Minimalism Teacher Resources

Students explore the realms of measurement. In this math lesson plan, students analyze and solve problems in which rectangles with identical perimeters are compared to maximize or minimize area. This lesson can be extended for algebra,...

What is the most efficient way to ensure everyone is connected? Individual pupils determine the least expensive route to pave roads in a fictional city. In doing so, they learn to find the minimal spanning tree for the situation. They...

Save the world by designing a new soda can! Learners first measure the dimensions of a typical soda can and calculate its surface area and volume. They then use spreadsheet software to minimize the surface area for the volume, thus...

Class members are challenged to write a neutral news story about the events they observe in a short video. After sharing their stories in groups and discussing the different perceptions, the class concludes with a video of...

Kids consider the pure abstraction and minimalism found in Mary Heilmann's work. They analyze several of her pieces through critical discussion and then think about her use of a song title as the title of her exhibit. Learners then use a...

Encourage your class members to consider what points they are really emphasizing when they are making an argument, whether in writing or in speech. Watch out though, as this instructional activity may just leave your learners eager to...

Have fun creating imaginary creatures with this symmetry lesson plan! Your class will paint one half of their imaginary creature, fold their paper in half, which will result in a symmetrical figure. What a great art project to combine...

Decide on the most efficient plan to supply drinking water. The second project-based learning task in a two-part series builds upon the first project. Pupils revisit the wells to supply drinking water, but they must make sure the...

Students use the graph and equation of a perimeter function to find characteristics that minimizes the perimeter of a rectangle. They comprehend that in business situations, such as packaging and city planning, minimizing perimeter is an...

In this cylinder learning exercise, students minimize the surface area given a set volume.  Students supply the height and radius of the can with the smallest surface area.

Pupils explain verses Vayikra 23:39-44, including why Sukkot is celebrated at that time of year and why we build Sukkot.

In this /ee/ vs. /i/ worksheet, 4th graders choose the correct word to complete 20 sentences using words that sound almost the same, with immediate online feedback.

Sal does another optimization example, this time, minimizing the total cost of an open rectangular box. In this problem, the volume can be defined in terms of a single variable and given a cost model, he builds a cost equation. He finds...

Take photos of human activities that impact air quality. Collaborative groups present one of the photographs, identifying how the activity contributes to air quality and what can be done to minimize the impact. As one in a series of...

Drill and practice is the method of teaching for today. Special needs pupils practice rounding to the next dollar value when purchasing an item at the store. They are shown flash cards with a monetary value, they then have 3-5 seconds to...

An eerie hand-drawn-style animation narrates how diseases are dispersed on a global scale. Although the content can strike fear in the hearts of viewers, it ends by noting how science has provided a way to minimize impact by identifying...

Reduce, reuse, recycle, and recover. Young environmentalists learn about the overwhelming amount of garbage produced and discover better ways to minimize their impact on Earth by learning the difference between garbage and...

Students determine the minimal inhibitory concentration and the minimal fungicidal concentration of two types of drugs used to combat fungal infection. They use several different types of in vitro techniques which are performed in the...

Middle schoolers name 3-5 aesthetic values of the Potomac River. They state the importance of water in their own words. Students describe what Earth Day is and why it is important. They list 5-7 ways that they can help minimize water...

Students compare the perceived and actual risks of getting skin cancer, while looking at ways to minimize these risks. They may have very little grasp of the severity of the threat of skin cancer or be unaware of the increase in the...

Class members connect engineering with an understanding of linear programming using a technical resource. Scholars learn about linear programming (linear optimization) and how it applies to engineering design in the first of two modules....

Does light always travel in a straight line? The narrator of a short video discusses the path light travels when going between different mediums and points out that light will want to travel on the path that minimizes the travel time....

Students practice calculating the perimeter of different sized rectangles. Individually, they identify the derivations of a function that can show the perimeter and determine how to minimize the perimeter within a fixed area. They use...

Students distinguish minor differences between English vowel sounds.