Curated OER
Compost Lesson
If you are looking for how to introduce elementary environmentalists to the process of composting, here is a comprehensive outline for making it happen. The plan is to set this up at the beginning of a school year in order to observe the...
Carnegie Mellon University
Lab Report
A set of instructions and a 100-point grading rubric have been designed for writing lab reports. Appropriate for middle schoolers, this lays out what to include for each of the six steps in the scientific method: title, hypothesis,...
PBS
Shakespeare & The Renaissance: Activity Ideas
Looking for ways to implement the words and works of William Shakespeare into your curriculum? This list of activity ideas is a great starting point, as it covers a wide range of grade levels and a wealth of online references to explore.
ARKive
Butterflies and Blooms
The Northwoods of Wisconsin are lovely in the summer,and they are also home to many flower and butterfly species. Investigate the ways in which seasonal flowers and butterflies are interdependent on each other for survival with a fun...
Curated OER
Ghost Crystals - Light & Water
Woo, ghost crystals, just in time for Halloween! Young scientists experiment with light and water as they make and observe ghost crystals. The lesson does not include the process for making the crystals, but provides a web link where a...
Illustrative Mathematics
Cynthia's Perfect Punch
Using a real-world example, this problem illustrates the thought process that learners need to engage in to understand adding mixed numbers with common denominators. First by looking at estimation, and then by drawing models that...
Shodor Education Foundation
An Introduction to Arithmetic and Geometric Sequences
Help your class look for patterns as they create their own arithmetic and geometric sequences. Engage learners with an introductory discussion on sequences and use the applet to let them explore how sequences are formed. Teachers might...
Curated OER
Sistine Chapel
Can you imagine taking students on a field trip to the Sistine Chapel? Well, now you can let them explore the art, symbolism, and history of this amazing work of art. Learners will use their mouse to move about the chapel as if they are...
Nuffield Foundation
Biodiversity in Your Backyard!
Take your enthusiastic ecologists outdoors to explore the biodiversity right in their own schoolyard! In preparing for this activity, it may be worthwhile to research websites with local flora to help in the plant identification portion.
Curated OER
Classroom Supplies
Challenge young mathematicians to buy classroom supplies by staying within the means of a $1,000 budget. The mathematical activity provides learners with the opportunity to decide what items from the supply list would benefit a class of...
Yummy Math
Soda Santa
Santa is the focal point of a worksheet that inquires how many cans and boxes of soda were used to create a supermarket display. As a small group project, the discussions that will ensue to evaluate the task's three questions will...
Yummy Math
Twinkies
Brian was devastated when Hostess® filed for bankruptcy, and he was also fearful that his favorite snack treat would be lost forever. The snack food was in danger of being lost, your class won't be lost when using Twinkies® as the...
Curated OER
Boorito!
Delicious Chipotle burritos are a big treat, especially when they are offered for only $2.00. This Halloween-themed learning experience isn't tricky, but learners will need to think critically about division with large numbers in order...
University of Arkansas
Twizzling Fractions
Using food as a manipulative is one of the best ways to incorporate hands-on learning in the classroom. This hands-on approach allows young mathematicians to compare, order, and identify fractions with the use of Twizzlers® and fraction...
BBC
Local Democracy
Expanding our students' understanding of government at a local level is a great way to build an understanding of government at a global level. Start the understanding by using any of these fun teaching ideas. Learners engage in several...
BBC
Victorian Lesson Plan
How has England changed? Are the streets the same today as they were in the time of the Tudors? Fourth year students compare and contrast the Victorian & Tudor streets to the streets of today. They research biographical information...
BBC
Walk Through History
First the Vikings raided Great Britain, and then they set up camp and moved in. Learners explore Viking times and discuss reasons why groups choose to settle. They construct a class timeline, engage in several online activities, and then...
Curated OER
Volcanoes-Viscosity Demonstration
Students engage in a activity which demonstrates that volcanism is the process whereby materials formed inside the Earth come out onto the surface. They participate in a simple, yet effective, activity which demonstrates how volcanoes...
Curated OER
Making a Thermometer
Students observe a demonstration of how a thermometer functions. They apply the scientific method while determining which of three cups hold the coldest water. They write a hypothesis before conducting the experiment and gather data.
Curated OER
M&M Probability
Students apply the scientific method in order to determine the probability of specific colors in a bag of M&M's. They determine the definition of probability and how it can be used. They make a hypothesis and conduct an experiment to...
Curated OER
Acid (and Base) Rainbows
Students are introduced to the differences between acids and bases and how to use indicators, such as pH paper and red cabbage juice, to distinguish between them. They make predictions that can be answered through scientific...
Curated OER
Cylinders and Scale
Students review what a cylinder is and how a cylinder is measured. They build a variety of cylinders with different heights and radii. They compare the surface area and volume of each cylinder and discuss anything that surprises them...
Curated OER
Systems, UP, Up and Away!
Students discuss rockets and how they work. Students research basic information about the Space Shuttle. Students work in collaborative groups creating "rockets" with empty film canisters. Students launch their "rockets" and record...
Curated OER
Values and Attitudes
Young scholars examine the Wright brothers' investigation into the principles of flight. Using the internet, they view examples of artifacts and discover how they were always open to new possiblities. They are introduced to the habits...