a brief video, two teams play against each other to read clues from a card and guess which occupation it describes. The team that guesses the most correctly wins. A quick-write poses several questions about one's dream job.

Two lessons encourage class members to go screen-free. The first lesson challenges two teams to create a list of screen-free games. The team with the most ideas wins. Individuals then draw a picture of themselves doing one of the...

Malala Yousafzai may be young, but she's mighty! Young scholars listen to a short lecture about Malala's background, read an article about her winning the Novel Peace Prize, and meet in groups to discuss statements she has made. Class...

Tap into the competitive nature of teenagers as your class practices setting up and solving rational equations. This activity starts with a specific ratio of games won to games played, then asks how many more games must be played to...

Learners use fractions and words to find a coded message and the first student to solve the message wins a candy bar.

Young scientists explore some of the scientific equipment that is used by explorers during expeditions to the North or South Pole. Then, they have a relay race! All of the equipment is lined up at a spot 25 yards away from the lines. The...

Seventh graders determine if a "lucky charm" will increase their chances of winning a game. Students calculate the experimental probability of each player in a game. They observe and collect data from each activity. Students compare the...

Enhance a reading of the Caldecott Medal-winning children's book Joseph had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback with this collection of learning activities. Starting with general background information about the book and author,...

Students explore the concepts of positive and negative conflict. They examine the ideas of cooperation and competition and apply the idea of win-win to global climate change. Students participate in a friendly competition.

Middle schoolers identify the scope of hunger throughout the world. Using United States data, they discover why hunger is important to the United States and its agriculture. They identify goals of sustainable development and food...

Students calculate the probability of a desired outcome based upon a statistically significant number of discrete events (i.e. endgame free-throw attempts). They participate in an online simulation of basketball free throws.

Students identify the strategy that General Washington used to defeat a stronger force. For this Revolutionary War lesson, students investigate how Washington won the battles of Trenton and Princeton by watching the video Ten Crucial...

Students explore world history by illustrating an image. In this Mexican culture lesson, students identify the history of the holiday Cinco De Mayo and discuss the challenges the Mexican army faced. Students illustrate a picture...

Young scholars examine human health by completing a sports nutrition worksheet. In this eating habits instructional activity, students discuss the importance of a balanced diet and proper feeding times when competing in physical...

Students discuss what they know about reality television. In groups, they use new vocabulary words to match to its definition. They read an article and answer questions about reality television.

Students examine non-native species and the problems they have caused in the waters of the Chesapeake Bay. They create a "Wanted" poster for one of the species. They describe the effects of non-native species on the schoolyard species.

Students research the victories of Washington at Trenton and Princeton. In this Revolutionary War lesson, students investigate and discuss the factors of Washington's victories and use maps to identify the strategy Washington used....