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Cells - Overview & Introduction
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Three-Dimensional Coordinates and the...
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Language and Creativity
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Noticing Poetry
New ReviewIntroduce scholars to the "I Notice" method, a different approach to studying poetry. Instructors first model the noticing method by identifying words and images that appeal on the sonic level, the ideational level, the sensory level,...
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Wonder Women - The Untold Story of American Superheroines: Middle School Curriculum Guide
New ReviewWomen in power are the focus of a three-module unit that employs comic books to bring home the importance of equality and proficient media literacy skills. In module one, scholars examine gender roles in media—boosting media literacy and...
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Self and Interpersonal Relationships Theme Unit
New ReviewA key goal of social-emotional learning is to help young people develop healthy attitudes towards themselves and others. A 173-page curriculum guide provides step-by-step lessons that are richly detailed, carefully scaffolded, and...
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Using your voice Is a Political Choice - Amanda Gorman
New ReviewNational Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman delineates her reasons for claiming that all poetry is political. The video captures the poet's passion and commitment to speaking up and speaking out. It is a must-have resource.
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Calculus AB/BC - Determining Concavity of Functions over Their Domains
New ReviewTime to take a second look at derivatives finding concavity. While watching the video, learners find out the definition of concavity. Individuals see how to determine whether an interval is concave up or concave down using graphs and the...
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The Birth of an Icon: Learning and Performing the Origins of the Drum Set and Early Jazz Drumming in New Orleans, Louisiana
New ReviewBass drum, snare drum, tom-toms, cymbals. Perched behind their drum sets, wielding their drum sticks and wire brushes, drummers lay the grove and are the heartbeat of a band's performance. A dynamic lesson introduces young musicians to...
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Amanda Gorman Reads Inauguration Poem, 'The Hill We Climb'
New ReviewFollowing in the tradition established by John F. Kennedy and Bill Clinton, the Inauguration Ceremony of Joseph Biden featured an Inauguration Poem. National Youth Poet Laureate, Amanda Gorman's powerful recitation of her Inauguration...
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MLK: Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Speech in Oslo, Norway, 1964
A 12-minute video takes viewers to Oslo Norway in 1964 to see Martin Luther King's Nobel Peace Price acceptance speech.
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Calculus AB/BC - Derivatives of tan(x), cot(x), sec(x), and csc(x)
Continue to differentiate the rest of the trigonometric functions. Pupils see the derivatives of the other four trigonometric functions and begin to memorize the rules. Learners see examples that show that the calculus portion of a...
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Calculus AB/BC - The Quotient Rule
Some differentiation rules are just better to memorize. The ninth lesson in a unit of 11 presents the quotient rule to pupils for them to memorize. Learners use the quotient rule to determine the derivative of two quotients after seeing...
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Calculus AB/BC - The Product Rule
There's more to derivatives of multiplication than simply the product of the derivatives. A helpful video gives learners the product rule of finding the derivative of the product of two functions. Pupils find the derivatives of functions...
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Calculus AB/BC - Derivatives of cos(x), sin(x), e^x, and ln(x)
The shortcuts are not just for polynomial functions. Pupils learn the derivatives of the two basic trigonometric functions, cosine and sine. The video provides the derivatives for exponential and logarithmic functions. Learners work...
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Calculus AB/BC - Derivative Rules: Constant, Sum, Difference, and Constant Multiple
Use derivatives to find equations of lines. Pupils learn more rules to use as shortcuts to find derivatives. Using the rules, they find the equations of the tangent line and the normal line at a given point. Scholars then apply the new...
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Calculus AB/BC - The Power Rule
There has to be a quicker way. Pupils learn the power rule that allows for a shortcut to take the derivative of terms to a power. Using the newly found rule, scholars find the slope of the tangent line to a function at a given x value....
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Calculus AB/BC - Connecting Differentiability and Continuity
Despite what you thought, you can differentiate between continuity and differentiability. Using a short lesson, pupils learn how differentiability and continuity relate to each other. It provides three descriptions of when a function is...
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Calculus AB/BC - Estimating Derivatives of a Function at a Point
It seems like it should be about three. Pupils learn to get an estimate of the derivative of a function at a point by using the derivative functionality of their graphing calculators. They take that information to determine the equation...
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Calculus AB/BC - Defining the Derivative of a Function and Using Derivative Notation
Pupils learn how to find the derivative of a function by applying the definition using limits. Learners understand that the derivative provides the slope of the tangent line and use that information to find the equation of the tangent...
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Calculus AB/BC - Average and Instantaneous Rate of Change
Ramp up the average rate of change—instantly. Learners use their knowledge of the formula to find the average rate of change to find the instantaneous rate of change. The presenter shows pupils an interactive that demonstrates finding...
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RSC Activity Toolkit: Othello
Jealousy, betrayal, revenge! Hello, content! The Royal Shakespeare Company's Othello toolkit is a must-have for any in-depth study of one of Shakespeare's most famous tragedies. The 25-page packet is divided into 20 sections, each...
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King Lear Teacher Pack 2013
The King Lear Teacher Pack 2013 is designed to prepare pupils for watching the Royal Shakespeare Company's film version of King Lear. The eight activities in the pack help learners unpack the themes, events, and language of Shakespeare's...
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RSC Activity Toolkit: Hamlet
There is a method in a 28-page Hamlet toolkit. Rogues, peasant slaves, and young actors have an opportunity to engage in 11 activities that enable them to experience Hamlet in a whole new way. What a piece of work!
