Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Geo Logic: Continental Drift and Plate Tectonics
Using the skills of a paleontologist, students are asked to match up lecturers with what day and time they teach, and how many students they have based on clues given from several different perspectives. In the second part of the...
TryEngineering
Try Engineering: Telescoping Periscope
Working in teams of "engineers", students explore how a periscope works and is used. They design, build, and test a working periscope made from everyday materials that has adjustable mirrors and be able to telescope as well.
TryEngineering
Try Engineering: Electric Messages: Then and Now
Lesson investigates electronic communication from the Morse Code system to text messaging. To learn about this, learners construct simple circuits, send messages to each other, and explore the history and impact of communication.
TryEngineering
Try Engineering: Getting Your Bearings
Students learn about teamwork and problem solving in this lesson that focuses on friction and how ball bearings are used to reduce it.
TryEngineering
Try Engineering: Pulleys and Force
Learners work in teams to learn how pulleys and pulley systems impact everyday life. This activity explores the concept of force and shows how the use of pulleys can greatly reduce required force.
TryEngineering
Try Engineering: Infrared Investigations
Engineers use infrared technology to develop equipment and systems for a variety of industries. Teams of young scholars are challenged to test the limitations of infrared in a basic television remote control to conceive a way to point...
TryEngineering
Try Engineering: Pipeline Challenge
Students become "engineers" as they learn how to develop pipeline systems for transportation. In this lesson, they work in teams to design, develop, and execute a pipeline plan to transport both a golf ball and a ping pong ball from one...
TryEngineering
Try Engineering: A Question of Balance
Students work in teams to fill jars with a product that is uniform in weight or count. Lesson investigates how manufacturing engineers use weight scales and measurement to develop systems that can create consistent products.
TryEngineering
Try Engineering: Simple Kitchen Machines
Team lesson focuses on the different types of simple machines, how they work, and how they can be found in daily life.
TryEngineering
Try Engineering: Irrigation Ideas
The focus of this civil engineering lesson is on designing, building, and testing an irrigation system made from everyday materials to move water from one place to another.
TryEngineering
Try Engineering: Stop and Go
Lesson addresses how traffic is managed by the use of the traffic light. Student "engineers" work in teams to design a new traffic light system using new technology to meet the needs of society today.
TryEngineering
Try Engineering: Program Your Own Game
Teams of students learn about the work of software engineers as they design a simple computer game using free software available in multiple languages.
TryEngineering
Try Engineering: Cast Your Vote
Learners learn about the engineering design process as they design, build, test, and evaluate a voting system made with everyday materials. The objective of the instructional activity is to learn how engineering has changed methods of...
TryEngineering
Try Engineering: Classroom Paper Recycling
Students learn about the engineering design process as they devlop their own recycled paper using everyday materials. The objective of the instructional activity is to learn how chemical engineers work in teams to develop and improve the...
TryEngineering
Try Engineering: Spring Scale Engineering
Young scholars learn about the engineering design process as they design, build, and test a spring scale using everyday items that can measure the weight of an apple. The objective of the lesson is to explore how scales work and to learn...
Math Slice
Math Slice: Number Slice Special Test
A succinct test on number concepts including problem solving, basic operations, and computation. Assessment is scored online and student score is compared with other student test scores. Great for use as a quick assessment.
Math Slice
Math Slice: Time Slice Special Test
A concise tool for assessing time concepts such as telling time and elapsed time using analog clocks. Assessment is scored online and scores are compared with scores of all test takers. Great for use as a quick assessment.
Math Slice
Math Slice: Fraction Slice Special Test
A succinct tool for assessing decimal and fraction concepts. Assessment is scored online. An excellent tool for use as a quick assessment.
Math Slice
Math Slice: Length Slice Special Test
A ten question test for assessing measurement concept for length. Assessment is scored online and students get immediate feedback. A great assessment tool.
Math Slice
Math Slice: True False Slice Special Test
Test student knowledge of basic logic with this short test. Assessment is scored immediately online. Could be used as an assessment tool.
Math Slice
Math Slice: Math Crossword Slice Special Test
Use this interactive math crossword puzzle to build number sense skills. Simply fill in the missing numbers based on the operation. Immediate feedback given to responses.
Texas A&M University
Wtamu Virtual Math Lab: College Algebra: Systems of Linear Equations
This tutorial will show you a four-step process for solving problems involving systems of linear equations. View several examples of Polya's process of problem solving and hone your own skills with practice exercises.
Texas A&M University
Wtamu Virtual Math Lab: Intermediate Algebra: Introduction to Problem Solving
Through this tutorial, you'll learn how to use Polya's process to solve word problems, which involves four steps: understand the problem, devise a plan, carry out the plan, and look back. Contains several examples of simple word problems...
Writing Fix
Writing Fix: Problem Solving [Pdf]
A graphic organizer students can use to think about or solve a problem from three different points of view. A blank copy and a completed sample are both provided.