Pennsylvania Department of Education
The Digestive System
Fourth graders simulate how the digestive system works. In this hands-on simulation, 4th graders complete six group activities that help students visualize how our body breaks down food into nutrients.
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Cosmetic Products Evaluation
Students evaluate different cosmetic products. In this chemistry lesson, students determine the physical and chemical components of their samples. They perform various test such as pH, viscosity, conductivity and formulate a conclusion...
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Mendelian and Non-Mendelian Heredity
Tenth graders discuss their physical features, and why they look the way they do. They listen as the teacher discusses DNA, alleles, and dominant or recessive genes. Students perform an experiment with different colored markers...
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Who’s on First? Cultural Heritage
Students explore their own heritage as they learn more about Roger Clemente. In this social studies and music lesson plan, students study cultural heritage through a study of Puerto Rican music and instruments.
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The Bouncing Ball
Students use the scientific method to conduct an experiment to test how a ball bounces. In this inquiry-based physical science and scientific method lesson, students drop a ball from specified heights and record the rebound, then record...
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Hunger and Malnutrition
Students recognize that our bodies cannot function without certain essential foods. In this hunger and malnutrition lesson plan, students become familiar with the problems associated with malnutrition such as medical problems, problems...
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Hawaiian Bird Beak Adaptation
Students explore adaptation by participating in a lab activity. In this bird characteristics lesson, students discuss the different purposes birds have for their beaks and conduct an experiment testing which beaks collect food best....
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Hot and Cold Colors
Students examine how temperature effects changes in materials. In this physical science lesson, students use food coloring and cups of water of varying temperatures to observe the effects temperature has on matter. Students predict and...
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Analyzing and Evaluating Holocaust Literature
Students examine the history of the Holocaust through literature. Using different pieces of literature, they critique the items in terms of being historical accurate and its value in telling the stories of the Holocaust. They create a...
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The Mayan Empire
Students study vocabulary associated with the Mayan Empire; its art, daily life, inventions, and religious beliefs. They examine why the Mayan culture is considered to be one of the most advanced of the ancient civilizations by...
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Rocket Launch
Students consider constraints which contribute to the design of a model rocket. They begin to analyze a model rocket's design and flight. They must be very specific in their thoughts and discussions.
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Arkansas History Lesson Plant One: Play-Do Soto
Fifth graders complete a variety of projects to learn about Arkansas history. In this Arkansas lesson plan, 5th graders go on a field trip to a state park, explore an Arkansas map, put play-dough on the trail of De Soto, color regions of...
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Simple/Complex Machines
Students make a simple machine. In this physics lesson plan, students learn about six types of simple machines and the purpose of each and brainstorm examples of simple and complex machines in the classroom. Students create a simple...
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Meet the Underground Railroad
Students research and learn about the Underground Railroad. In this Underground Railroad lesson plan, students take 2 weeks to research an individual, complete journal writings, read passages in small groups, list major events, and more.
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Engineering: Simple Machines
Fourth graders participate in activities to examine how simple machines help build things. They identify the six types of simple machines. They discover how simple machines where use historically to build pyramids and how they are still...
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Transformations, Tessellations, and Technology
Middle schoolers complete a unit about transformations and tessellations. They explore various tessellation websites, determine which shapes tessellate, complete a log about which website activities they complete, and create a...
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Hatching Chickens
Students observe chicks hatching from eggs. In this science instructional activity, students view a video to develop an understanding of the proper care and needs of eggs and live animals. This is a great precursor activity for...
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Modern Movements
Students analyze the art of Jacob Lawrence. In this art analysis lesson, students examine a art from Jacob Lawrence. In this art analysis lesson, students complete image based discussion activities and two related activities.
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The Story of an Old Piano
Students read excerpts from The Story of an Old Piano. They choose a personal object and write paragraphs from the object's point of view. Their stories can be bound for the class library.
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What is a bird?
Students sort birds by their physical characteristics. In this bird characteristics lesson plan, students review bird characteristics and create beaks. Students discuss birds as pets.
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Water Resources Engineering
Students illustrate the chemical differences between surface and tap-water. They investigate the common chemical and physical parameters relevant for water quality and gain hands on experience with water quality testing.
They enhance...
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Chalkboard Relay
Students solve addition facts. In this computation activity, students participate in a relay activity where one player writes a number on the chalkboard and the second player writes a second number underneath it. The second player tags a...
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Miscellaneous diode applications
In this physics worksheet students complete a series of short answer questions on different circuitry and how things operate.
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What is the Rainforest?
Students investigate rainforests. In this rainforest instructional activity, students brainstorm on a KWL chart about what they already know about the rain forest. Students are shown pictures of the rain forest and describe what they see...