Smarter Balanced
Thunderstorms
Ensure that all class members understand the basic concepts and vocabulary they need to complete a performance task on thunderstorms with an activity that asks them to use a Venn diagram to compare thunderstorms with rainy days.
PHET
Mapping the Ambient Magnetic Field
No GPS allowed! High school scientists continue to explore magnetic fields with a hands-on activity. After mapping the ambient magnetic field in the classroom and completing data analysis, they write about the similarities and...
Curated OER
U.S. History: Industrialization and Entrepreneurship
Eleventh graders investigate industrialization and explain how laissez-faire policies influenced entrepreneurship. On bubble maps, 11th graders locate causes of industrialization. In an activity/demonstration, students role-play as...
Curated OER
Election Vocabulary Brainstorm
Students participate in numerous activities pertaining to elections. They study election vocabulary and generate questions about campaigns and elections. They paraphrase articles and generate a class vocabulary list.
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Spaghetti Bridges
Students thread a piece of spaghetti through the holes in the cup. One person suspend the cup by placing each index finger approximately one inch in from the ends of the spaghetti.
Curated OER
Spaghetti Bridges
Eighth graders experiment with building bridges of spaghetti, pennies, and a cup to determine how varying the number of spagetti pieces affects the strength of the bridge. They graph their results and interpret the data.
Curated OER
Graphs
Eighth graders analyze graphs on a worksheet and in newspapers and magazines. In this graphs lesson plan, 8th graders also record their thoughts in a journal.
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Biotechnology Projects and Writing Assignments
Students research a subject about biotechnology and do a project or a writing assignment on it. They can pick from a possible eighteen different projects and five different writing projects.
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Personal Learning Profile
Students investigate the life of Ghandi in order to find out how they learn. The choice of Ghandi was made because many students are not familar with him. Then student engage in different modalities of learning and take learning style...
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Introduction to the Scientific Method
Young scholars designs and conduct a scientific experiment that identifies the problem, distinguishes manipulated, responding and controlled variables, collects, analyzes and communicates data, and makes valid inferences and conclusions.
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Tale of the Tooth Fairy
Students share social and cultural traditions and values. They develop listening strategies to explain what is heard.
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What is Good Writing?
Students assess samples of writing for each trait and discuss rationale for scoring. They comprehend that the traits of writing offer a common language for revision. Students are shown how to asses their writing and what makes good...
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Behind the Mission To Mercury
Learners assess the goals, benefits, success, and limitations of technology (instruments) on a space mission.
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What Happened to Slaves When their Owners Died?
Young scholars analyze last and testaments of former slaveowners to identify and explain economic, social and cultural differences between the North and the South leading up to the Civil War.
Curated OER
Imaginary Insect Zoo
Students construct imaginary insects. In this insect lesson, students will discover the anatomy of their favorite insect and apply it to their own creation. Student will write a description of their model, and put the insect models...
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Xinjiang: A Bi-Cultural Perspective
Twelfth graders research the affects the Chinese Nuclear Program has had on the environment and the health of the Uighur minority.
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Marine Mammal Diving Reflex
Tenth graders discuss marine mammal diving reflex, and measure pulse rate while holding their breath under three conditions: control, warm water, and ice water to determine if humans exhibit marine mammal diving reflex.
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The First Americans
Third graders explore American history by researching Native Americans. In this American settlers lesson, 3rd graders research the Native American Woodland Indians and define the actions they took when faced with the European settlers....
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The Surprise of the Blue Water
Students become aware of factors that effect drinking water quality and how this could effect the health of their school environment. Students compose a business letter reporting their school water quality results to an appropriate...
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Risky Business
Students distinguish the attitudes of other students their age regarding whether or not they are concerned with contracting HIV and why they might have these attitudes.
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Assessing the Traits: What is Good Writing?
Students assess samples of writing for each trait and discuss the rationale for scoring. They understand that the traits of writing offer a common language for revision. This lesson includes a scoring rubric for the students to use.
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Let's Get To the Core!
Young scholars practice analyzing ice core samples to discover climate changes. Using the samples, they identify and graph the gas amounts. They use these numbers to determine their effect on global warming. In pairs, they complete a...
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Civil Engineering: Designing Bridges
Students examine the bridges of the United States. They discuss the concept of balance. They draw their own design of a suspension bridge.