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The Paradise Papers: A Lesson in Investigative Journalism
The Paradise Papers, a year-long research project from the International Consortium of Investigative Journalism (ICIJ) exposed how political leaders, business people, and wealthy individuals used offshore entities to avoid taxes and hide...
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College Physics for AP® Courses
Take a look at an organized physics course. The 34-section electronic textbook covers material in AP® Physics 1 and 2. Teachers use the text to supplement lectures and have the class work through the labs. Each section contains multiple...
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Biology for AP® Courses
An eight-unit electronic textbook provides a guide to AP® Biology. Each of the 28 chapters include an introduction, multiple lessons, a summary, review questions, and test prep questions. Teachers see how each lesson connects to a big...
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Nurturing Gratitude From the Inside Out: 30 Activities for Grades K–8
Teach the importance of showing gratitude at any age with a teacher's guide comprised of thirty activities. Browse the extensive table of contents to find the array of exercises designed to meet the needs of your learners. Scholars take...
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Historical Presidential Campaign Announcement Analysis
Using the announcements of presidential candidacies, pupils consider how contenders make their initial arguments to the public. A worksheet helps structure collaborative work to analyze 10 video clips. Writing prompts allow for extension...
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Becoming US President
It's that time of year, and the year. Once again the race is on for the White House. It's important that young voters, and would-be voters, understand the process for becoming the United States President. Class members research the...
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Solutions to Polynomial Equations
Take a step back to Algebra II. The first lesson in a series of 23 asks scholars to remember working with quadratic equations with complex solutions. Pupils apply polynomial identities to complex numbers and work examples that show how...
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The Challenge of Confirmation Bias
Confirmation bias makes it difficult to overcome our preconceived notions of others. That's the big idea in a lesson that teaches learners strategies to recognize and question their biases.
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Transcending Single Stories
The focus of the second lesson in the Standing Up for Democracy unit is on the power of assumptions based on a single experience or point of view. Class members begin by journaling about assumptions others make about their identity based...
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Sojourner Truth | Abolitionist and Women’s Rights Activist Video
Talk about perseverance! Introduce young historians to Sojourner Truth with a richly detailed lesson plan that includes a video overview of Truth's life, background vocabulary, as well as before and after viewing discussion questions. A...
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Mary Church Terrell | Unladylike2020
Catalytic events wake people up. For Mary Church Terrell the lynching of her friend Thomas Moss lead to her involvement in the catalytic events of suffrage, anti-lynching, and desegregation. Learn more about this amazing woman and her...
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Iowa’s Social-Emotional Learning Competencies
Whether new to social-emotion learning, or familiar with the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning competencies, this packet is a must have. The resource contains detailed information about the purpose of the...
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Who, Me? Biased?: Understanding Implicit Bias
A 10-page interactive explains different facets of implicit bias, demonstrates how implicit bias works, and how people can counteract its effects. The interactive tools permit users to save their information in "My Work" folders, to take...
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Social Emotional Toolkit
Looking for some tools to help you incorporate social and emotional learning into your curriculum? Then check out this 79-page kit packed with ideas for developing social-emotional learning competencies. The first section provides...
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The Lowdown: How Good are You at Detecting Bias?
Get the lowdown on five different types of biases (confirmation, anchoring, blind-spot, negativity, outcome) with a activity that not only provides examples but also offers suggestions for how to detect and combat each type.
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Do Politics Make Us Irrational?
Teaching scholars about the concept of partisan-based cognitive dissonance is essential now more than ever. A short video explains how partisanship works and often causes irrational responses.
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Frankenstein: The Consequence of Creation
Famous as a horror story, as the first science fiction novel, Frankenstein is also a tale of ambition, a warning about unbridled science, and responsibility for actions. Readers consider what the tale says of the consequences of creation...
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Tone Analysis Through Music and Nonfiction: Watch Your Tone
Identifying the tone of a piece of writing or the author's attitude toward the subject matter can be difficult for learners. Simplify the process with a activity that begins with skits, moves to songs and their lyrics, and then to...
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Teaching American History for All
Although Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X both work for equal rights, social change, and political empowerment, their approaches were radically different. To better understand these contrasts, class members compare King's "I...
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Character vs. Society in The Invisible Man
Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man is difficult to read and difficult to teach. The novel is so highly regarded that it is one of most often listed as an option for the AP Literature and Composition exam. The materials in this packet from PBS...
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Teaching Guide: Exploring Beloved
Toni Morrison's powerful and painful Pulitzer Prize winning novel Beloved is not easy to read or easy to teach. Here's a teaching guide, loaded with primary source materials, that gives readers the background they need to understand the...
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A Pale Blue Dot: That's Here. That's Home. That's Us.
21st-century learners live in such a visual world that many are unused to letting their minds imagine the picture that words create. An excerpt from Carl Sagan's lecture, "The Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space,"...
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Ugly History: Japanese American Incarceration Camps
When Aki Kurose was 16 years old, her family was forced to relocate from their home in Seattle with other Japanese Americans. The government feared that despite their loyalty to the United States, they were operating on behalf of the...
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Grade 6-8 Living Things
What characterizes a living thing? Scholars explore the concept during a differentiated instruction unit on living things. They perform lab experiments to determine how animals adapt to stimuli, watch videos and learn about...
