Curated OER
Matchstick Math: Using Manipulatives to Model Linear, Quadratic, and Exponential Functions
Playing with matches (unlit, of course) becomes an engaging learning experience in this fun instructional unit. Teach pupils how to apply properties of exponential functions to solve problems. They differentiate between quadratic and...
National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network
The Effects of Gold and Silver Nanoparticles on Brine Shrimp: A Toxicology Study
Who doesn't love gold and silver? Brine shrimp, that's who! Learners conduct an experimental lesson plan to monitor the toxicity of gold and silver nanoparticles on brine shrimp. They synthesize solutions to expose the brine shrimp to...
Curated OER
Tall Tale Rollers
Students explore American tall tales. In this tall tale lesson, students discover the six characteristics that are included in tall tales. Students survey their class to find each student's favorite tall tale character and organize the...
Curated OER
Sleepy Time
students collect and interpret data about their own sleep patterns, as well as family members. Students graph their results and compare with others in the class. Students identify and interpret healthy sleep patterns and behaviors.
Curated OER
Weather, Migrations, and Plants
Students research the effects of day-to-day weather on animal migrations, plant growth and other seasonal events. They consult maps, observe and record local conditions, keep journals and use their collected data check hypotheses.
Curated OER
Observing and Predicting Weather from a Weather Station
Fourth graders us a Weather Log data chart to record the date, time, day, and weather. They discuss different instruments and charts needed to record the information. Students turn in their weather logs at the end of two weeks and...
Curated OER
Investigation 6 - Collecting Weather Data
Fourth graders collect data for two weeks. They start seeing patterns and make predictions. They can predict what the weather be like the next day and for the next few days. They see if their predictions were correct from the previous day.
Curated OER
Survival of the Fittest – Battling Beetles
Students explore natural selection. For this genetic adaptation lesson plan, students discover why certain traits continue and some traits disappear. Students discover how species evolve and change. Resources are provided.
Curated OER
How Trees Contribute to the Water Cycle
In this water cycle instructional activity, 3rd graders conduct an experiment where they observe and calculate how water transpires in different types of trees. Students engage in a class discussion and use Venn Diagrams to compare...
NOAA
Mapping the Deep-Ocean Floor
How do you create a map of the ocean floor without getting wet? Middle school oceanographers discover the process of bathymetric mapping in the third installment in a five-part series of lessons designed for seventh and eighth graders....
American Statistical Association
How Random Is the iPod’s Shuffle?
Shuffle the resource into your instructional activity repertoire. Scholars use randomly-generated iPod Shuffle playlists to develop ideas about randomness. They use a new set of playlists to confirm their ideas, and then decide whether...
Curated OER
Virtual Field Trip
This hands-on resource has future trip planners analyze graphs of mileage, gasoline costs, and travel time on different routes. While this was originally designed for a problem-solving exercise using a Michigan map, it could be used as a...
Curated OER
Back In The "Old Days"
Fifth graders collect data during their worker interviews while in groups to compile job changes. They analyze the data to determine the categories of changes, patterns/trends of change and future projections. Each group then develops a...
Curated OER
Pop-Up Stepping Stones
Students become aware that humans exhibit a predictable growth pattern and then research their families progression of child birth. They collect their research data and design a keepsake of their milestones in chronological order.
Curated OER
Means of Growth
Students collect and graph data. For this statistics lesson, students analyze their plotted data using a scatter plot. They identify lines as having positive, negative or no correlation.
Curated OER
Investing
Students collect data on investments and draw conclusions. In this algebra lesson, students analyze exponential graphs as they relate to money. They discuss the cause of an account balance being high or low.
Curated OER
Geometry Jeopardy
Students identify the pattern in a problem. For this geometry lesson, students make predictions, collect and analyze data. They apply the idea of scales and measurements to the real world.
Curated OER
Marine Animals on the Move
Students complete a project based on collecting satellite data aimed at finding connections between organisms and the environment. They create a final project working with a partner to share with the class.
National Wildlife Federation
I Speak for the Polar Bears!
Climate change and weather extremes impact every species, but this lesson focuses on how these changes effect polar bears. After learning about the animal, scholars create maps of snow-ice coverage and examine the yearly variability and...
Curated OER
Get a Leg Up
Traveling through space is an amazing experience, but it definitely takes a toll on the body. After reading an article and watching a brief video, learners perform an experiment that simulates the effects of zero gravity on the human body.
Curated OER
Code Breakers
Students collect data and make a frequency table, change ratios into percents, and analyze data to make predictions.
Curated OER
Mathematics Within: Algebraic Patterns
Students discover patterns in linear equations by playing a dice game to collect data. They graph the data and analyze the patterns of the lines created by the data. The class then compares the individual graphs to evaluate the position...
Curated OER
Tree Study
Students measure the lengths of provided leafs to the nearest millimeter. Students identify trends in the data as well as sourced of inaccuracy and formulate additional questions that could be investigated to enhance their understanding.
Curated OER
Speed + Graphing = Winners!
Fifth graders take addition timed tests every day for a two week period. Using the data from the timed tests, they create a bar graph using Microsoft Excel computer software, a personal bar graph using graph paper and colored pencils,...