Space Awareness
The Intertropical Convergence Zone
Young scientists know it is hotter along the equator, but why is it also rainier? Through the process of completing two experiments and a worksheet, scholars discover the answer is the intertropical convergence zone. First, they...
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Survival of the Fittest - Variations in the Clam Species Clamys sweetus
It's not often that you come across a clever laboratory activity that is both imaginative and comprehensive! Using M&M's and Reese's peanut butter candies to represent two different clam species, young biologists test for "relative...
Curated OER
Colds and Germs
Students determine how diseases are spread from one person to another. They investigate the importance of hand washing to reduce the spread of common colds and other diseases. They listen to teacher read alouds and complete an inquiry...
Curated OER
Let Your Fingers Do the Estimating
Investigate estimation with the White Pages. Youngsters use the phonebook to estimate the average number of phone listings that can be found there. They write a paragraph explaining the processes they used in this challenge.
Curated OER
How Caves Are Formed
Young scholars explore caves. In this cave formation lesson, students take a virtual tour of a cave and then participate in a scientific investigation that requires them to grow crystals and chart data regarding their growth.
Curated OER
Spuds in Space
Students explore the effects of velocity on an object when it collides with another object. They design and outfit a potato astronaut in a spacesuit to withstand the hazards of high velocity impacts from space debris and meteoroids.
Curated OER
Pendulums
First-time physicists experiment with pendulums in this physics lesson. They vary the weight of the bob, record how long each takes to complete ten period swings, and then calculate the time for one period. They repeat the procedure,...
Curated OER
Flour Beetle
Students observe the life cycle of the common flour beetle and make observations of its life stages. They also design and implement an investigation on food preference for the beetle and record data over a period of several months....
Curated OER
Season Sarcophagus
Students analyze a sarcophagus art and create a similar piece of art. In this sarcophagus art lesson, students investigate possible meanings of the Season Sarcophagus and create a work of art that is similar to the subject or meaning of...
Curated OER
Clifford Goes to School and So Do We!
Students use the story, "Clifford Goes to School," to investigate the value of rules as a means of keeping them safe. Following step-by step directions, the rules are placed on patterns and which are worn home.
Curated OER
Talking Duck
Students study how animals communicate through their senses and signals. They investigate how animals survive using their communication skills and create a commercial based on the research.
Curated OER
Connotation and Denotation:
Eighth graders investigate the effect that connotations can have on writing. They are shown examples to build background knowledge before attempting the exercise. They finish by writing a paragraph to practice what they have learned.
Curated OER
Seeing Is Believing
Students investigate the concepts of probability. They use data to find the central tendency, median, and mode. Students design and play a game in order to practice the concepts. They also complete a table with data that is analyzed.
Curated OER
U.S. and Canada: How are We the Same? How are We Different?
Get high school geographers to compare and contrast Canada and the United States. They begin by drawing a freehand map of North America, then complete readings to gain insight into Canada. The text is not provided; however, another text...
Curated OER
Cover Your Mouth Please!
Second graders investigate how to slow the spread of germs from coughing and sneezing. In this illness prevention instructional activity, 2nd graders talk about why people cough and sneeze before telling about ways to prevent the spread...
Curated OER
Building Understanding of Rate of Change/Slopes Using Alice
Young scholars explore slope as a rate of change. In this eighth grade mathematics lesson, students investigate real-world problems to determine rate of change and transform it into a linear representation, thus determining slope. Young...
Curated OER
Introducing Ideas about Inheritance
Is it nature or nurture? In an easily adaptable kinesthetic activity to introduce genetics, learners group themselves based on a variety of categories. They will quickly find that some characteristics are easy to put in order, while...
Curated OER
Citizens Hold Their Breath in Smoke-free Cities
Students investigate the laws covering smoking in public places in their community and find out if city council or other governing bodies have considered changing these laws. Students conduct interviews and write an article explaining...
Mr. Roughton
The Maya Files
What a creative approach to studying about the ancient Mayan civilization! Learners will become investigators in the case of the "disappearance" of the Classic Maya by examining a variety of primary and secondary source material,...
Curated OER
Search and Seizure: What Does It Mean?
Students, in a juvenile correctional facility, study the meaning of the Fourth Constitutional Amendment. They study definitions and complete worksheets to investigate the implications of the amendment.
Curated OER
What Are Your Chocolate Eating Habits?
Students design and conduct a survey as an investigation of chocolate eating habits. They pool and analyze their results and consider which companies are making the largest profits based on the information gathered from their surveys.
Curated OER
How We're Connected
Students take a survey in order to find out how they live in relationship to the environment. They take the time to investigate the differences between a need and a want. This is done as part of the self-assessment. Students also study...
Curated OER
Woodblock Printing: Early Printing Traditions in China
Students examine important role of woodblock printing in Chinese history, identify message important to them, and create woodblock prints to gain first-hand understanding of how it was used as tool for communication.
Curated OER
Word Value
Students investigate the concepts of adding, estimating, and ordering. The lesson uses the alphabet as an example illustration. The students practice the calculations in class in order to ensure mastery.