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Jewish Resistance
Resistance to the Holocaust took on many forms. Learners explore the passive and active resistance of Jewish people who continued their practices and observances, as well as organized resistance against the evils of the Nazis. An...
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Freedom’s Ring: King’s “I Have a Dream” Speech
Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech was the clarion call for the modern Civil Rights Movement. Using the immortal words of King, an animated screen allows pupils to hear his words delivered to the March on Washington in...
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Survivors and Liberators
The end was just the beginning. The period immediately after the end of World War II and the Holocaust is often called "The Return to Life" as survivors looked to reunite and recreate broken families and shattered lives. A two-lesson...
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Nazi Germany
The Holocaust was an evolution of anti-Semitism, scapegoating, and targeted violence against Jews with Nazi policies. A resource unpacks the escalation in violence, along with the erosion of democratic institutions, during the 1930s....
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The Children and Legacies Beyond the Holocaust
Using video testimony, primary source documents that detail international agreements, and structured discussions, learners consider the precarious position of children during the Holocaust and other international conflicts, and how to...
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Rescuers and Non-Jewish Resistance
What does it mean to be a rescuer during the time of the Holocaust? Learners consider the role of those who resisted the Nazi invasions, including hiding Jewish people, throughout Europe. Activities include listening to the testimony of...
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Studying The Holocaust
While many young scholars are familiar with the Holocaust, they may not understand the specific history that led to the unprecedented atrocity. The first lesson in the unit helps teachers gauge their pupils' background knowledge. A...
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American Dream: Reality, Promise or Illusion?
Dream or nightmare? Class members craft a synthesis essay with textual to determine to what extent the United States has fulfilled the ideas embodied in the America Dream.
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Evaluating Sources in a ‘Post-Truth’ World: Ideas for Teaching and Learning about Fake News
The framers of the United States Constitution felt a free press was so essential to a democracy that they granted the press the protection it needed to hold the powerful to account in the First Amendment. Today, digital natives need to...
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Coastal Peru: The Amazing Biodiversity of a Coastal Ecosystem
Peru's coastal ecosystem is only one of the country's amazing features. But travelers don't need passports, expensive plane tickets, or heavy suitcases to examine the biodiversity of coastal Peru. Armed with a field trip log and graphic...
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Timeline of the Holocaust
An interactive timeline uses images, videos, primary source documents, and links to informational text to chronicle the history of the Holocaust from 1933-1945.
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Socratic Seminar Format Overview
Whether new to the Socratic seminar format or an experienced veteran of the popular discussion technique, you'll find much to like in a five-page, richly detailed packet that not only details the prep necessary, the process, and the...
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Persuasive Writing
Should students be paid for doing well in school? That is the question at the heart of an argumentative writing unit that walks writers through the steps of crafting a persuasive essay. The carefully scaffolded scripted plans provide...
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Creating Suspense Lesson 1: Analyzing Literary Devices in Poe's "The Masque of the Red Death"
Rather than a whodunit, "The Masque of the Red Death" is the perfect story to analyze how Poe combines literary devices to create the suspense that grips readers. The richly detailed lesson is carefully scaffolded, moving from teacher...
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What Is the Coldest Thing in the World?
A video that demonstrates the process for cooling atoms launches a journey to comprehend physics. After watching the video, class members answer multiple-choice and short-answer questions to prepare for a whole-class discussion of the...
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Principles of Microeconomics: Scarcity and Social Provisioning
There’s no such thing as a free economics course, but here's a resource that is as close as you can get. Drawing on the expertise of a textbook, augmented by input from higher education economics instructors, a helpful eBook presents a...
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Martin Luther King Jr.: Civil Rights Leader
Expand class members' appreciation of the work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. A powerful resource examines King's speeches, writings, and actions that reveal his deep commitment to a nonviolent approach to Civil Rights. Learners watch a...
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Malcolm X: Minister and Civil Rights Activist
Any study of the leaders of the Civil Rights Movement would be incomplete without an examination of the life of Malcolm X. Class members view a short biographical video and analyze primary source documents to gain an understanding of the...
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Muhammad Ali: Boxer and Civil Rights Activist
Many young people today know Muhammad Ali as the aging boxer who lit the torch at the 1996 Olympics. Introduce young historians to Ali the boxer, the Civil Rights activist, the war protestor, and the humanitarian with a powerful lesson...
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The Haudenosaunee Legendary Founding
While many young historians would say the United States' form of democracy is the longest living, the confederacy established by Hiawatha and the Haudenosaunee is America's precursor. The activity set, complete with a beautifully...
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Inca Origins
Origin stories aren't just for comic books. Learners explore the Inca origin story and compare it to other familiar creation myths with an installment of the Native American Stories series. An easy-to-use lesson plan includes an...
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Life In The Tomb - WW1 Author Stratis Myrivilis
Most learners likely are not familiar with Statis Myrivilis or his anti-war writings, but his works spur scholars to debate over the role of protest literature in wartime. While the video does situate Myrivilis within the context of the...
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A Gift of Corn to the Choctaw
A mysterious woman. A humble sharing of a meal. A generous gift. The universal value of generosity is threaded throughout a core Choctaw legend on why the tribe began to grow corn. Using part of the Native American Sacred Stories series,...
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Food For Thought
Science can be quite tasty. A delectable unit from NASA shows learners why it's important to consider food, nutrition, and health in space. Four lessons explore the idea in great depth, including testing cookie recipes. Along the way,...
