Teach Engineering
Determining Densities
Don't be dense—use a robust resource. The second installment of a five-part Floaters and Sinkers unit has learners determine the densities of several objects. As part of the activity, they learn the displacement method for finding...
Curated OER
Points on a Line
Get your learners up and moving, all while reviewing numbers on the number line! For this activity, learners are grouped in teams outdoors. The teacher will have already created number lines on the ground (with chalk, tape, etc.), and...
Curated OER
How Far Can You Jump?
Students estimate the distance of student's broad jumps. This activity can take place in the block center with a small group of students. They are explained that they are going to jump from a starting point (marked with the masking...
Curated OER
Chopping Cubes
Middle schoolers work in small groups to make various geometric solids with Play-Doh. They use fishing line to make cuts and observe the shapes of the cross-sections. Pupils complete an assessment in which they answer questions such as:...
Curated OER
Maximize area
For this subscription-based activity, algebra learners model changes in the length and width of a rectangle to determine the maximum area possible for a given perimeter and solve several application problems involving area, included in...
Curated OER
Measurement: 2D and 3D
Students solve volume problems. In this geometry lesson, the class watches a video about clean water (link provided) and individuals compare the volume of different prisms, including an actual drinking glass. Extension activities include...
Curated OER
Points, Lines, Planes, and Space
In this points, lines, planes, and space worksheet, students solve word problems dealing with points, lines, planes, and space. Students complete 20 individual problems and 20 group problems.
Curated OER
Problem Solving: 100 Board Logic Problems
Get mathematicians engaged with number terminology using this puzzle activity! Learners determine the selected number from a hundred board by eliminating numbers using clues. As a group, each learner has a specific role, outlined in the...
Teach Engineering
Efficiency of a Water Heating System
Tired of waiting for hot water? Groups of three determine the efficiency of an electric water-heating device. They calculate the amount of energy it takes to heat the water and the theoretical amount of energy required to heat the water....
Teach Engineering
Weather Alert
Every time a bell rings ... there is lightning in the area. The activity provides directions to build a model of a lightning detection system. Similar to a system designed by Benjamin Franklin, the system uses static...
Teach Engineering
What Makes Our Bones Strong?
So is that what you meant by rubber legs? The activity has pairs subject a chicken bone to vinegar and observe what happens over a period of days. Individuals then write up a lab report and document their observations and findings.
Teach Engineering
News Flash!
Extra, extra, read all about it! Scholars research information on endangered species and produce a news report to share their findings with the rest of the class. In groups, they then consider engineering solutions to problems on habitat...
Curated OER
Cyber Chow Combos
Using a worksheet that's embedded in the plan, elementary schoolers must come up with the most possible combinations of food they can order from the menu on the worksheet. The lesson is meant to be done independently by everyone, then...
Curated OER
Conditional Probability and Probability of Simultaneous Events
Your statisticians examine the characteristics of conditional probability and the probability of simultaneous independent events. They perform computer activities to find probabilities for simple compound events. They examine the...
Curated OER
Tiles, Blocks, Sapphires & Gold: Designing a Treasure Map
Young cartographers in groups hide treasure at school and then create a map to find it using pattern blocks and tiles. They make paintings with clues to create a visual representation of the location of their treasure. Groups present...
Curated OER
Petro Products
For this petroleum products worksheet, students are given the components of crude oil and they graph the various products found in a 50 gallon barrel. Students complete an activity to determine if they have collected cards that represent...
DK Publishing
Thin, Thinner, Thinnest
Reinforce comparative adjectives and relative size with a drawing activity. Kindergartners study a thin house and a thin balloon, then draw a thinner version of each. They also choose the thinnest bottle and lollipop in a group. Focus on...
Curated OER
Inequality and the 1/2 Benchmark
Fourth graders utilize fraction bar manipulatives to compare a variety of fractions to the fraction value 1/2. Pupils are put into groups, and they begin to see how fractions that look completely different actually represent the same...
Teach Engineering
Can You Resist This?
Some things are hard to resist. Small collaborative groups build circuits and calculate the voltage using Ohm's Law. Budding engineers explore the connection between the voltage across different resistors and linear...
Illustrative Mathematics
Guess the Marbles in the Bag
Use this activity to help your class develop an understanding of greater than, less than, and equal to with numbers valued between 1 and 10. Secretly place a number of marbles (between 1 and 10) in a brown paper bag. Then shake the bag...
Illustrative Mathematics
Making Hot Cocoa, Variation 1
Dividing with fractions can be a confusing task to some, but the activity illustrates how to make groups out of the problem and look at it visually. Use this problem with the lesson in the Additional Materials section to practice this...
Illustrative Mathematics
Teen Go Fish
Kindergartners play the classic game Go Fish as they practice identifying numbers in the teens. A fun and engaging activity that develops number recognition skills in young learners. As added support, provide cards that include both the...
Teach Engineering
Breaking the Mold
A little too much strain could cause a lot of stress. Groups conduct a strength test on clay. Using books as weights, pupils measure the compression of clay columns and calculate the associated strain and stress. Teams record their...
Teach Engineering
Aerogels in Action
Model an oil spill cleanup. An engaging engineering lesson has groups using aerogels to simulate an oil spill cleanup (vegetable oil in water). Along the way, they learn about nanotechnology and hydrophilia/hydrophobia.