US Department of Commerce
Diversity: Census Questions Over Time
The story of race in the United States continues to evolve, and the numbers show it. Using data from the last two census counts, learners consider recent demographic shifts. They then analyze the information to hypothesize: What could...
US Department of Commerce
Apportionment: Grades 7-8
One person, one voice ... right? Using a simulation where uneven groups are given the same voice, scholars discover why fair apportionment based on an accurate census is important. Once finished, they use actual data to consider what...
Las Cumbres Observatory
Plotting a Supernova Light curve
Supernovas burn for a short time but can give scientists extensive information about the universe. Learners analyze given data about the change in the light magnitude of a supernova. They look for patterns in the data and use them to...
Curated OER
Food Chains and Endangered Animals
Students investigate how all links in the food chain are related. In this animal habitat lesson, students hypothesize about what would happen in the food chain if an endangered species were to become extinct. This lesson also includes an...
Curated OER
Animal Life Cycles
Students participate in numerous activities to gather information about parts of the life cycle. In this life science instructional activity, the teacher choose from a number of activities to create or support an interdisciplinary unit...
Curated OER
Colonial Life
Fifth graders explore American colonial life. In this interdisciplinary history and science lesson, 5th graders participate in several hands-on activities that require them to make colonial products that involve physical or chemical...
Curated OER
Inventing and Presenting Unit 1: Analyzing Nonfiction and Inventing Solutions
Students read about and identify patterns in the invention process. Students discuss and write about information learned from research. Students compile a list of problems, choose one, write a problem statement, and compile a list of at...
Curated OER
Triton Toys
Students investigate the hydrological cycle. The instructional activity is made to be performed within the computer lab. The instructional activity can also be done as a center for students to work on the project as time allows.
Curated OER
Team Sports Activity
Students discover team work by participating in sports activities with classmates. In this physical education lesson, students compete in different activities in small groups. Students discuss ways to increase their level of play by...
Curated OER
Using Music and Poetry to Teach Science
Students learn and review science concepts through creative activities and songs.
Curated OER
Peopling the New World -- An Archaeological Exercise in Excel
Students examine different types of spears that have been discovered from various civilizations. In groups, they calculate the answers to various word problems and enter their information on a spreadsheet. They use the data in other...
Curated OER
Through A Pinhole
Students construct a pinhole camera using their knowledge of the physics of light. This interdisciplinary activity give students hands-on experience in understanding the production and processing of photographic images.
Curated OER
Urban Ecosystems 5: In Defense Of Cities
Students explain that while cities have unattractive features, the density of human life enables energy efficiency, mass transit, recycling, and other benefits which are difficult or impossible in rural areas. This is the fifth in an...
National First Ladies' Library
Eleanor Roosevelt: Economics, Discovery and Daily Life
Examine the causes and effects of the Great Depression and the role of Eleanor Roosevelt during the era. Pupils take an inventory of their home for wants and needs, and conduct online research on The Great Depression. They then convert...
Curated OER
Bullying and Core Democratic Values
Middle schoolers explore the concept of core democratic values. After completing a survey of student populations regarding bullying, small groups analyze their findings and present their findings to the Student Council, principal, or the...
Curated OER
Ecosystem Services - Water Purification
Students see that ecosystems provide services to people that are essential to life as we know it. Reporters (drops of water) could interview the trees and soil in the surrounding ecosystems for news stories on how they helped keep the...
Curated OER
Water Purification
Students use the example of natural water purification to show that healthy ecosystems provide services to people that are essential to life as we know it.
Curated OER
Extreme Elevations
Seventh graders use highest and lowest points of land elevation around the world to find the differences. Sea level is zero, so students be operating with positive and negative numbers. After students find the information on the...
Curated OER
Team Apollo
Seventh graders brainstorm about problems with a school track. They research different possibilities for a solution. They test different track materials with erosion, durability, abrasiveness and resiliency. They determine the area,...
Curated OER
A Walk in the Woods: The Legacy of the Haudenosaunee
Fourth graders explore folktales and legends to investigate the life and culture of the Haudenosaunee Indians. The stories and food of the six Nations are experienced as the lesson proceeds.
Curated OER
Voyages of Discovery
Young scholars create individual "travel logs" for a world explorer whom they studied in history class. This lesson is an interdisciplinary activity for the Language Arts and History classroom.
Curated OER
The Barnum and Bailey Bartered Bride
High schoolers focus on the study of The Bartered Bride by integrating the theme of the circus begin the lesson with a "KWL" strategy map on the Circus. Students are asked: What do you know about the circus?
Curated OER
Sweethearts and Data Analysis
Learners explore the concept collecting and representing data. In this collecting and representing data lesson, students record the different colors of sweetheart candies in their sweethearts box. Learners create a table of the data and...
Curated OER
Retirement: Show Me the Money!
Students explore the concept of retirement finances. In this retirement finances lesson, students discuss what it means to save, invest, risk, or the time value of money. Students play the stock market game. Students interview a parent...