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Unit 9: The Panama Canal
Whose idea was it to build the Panama Canal? Why was the Isthmus of Panama chosen as the site? What were the challenges? To find the answers to these and other questions, young historians and geographers engage in a scavenger hunt,...
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Mental Health Lesson Plans
According to the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC), the stigma of mental illness is often worse than the actual disorder. With the lesson plans, pupils discover the myths and stereotypes associated with mental health disorders....
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Identity
Is identity defined by genes, cultural standards, personal feelings, a combination of these, or something else altogether? Scholars learn about the complex topic of identity with a presentation, a game, and with a series of discussions....
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Twelfth Night
Whether you choose to include Twelfth Night in your course or whether Shakespeare's comedy has been thrust upon you, be not afraid to incorporate an interactive resource into your study of Shakespeare's tale of loss, love, and identity....
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Understanding Mass Media News
In an age of fake news and photoshopped images, it is vital that 21st century learners development the skills they need to evaluate mass media and assess its validity. A great way to launch such a study is with a carefully crafted lesson...
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Map a Model Solar System
Creating a solar system map is a snap thanks to a hands-on activity! Science scholars explore the solar system by building it wherever they choose during an interactive from PBS's Space series. Users pick both the location and scale for...
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The Search for Identity
Discover how writers express identity in their writing. Learners explore how issues of identity surface in the literature of minority writers. Scholars watch a video, read and discuss biographies, conduct research, engage in creative...
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Poetry of Liberation
How do writers use words to protest injustice, challenge the status quo, and shape their own identities? Individuals watch and discuss a video, read author biographies, write poetry and journals, develop a slideshow, and complete a...
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Becoming Visible
The television and interstate highways both came of age in 1950s America. Scholars use film, text, and discussion to explore how these and other cultural icons shaped the literature of the time. Pupils also create a family history...
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Southern Renaissance
How do authors use their writing as a means of responding to social and cultural change? Pupils watch a video, engage in discussion, read interesting author biographies, write an account of a typical day in a sharecropping family, and...
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Migrant Struggle
The American Dream is a goal that many pursue, but is it truly attainable for all people? An in-depth lesson explores the plight of migrants in twentieth-century America. The resource includes a video and author biographies and...
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Modernist Portraits
How did literature reflect people's attitudes in post-World War I America? A lesson explores the topic using a variety of activities. Individuals watch and respond to a video; read author biographies and engage in discussion; write...
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Rhythms in Poetry
Rhyme, rhythm, free verse, imagery: Do these words describe poetry, or jazz music? The answer is both! A resource explores these similarities as scholars watch a video, engage in discussion, read author biographies, write poetry and...
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Social Realism
Many American writers in the late nineteenth century wanted their writing to reflect real life. Individuals watch and discuss a video, read and explore author biographies, write a journal entry and a poem, and complete a multimedia...
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Regional Realism
How did writers capture and express the distinct voices of their characters in nineteenth-century texts? Individuals explore regional dialect in American literature. They watch a video, engage in discussion, read author biographies,...
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Slavery and Freedom
How do nineteenth-century texts by African American and Native American writers contribute to the country's ideals of freedom and individuality? Learners explore the topic by watching and discussing a video, reading biographies, writing...
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Masculine Heroes
What were the driving forces behind American expansion in the nineteenth century, and what were its effects? Scholars watch a video, read biographies, engage in discussion, write journals and poetry, draw, and create a multimedia...
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Spirit of Nationalism
What were the virtues and values that helped form America? Pupils watch and discuss a video, read biographies of early Americans, chart the differences between early American religious movements, write journals and letters, draw, and...
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The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: A Lesson in Perspective
The geopolitical history of Palestine is fraught with conflict. To provide a perspective of ongoing conflicts, a presentation traces the historical background of the region from the fall of the Ottoman Empire after World War I to the...
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Molecular Gastronomy - Science in the Kitchen
Some say cooking is an art—and a science! Scholars scope out the savory subject of molecular gastronomy with a series of related activities. The teacher's guide contains printable worksheets and helpful tips for implementing the lesson.
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Forces Lab
Here's a force to be reckoned with in the physics classroom! Scholars discover the movements associated with tension, compression, and other common forces through a hands-on simulation. Pupils pull, push, and twist their way through each...
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Utopian Promise
Scholars learn all about the Puritans in the third installment of a 16-part lesson series. After watching a video, they read and discuss biographies of Puritans and Quakers from American history, write journal entries and poetry, and...
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Exploring Borderlands
What motivated Europeans to explore the New World, and what effects did their exploration have on Native American populations? The second installment of a 16-part American Passages series prompts pupils to watch a video and read several...
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Breaking Down the Declaration of Independence
Are learners heavy sighing at the idea of reading a primary source, written in a language that is difficult to understand and in cursive? Look no further, because the resource breaks down the Declaration of Independence in an...
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Sing!
Whether new to the Kodály Method of music instruction or an experienced veteran, you'll find much to make your heart sing in a teacher guide that was designed for a music appreciation project.
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Satire Presentation
Introduce a study of satire with a presentation of laugh-out-loud funny slides that define the various characteristics of satiric writing and provide examples of each.
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Teaching Guide: Set Design
The task of creating a set for a theater production may leave theater arts students asking where to begin. Set their minds at ease with a packet that not only provides information about the elements of design, but also guides them...
