Center for Math and Science Education
Pocket Solar System
How in the world can something as big as the solar system possibly fit in your pocket? Complete this simple modeling activity and find out, as young scientists gain an appreciation for the incredible scale of outer space.
Curated OER
Connect the Spheres: Earth Systems Interactions
Is everything really connected? Take your class on a walk outside, where they will make observations and write them down on a worksheet. Once they are back in the classroom, learners will work to determine if and how things like birds,...
Lied Center of Kansas
The Ugly Duckling and The Tortoise and the Hare
Both The Ugly Duckling and The Tortoise and the Hare are great additions to an elementary language arts lesson. Young readers focus on the literary elements of each story, including characters and plot development, and apply counting and...
US Mint
Symbols in My Eyes
Explore the hidden meanings behind the images on US currency with this elementary school lesson on symbolism. Starting with a class discussion about symbols, children go on to brainstorm different objects that represent the Unites States...
Carstens Studios
Math Doodles
Discover the joy and excitement of improving your math fluency through four different puzzles. Combine those with 25 different ways to represent numbers and you have hours of enjoyment that can be fun outside of the classroom as well.
Curated OER
My Planet Earth
The earth is a delicate and fragile thing; Why not engage your class in a craft project that will make them aware of our environment? Earth Day is celebrated as recycled materials are used to create earth window hangings. Crayons are...
Curated OER
Shizuko’s Daughter: Unsent Letter
Have you ever wanted to tell a character what you really thought of him or her? Use a lesson based on Kyoko Mori's Shizuko's Daughter to encourage learners to write a letter in response to a character's actions.
Curated OER
Buses
Busy buses bustling back and forth. In this middle school assessment task, learners use information given in a graph to answer questions about bus schedules. They then determine how many times a bus passes by other buses going in the...
YMCA
Turning Courtrooms into Classrooms
Turn the class into the next episode of Law & Order! Scholars work together to create a mock trial over the course of several weeks before going before a judge for the case performance. They take on different roles, go through...
California Department of Education
California CareerZone Student Workbook
A 13-page workbook walks scholars through the California CareerZone website. Class members start by creating accounts then take an interest survey. Results from the survey are used in activities that explore lifestyle choices, budgeting,...
Curated OER
Getting To Know You
Students listen to the book "I like me" by Nancy Carison, or a similar self-esteem book, and then create self-portraitswhile the song "Getting to Know You" is being played. This is an excellent ice-breaker for the beginning of the...
Curated OER
All About Me & the School Experience
Students create a book documenting their school experience. After completing a class read of "Clifford's First School Day," students discuss what it is like being at school. They use a book template to create their own first days of...
Curated OER
Our School
Eighth graders design a school brochure. This brochure will be created using Publisher. Students include information about the school, information on courses and extra-circular activities that they feel informs others about their school.
Curated OER
Migration Activation
Young scholars play the role of migrating birds. As a class, they simulate a migration of birds to one place and back again. They relate their habitat size and changes to their current population numbers. They discover the many dangers...
Curated OER
Back In The "Old Days"
Fifth graders collect data during their worker interviews while in groups to compile job changes. They analyze the data to determine the categories of changes, patterns/trends of change and future projections. Each group then develops a...
Curated OER
School - Home Links: Parts of a Book
Parents or learning partners assist emergent readers with a School-Home Links worksheet. The children complete a matching activity about the parts of a book which include a table of contents, title page, and glossary. They match the word...
Curated OER
Physical Changes to Matter
Pupils explore matter by conducting an in-class experiment. They experiment with water's various forms by melting and freezing water, identifying its new shape. These observations are recorded to supplement later discussion. They also...
Curated OER
Objections to Condoms
Be aware that this topic is intended for mature teens. This is a breif, yet poignant lesson about responding to an objection to the use of a condom. Completing a worksheet allows students to have a take-home that they can reflect on well...
Curated OER
A RELEVANT APPROACH TO HISTORY (AT-RISK LEARNERS)
Learners do many activities which assist in teaching them individuals and societies in order that the student develop an awareness of the differences and likenesses of people. This many help the learner to realize his potential.
Curated OER
Directed and Undirected Free-writing: An Activity in Brainstorming
Analyze the free-writing method of brainstorming to explore how to write an essay. Middle schoolers plan their writing from the beginning after reading two samples of free-writing, then creating their own. The lesson includes extension...
Curated OER
On Our Way to School
First graders create a class graph that illustrates how they get to school and interpret data from the graph. They complete an assessment worksheet independently and answer questions about the graph shown.
Curated OER
Health and Fitness Expo
A health and fitness expo hosted by the 4th and 5th grade PE classes for the entire school. This is a great idea! There are 10 activities that are listed for the classes to participate in. For each of the activities, there is an...
Curated OER
Math-Literature Connection: Counting with Jack the Builder
Connect literature (Jack the Builder) with mathematical concepts. In a series of computation, geometry and number sense activities, pupils count on to add, count back to subtract, build cylinders, cones, and rectangular prisms, and name...
Curated OER
Presidential Election Year: Major Issues
Whether or not it's a presidential election year, this debate activity will spark research on current political issues. Split your government scholars into 4 groups and assign each a political party. One person will be the "candidate"...