Made to Sail

When Captain John Smith visited the Chesapeake Bay in the summer of 1608, what types of animals and habitats did he encounter? Your young historians will analyze primary source documents to answer this question, as well as compare the...

Teams design and build a windmill, under budget, that can lift an object. The groups evaluate and reflect on their own design, then on those produced by other teams. The goal is to determine which design is the most...

Water wheels were first used more than 2,000 years ago, yet now they are only a small part of the energy generation people have come to expect. The Michigan-based energy unit covers the common types of energy used, residential energy...

Off they go — launching rockets is fun. The lesson plan contains templates to build paper rockets that can be launched from a PVC pipe launcher. Individuals or groups build the rockets and determine the shapes for their fins. Included...

Simplify students' lives with this physical science note-taking guide. From inclined planes to moveable pulleys, this resource supports young scientists with defining each type of simple machine while identifying their mechanical...

State the hull truth and nothing but the truth. Engineering teams develop and test a new hull design from a Styrofoam block. Teams predict the performance of their competitors in the class prior to the testing phase. After test results...

The reason people first began trading was because of their desires for objects other societies possessed. In the activity, classes discuss why exploration has been a common thread in all societies and where these desires have taken...

A five-lesson unit challenges teams to design a complex to allow people to colonize the Moon. The teams first work in order to understand the challenge before becoming experts. Expert teams learn about different aspects needed to survive...

Scholars build a boat using an assortment of materials such as foam plates, aluminum foil, and skewers, then test its buoyancy with pennies. Challenge boat builders to construct the strongest or fastest boat in a healthy competition with...

Cartoon children compare the earth's age to timescales that we understand:a calendar year, the thickness of a book, the human lifespan. This smart film clip is definitely worth adding to your geologic timescale lesson! If you subscribe...