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Are Naked Mole Rats the Strangest Mammals?
Imagine a mammal with the metabolism of a plant! This strange mammal appears cold-blooded like a reptile and demonstrates the social life of an insect. A short video examines learning the incredible adaptations of the naked mole rat.
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History of Media Literacy Part 1: Crash Course Media Literacy
Even Plato understood the importance of media! Part of an ongoing series of media literacy videos, the resource takes viewers to where it all began ... ancient Greece. The video covers the emergence of media and the written word, the...
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What Causes Insomnia?
Scientists estimate anywhere from two to thirty percent of the world's population suffers from insomnia at any given time. A short video details the causes of insomnia, what happens to sufferers, and offers some possible solutions.
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How One Scientist Averted a National Health Crisis
Between 1957 and 1962, thousands of infants born in Canada, Great Britain, and Germany had serious deformities due to thalidomide, a drug marketed to pregnant women as a mild sleeping aid and to relieve pregnancy nausea. However, the...
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What Would It Be like to Live on the Moon?
Will the next generation have the option of living on the moon? Discover the challenges and adjustments required to live in such a harsh environment with a short video that describes some of the obstacles scientists must overcome in...
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How Do We Study Living Brains?
Out of all vertebrates, the largest brain when compared to body size belongs to humans. Studying the working brain presents challenges to scientists. Learn about three of the most common tests used to understand how the living brain...
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Why Are Fish Fish-Shaped?
Some species of fish are more closely related to humans than they are to other species of fish! How did so many species, that aren't closely related, develop the same body shape? A short video explains the evolution of fish.
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What Is Dust Made Of?
We find dust almost everywhere, but have you ever considered it fascinating? Dust contains a variety of materials and varies greatly based on location. After learning about dust, scholars answer multiple-choice and short-answer questions.
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What Causes Constipation?
Chronic constipation includes those people with fewer than five bowel movements per week. Understanding the causes of constipation helps determine appropriate treatments. Changes in diet, schedule, stress, and age alter the way our body...
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How to Build a Dark Matter Detector
Scientists measure dark matter based on gravity, but how do we find something that can't be detected by anything on the electromagnetic spectrum? Understanding what doesn't work leads to new tests and machines in the search for dark...
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Seasonal Science: Thundersnow
Let it snow, let it snow, let it ... thundersnow? Explore the thundersnow phenomenon with a video and lesson as part of the Seasonal Science series. The video describes what causes the unique weather event, explains just how rare these...
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Stagecraft
The house lights dim, the curtain parts, lights slowly come up, revealing the stage. Before the actors appear, before a word is spoken, the audience is drawn in by the lighting, by the colors, by lines of the set, by the props, and...
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How the First State Constitutions Helped Build the U.S. Constitution
Did you know that the United States Constitution was adopted after many state constitutions were already in place? Young scholars examine facts about the influence of states through an informative and interesting resource. Groups then...
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Harriet Tubman and the End of Slavery
Harriet Tubman saved hundreds from slavery through what was called the Underground Railroad. Teach learners about her amazing accomplishments through the article that uses effective direct instruction. After reading, scholars break into...
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The Lincoln-Douglas Debates — Springboard to the White House
The Lincoln-Douglas Debates saw two primary political candidates debating seven different times about one of the most important social movements in United States history. Middle and high schoolers read an article that describes the...
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Sam Houston: A Study in Leadership
Learners read a short excerpt from a speech by Sam Houston and answer corresponding questions as well as engage in additional activities, including writing a persuasive essay and discussing topics in small groups. The resource helps lay...
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Municipal Government: High School
Municipal government takes on many roles, not just the ones we are used to hearing about such as Parks and Recreation. Scholars delve into the topic to get a grasp on how the government system functions. They participate in readings,...
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The Other Explosion You Should Know About
Scientists replace incorrect ideas when new evidence appears, but what happens when scientists reject the new evidence? Learn the story of the Avalon explosion and the scientists who resisted the fossils proving it existed as one part of...
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How the Turtle Got Its Shell
Does a shell define a turtle, or are there turtles without shells? Learn about the evolution of the unique reptile and the mystery that surrounds this identifiable feature as part of a larger series of videos. As various disciplines...
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The Most Useful Fossils in the World
One of the most abundant fossils on earth confused paleontologists for more than one hundred years. Viewers learn about the mystery and discoveries related to conodonts in a video from PBS as part of its Eons series.
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What a Dinosaur Looks like under a Microscope
How do scientists determine the age of a dinosaur when it died? Viewers earn how scientists make slides of dinosaur fossils and how they use these images to determine age at death. Part of a larger Eons series from PBS, these beautiful...
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Inside the Dinosaur Library
Where do fossils that aren't on display in a museum go? Learn about the dinosaur collections at the Museum of the Rockies as part of the larger PBS Eons series of videos. The collections manager explains how they care for fossils and...
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What Was the Ancestor of Everything?
As part of evolution species branch off of others species. But what did the original limb look like? Young scientists discover the exciting study of the last universal common ancestor as they hear from specialists in multiple scientific...
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How the Squid Lost Its Shell
The ancestors of squid and octopus used shells as a form of defense. Pupils learn how cephalopods evolved without shells and the adaptations required to survive without one. Viewers learn how scientists know about these changes and the...
