Curated OER
Topos, Compasses, and Triangles, Oh My!
Young scholars triangulate using a compass, topographical (topo) map and a view of outside landmarks. They take a field trip to another location away from school and mark discernible landmarks (like mountains or radio towers) and changes...
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Getting to the Point
Learners determine location by using the technique of triangulation. They imagine that they are out in the wilderness and have come to the top of a ridge. How can one identify the ridge on the topo map? How can one figure out where you...
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Wind Power
Fourth graders develop an understanding of how engineers use wind to generate electricity. They will build a model anemometer to better understand and measure wind speed. They discover that engineers design wind turbines that generate...
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Lego Robotics: Measuring Speed
Students build and program a LEGO robotic car as well as measure and graph its speed. They acquire familiarity with principles of construction, motion, design and problem solving. They compare a robot's speed over two different surfaces...
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Fun With Adhesives
Students observe, measure, and record the properties in making objects stick together using science tools. In this science lesson, students explore with their senses while mixing flour and water. Additionally, students share their...
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Veggie Chop and Data Analysis
First graders chop vegetables into fractions. In this fractions lesson, 1st graders cut vegetables, collect data about favorite vegetables and create a bar graph using the information. Students make inferences about the data and...
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Aqua-Thrusters!
Young scholars construct their own rocket-powered boat called an "aqua-thruster." These aqua-thrusters will be made from a film canister and will use carbon dioxide gas - produced from a chemical reaction between an antacid tablet and...
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TE Activity: Northward Ho!
Middle schoolers design a simple compass. They examine how the Earth's magnetic field has both horizontal and vertical components. They determine how a compass works and work with cardinal directions.
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TE Activity: Pulley'ing Your Own Weight
Students experiment with common objects such as spools, string and soap to determine how pulleys make it easier to move large objects. They look at the difference between fixed and movable pulleys. They examine the many uses engineers...
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How to be a Great Navigator!
Students examine historical methods of navigation. They discuss the techniques of "Dead Reckoning," "Heaving the Log," and "Chip Log," pretend to sail from Europe to North America using vectors and determine the location of their...
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Excel for Beginners
In this Excel lesson, students set a formula to check their homework. Students also use clipart, work in groups, and learn to use the tools in the drop-down list.
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Patterns to the Rescue
Students watch the Cyberchase episode, "The Poddleville Case" and play online games to examine how patterns are sequences that repeat or change in an orderly way. The lesson plan culminates with students creating their own patterns to...
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Patterns, Functions, and Algebra: Wired for Space
Learners assess how patterns, functions and algebra can assist NASA engineers design new ways of propelling spacecrafts. They explore how electricity and magnetism are replacing the fuel-consuming rocket propulsion. Electromagnetism is...
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Leaving on A Jet Plane
Learners create an airplane by listening to directions. They also to measure the pieces for the airplane and compare and contrast their test flights.
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Cyber Currency, Currently
Students participate in online currency activities. In this currency instructional activity, students complete 6 activities which include online resources. They learn about bartering, monetary systems, foreign currency, stores, selling...
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The Human Memory
This is a well-designed, creative lesson to help students learn more about the human memory. Working in pairs, students complete tasks and gather data. Excellent websites for resources are also provided.
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Cyber Chow Combos
Students, after watching the CYBERCHASE episode, "A Day at the Spa,"represent and count combinations of choices using tree diagrams.
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By Land, Sea or Air
Middle schoolers learn navigational techniques change when people travel to different places. They understand differences between navigation on land, water, air and in space. They explain the concept of dead reckoning as it applies to...
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Diving, Flying, & Climbing
Students explore Boyle's Law. In this Boyle's Law instructional activity, students complete problems involving Boyle's Law. They examine the effects of Boyle's Law upon the human body. Students use the Internet to complete a lab...
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How Do Things Fall?
Students study forces by examining the force of gravitational attraction. They observe how objects fall and measure the force of gravitational attraction upon objects. Students discover that, since gravitational constants are different...
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Design a Recycling Game!
Students discover that recycling is using a product more than once so that natural resources can be saved and so that we won't need so many garbage dumps and landfills. They see that there are different ways to recycle. Students design a...
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Design a Parachute
Students engage in a discussion about what a parachute is and how it works. They create a parachute using different materials that they think will work best. The students test their designs, which will be followed by a class discussion...
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Heredity Mix 'n Match
Students randomly select jelly beans that represent genes for several human traits such as tongue-rolling ability and eye color. Then, working in pairs (preferably of mixed gender), students randomly choose new pairs of jelly beans from...
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TE Activity: Heavy Helicopters
Students study the concepts of weight and drag while making paper helicopters. They measure how adding more weight to the helicopter changes the time for the helicopter to fall to the ground. They apply what they examine to the work of...