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How the Chalicothere Split In Two
How is it that the same animal, living in the same place, at the same time, evolved into two different species? As part of a larger series, an engaging video explains the rise of the chalicothere, the split in evolution, and eventually...
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The Weird, Watery Tale of Spinosaurus
While scientists have know about dinosaurs that flew in the air, lived on land, and swam in the water, a episode from the PBS Eons series reveals recent discoveries of a dinosaur that was semi-aquatic—the first known semi-aquatic...
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The Age of Reptiles in Three Acts
Reptiles survived the largest extinction event on the planet and then they grew into the most dominant class of the Mesozoic Era. They quickly evolved into giants on land, sea, and air. In an episode of the PBS Eons series viewers learn...
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From the Fall of Dinos to the Rise of Humans
We live in the Cenozoic Era, and most of the animals we recognize first appeared in this era. However, the animals that existed at the start of the era bear little resemblance to present day. As one part of a larger series, individuals...
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That Time It Rained for Two Million Years
What would happen if all of the land on Earth received as much rainfall as the temperate rain forest? The vast desserts would be altered, the animals would adapt or die, and the types of plants available would quickly shift. This is what...
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Why Triassic Animals Were Just the Weirdest
Normally when two species look similar, they are closely related. However, this doesn't seem to apply to the Triassic animals. Learn why these familiar looking animals are not actually related to today's animals. Viewers come to...
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Where Did Viruses Come From?
When did things start going viral? Travel back through eons of history and learn about the origins of viruses. Part of a larger series, the lesson discusses what scientists already know and how they study viruses. The video also details...
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Drug Adherence and Resistance
The FDA approved more than 25 drugs to treat HIV—and often people must use them in combination. One of the largest challenges with these medications happens due to patient error. Class members use an interactive to learn about drug...
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The Story of the Federal Reserve System
Prevent the Federal Reserve System from becoming a dry topic for your middle and high schoolers by using an informative, engaging resource! The cartoon takes your class on a journey with aliens from the planet of Novus to observe the...
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Tribal Government: High School
Did you know there are 567 federally recognized American Indian and Native Alaskan tribes and villages in the United States alone? The resource helps break down the complexities of many different tribal societies to explain the concept...
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County Government: High School
Balancing a budget—the bane of many people's existence! Yet, its' something that must be done, especially in government systems. The resource, fourth in a seven-part series exploring local government, focuses on various exercises that...
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Once Upon a Dime
The story of "Once Upon a Dime" starts like any other fairy tale, but it quickly becomes a story about the value of money and the economic system commonly used before it. Presented as a cartoon, the resource consists of dialogue between...
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Time Capsule in a Milk Can
Imagine dumping out a milk can and finding letters from one of the darkest moments in history! Scholars use Holocaust Reading Passages and research to discover how people recorded and hid history during the events of World War II. They...
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Satisfaction Please! (Part 1)
The topic of consumerism seems easy to those who participate actively in the US economy, but pupils who are new to economics may see the idea as foreign. Help them understand their rights as consumers and what to expect when interacting...
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The Facts About Dinosaurs and Feathers
Did the T. Rex have feathers? A video from the Eons series playlist explains the exciting recent findings about dinosaurs and feathers. It details the evidence, the research, and our current understanding. It also considers why dinosaurs...
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Quantum Entanglement and Spooky Action at a Distance
Can we communicate at a speed faster than light? Part of a video series, this enthralling installment introduces the idea of Einstein's spooky action. Then, it relates and expands the concept of quantum entanglement. The results of new...
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Should This Lake Exist?
The largest body of water in California, the Salton Sea, was created by accident. An interesting installment of a video series shares the history of the lake, which is now home to the second-most diverse group of birds in America. From...
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Surprising Applications of the Magnus Effect
In 1852, a German physicist, Magnus, talked about an effect first described by Isaac Newton in 1672. Part of a series, an interesting video explains the Magnus effect and previous attempts to apply it to transportation. It also shows a...
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Filling Our Land with Landfills
Though it consists of only 5 percent of the world population, the US generates 40 percent of the world's waste. Scholars learn about landfills, their safety, and other options for handling solid waste. They use experiments and research...
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Law of Reflection
Reflection seems simple to understand, but without a complete understanding, pupils struggle with ray diagrams, specular versus diffuse reflection, total internal reflection, and image formation. An engaging interactive provides three...
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Sensors in Chemistry
The Environmental Protection Agency monitors sensors to track air pollution and set clean air standards. Enthusiastic young scientists use similar sensors to gather data in their area and then apply the gas laws and conservation of...
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Virus Wars
Unending war, battles on every front, increasing offenses and defenses as the sides adjust to each other ... these phrases describe your body fighting viruses. From a common cold to deadly Ebola, cells adjust and defend life themselves....
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Protein Synthesis
The smallest man-made factory measures less than 400 square feet. The smallest nature-made factory is inside your body. An engaging video describes the factory inside your cells. The narrator details transcription and translation along...
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NOVA RNA Lab Lesson Plan
Scholars learn the differences between RNA and DNA through discussion, virtual labs, worksheets, and video quizzes. They build their knowledge of molecular biology with support from video clips and handouts.
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The RNA Origin of Life
Scientists believe RNA is the origin of all life on Earth, carrying genetic information long before DNA developed. Viewers comprehend this idea as they learn the functions of RNA, DNA, and proteins. Evolution of RNA, cells, molecules,...
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The RNA Enigma
Folding a fitted sheet seems impossible, but folding RNA seems like a game. Viewers learn how they can help scientists prevent or cure diseases. It emphasizes the need for human help because computers struggle with these puzzles.
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Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
The Charlie and the Chocolate Factory unit is a golden ticket for teachers looking for nicely written plans. Elementary and middle schoolers draw their impressions of characters, design and market their own candy creations, and use...
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Political Theory - Karl Marx
Every political theory needs a devil's advocate. Discussing Karl Marx with your classroom creates a healthy debate about the pros and cons of the capitalistic system and government. Last in a series of 13, the video includes primary...
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Political Theory - Friedrich Hayek
Friedrich Hayek is known for his theories on the connection between economics and political science—and the way they influence each other. An informative video describes Hayek's political philosophy and his views on the importance of a...
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NOVA Sun Lab Lesson Plan
Looking for a sun-sational multi-lesson plan full of videos, simulations, and discussion? Introduce your young scientists to all things solar with a four-part hands-on adventure. Pupils learn the basics of solar anatomy, space weather,...
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The Psychology Teacher's Resource Guide
The activities in a comprehensive teacher's resource guide provides budding psychologists with opportunities to design experiments to study behavior, apply their knowledge of research variables, critique online behavior surveys, and much...
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A Tasty Sample(r): Teaching about Sampling Using M&M’s
Here's a sweet activity! As part of a study of psychological research methods and statistic gathering, individuals develop a hypothesis about the number of each color of M&Ms in a fun-size package. They then count the number of each...
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NOVA Evolution Lab Lesson Plan
It doesn't matter if you look on land, in the air, underground, or in water—evolution is everywhere. Scholars complete worksheets with multiple question types as they progress through six online missions creating phylogenic trees.
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Cannibalism in the Animal Kingdom
Many consider cannibalism to be the last resort before starvation. During an engaging video, scholars gain knowledge of cannibalism in the animal kingdom. It addresses common misconceptions and recently discovered patterns before pupils...
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What Causes Body Odor?
Can your diet change the smell of your armpits? Scholars learn the truth behind this and other factors that influence body odor. It covers the biology of what is happening as well as the ways to prevent or cover the offensive odor. To...
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The Science of Skin
Almost one fifth of your weight is in your skin, but why does it weigh so much? Viewers learn about the integumentary system and the many functions it performs constantly to keep them safe. Then, they answer multiple choice and...
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Harriet Beecher Stowe: Uncle Tom's Cabin
Harriet Beecher Stowe's passion for abolitionism culminated when Congress passed the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, forcing Northern states to become complicit in the act of slavery. A short video dramatizes the events preceding the...
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Student Page: Uncle Tom's Cabin and American Culture
History sleuths read articles for and against Uncle Tom's Cabin, examine visual images, print responses, and multi-media tomitudes to better understand the impact of Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel on American culture prior to the Civil...
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Population Dynamics
Will human population growth always be exponential, or will we find a limiting factor we can't avoid? Young scientists learn about both exponential and logistic growth models in various animal populations. They use case studies to...
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A Reading Guide to A Wrinkle in Time
Accompany a reading of Madeleine L'Engle's classic tale, A Wrinkle in Time, with a detailed guide equipped with 15 informative and useful chapters. Scholars discover who the author is, why she wrote the book, and crucial story elements...
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Medication Safety for Teens
The most valuable way to protect teenagers from prescription drug abuse is to equip them with knowledge. An informative slideshow covers various aspects of prescription drug safety, including the importance of keeping one's prescription...
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Heart of the Matter
Most people have heard of Dr. Maetin Luther King, Jr. and his famous "I Have a Dream" Speech. But few have heard of Philip Randolph and Bayard Rustin. Who were these guys and what did they have to do with the famous landmark event in the...
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Women's Contributions to the United States
Betsy Ross, Toni Morrison, Sacajawea, Amelia Earhart, Maya Lin, Sally Ride, Judy Baca. No matter the subject area or the grade level you teach you will find much to value in a manual that focuses on the contributions U.S. women have...
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States and Phases of Matter
Plasma is the most common phase of matter in our universe. Scholars explore the change of energy as molecules change phases of matter. They rotate through stations, graphing the changes in energy level.
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Maintaining Mass
Can you disprove the law of conservation of mass? Pupils observe the teacher weigh each part of a reaction. Then, the teacher weighs the result of the reaction and everyone sees that the products do not equal the reactants. Then they...
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Plant Structures Lab Stations
In China, hibiscus is known as the shoe flower because it is used to polish shoes, while in Hawaii, it is honored as the state flower. Young scientists learn about the structure and function of flowers. They dissect hibiscus flowers,...
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The Day the Mesozoic Died
Solve the ultimate who dunnit mystery: the death of the dinosaurs. Viewers watch an engaging video that describes how the asteroid impact hypothesis came to fruition and the evidence supporting it. The video also explains how life...
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Trick or Science: Catching the Light
Your class might be surprised to learn that mirrors have been around since the first century AD! Young scientists explore reflection and refraction of light through a series of challenges. They use this knowledge to design their own...
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Musical Vibes with Palm Pipes
Ancient people used musical pipes as early as the third millennium BCE. Young scientists explore the workings of musical pipes to better understand the relationship with frequency, length of pipe, and sound waves. They determine the...
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Levitation Engineers: Exploring Forces
Levitation tricks have been documented from the early 1900s, so how do they do it? Scholars learn about the force of magnetism in an attractive resource. They watch videos and design experiments to understand the strength and...
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Investigating How Heat Flows
It is impossible to cool down a glass of water by adding ice. Young scientists explore heat transfer through videos, experiments, and interactive games. They quickly catch on that the water melts the ice and things aren't always as they...
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The Monster Mash
Young scientists create monsters by applying their knowledge of transcription and translation. They randomly find the DNA, assign it a codon, and build monsters piece by piece.
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The Last Supper: Identifying Macromolecules
Why do medical examiners always state the contents of a person's stomach? Scholars learn about the importance of macromolecules through a case study of stomach contents. They perform multiple tests to determine a conclusion before they...
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"Something Old, Something New..."
Young scientists learn about DNA replication through a video and model creation. They answer analysis questions before exploring the role of mutations and then complete a summative assessment.
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Genetics, Genetics, and More Genetics: Exploring Independent Assortment and Non-Mendelian Genetics
Two individuals share 99.9 percent of their genetic codes, yet diversity is observed everywhere. Young scientists learn about diversity through hands-on activities and an experiment. They apply the concepts of independent assortment and...
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Enzymes in Action
Enzymes play a role in almost every function in the human body. Scholars explore three variables related to the use of enzymes. They observe a catalase reaction, experiment with substrates, and examine reactions rates.
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Do You See What I See?
In only nine months, a small group of cells grows into a fully developed baby. Pupils learn about the development of an embryo to a fetus to a baby. They identify each step of weekly development. Young scientists look at ultrasounds to...
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Frenemies, Bros and Killers: A Lesson in Symbiosis
Animals and plants develop relationships and rely on each other to survive. Pupils learn more about symbiosis through a video, a hands-on matching activity, and a game. They differentiate and describe each type on a written evaluation.
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Rocks Makin' Rocks: Rock Cycle Simulation
Scholars review prior knowledge before completing a hands-on simulation of the rock cycle. They write stories or songs summarizing their simulations to demonstrate mastery.
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Phases of the Moon
The moon takes just over 27 days to orbit around Earth. Young scientists position themselves as the earth as they rotate around the sun and hold the moon. This allows them to observe the patterns and phases of the moon.
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Layers and Laws: The Law of Superposition and Index Fossils
What can layers of rock teach us about the climate? Young scientists solve a mystery about who stole a cookie by applying the law of superposition. Then, they apply the same concept to solve a more difficult mystery, trying to determine...
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Journey Through the Spheres of the Earth
Each of the Earth's spheres interacts with the other spheres in predictable ways. Young scientists explore these interactions through a hands-on activity, graphing, and watching a video. They summarize their knowledge in a video or...
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It's Not All Visible
Electromagnetic waves travel though empty space, something no other wave type can accomplish. Young scientists learn more about the entire spectrum of electromagnetic waves. They sort cards and apply their knowledge to create models of...
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Atmospheric Layers
Space diving refers to the act of jumping from outer space and falling through Earth's atmosphere before parachuting to land. Scholars learn about this extreme activity and study the layers of the atmosphere they must conquer in the...
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Fragrant Pheromones
Young scientists learn the importance of experimental design and the key elements of an experiment. Through observing videos and designing their own experiments, scholars apply each lesson they learn.
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Dirty Decomposers
Do not let the class just sit and rot. Pupils learn how decomposition and nutrient recycling is important to an ecosystem. Groups design an experiment to determine how environmental conditions affect decomposition. They develop a poster...
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Deforestation
Young scientists observe deforestation from satellite photos and discuss the importance of forests to the global environment. They then simulate a plot of forest when farmers move into the area over the course of seven years. Finally,...
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An Investigative Look at Florida's Sinkholes
In May of 1981, the Winter Park Sinkhole in Florida first appeared and is now referred to as Lake Rose. Scholars learn about the causes of sinkholes through an inquiry project. Then, they analyze recent data and draw conclusions to...
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Drought and the Dust Bowl
What caused the dust bowl, and should we worry about it happening again? Scholars look at various data to come up with their hypotheses. Then, they experiment to find some of the factors that contributed. Finally, the video has them look...
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Cystic Fibrosis: A DNA Case Study
Around six percent of babies are born with serious genetic disorders. Young scientists learn more about what causes these disorders and the effect they have. They begin with a case study of cystic fibrosis before expanding to research...
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All Charged Up
Most have felt a static electricity shock, but what actually causes it? Scholars observe, develop a hypothesis, experiment, and learn about static electricity. Through multiple short writing samples, they describe static electricity in...
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Evolution of Music - Pentatonix
Explore music through the decades with an engaging video brought to you by the 5-part harmony acapella group, Pentatonix. Genuine musical talents sing through a variety of popular music from the 11th century to the 2010's. Artists...
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Work That Matters: The Teacher’s Guide to Project-Based Learning
Whether new to inquiry-based learning or experienced with its protocols, you'll find much to value in High Tech High's comprehensive guide to project-based learning. Designed for educators, the guide has everything instructors need to...
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The Lion King—The Broadway Musical Study Guide
Musicals have been adapted from stage plays, novels, and movies. With The Lion King, Disney transforms its animated film into show-stopping, live-action musical theatre. The guide Disney provides to accompany a study of the award-winning...
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What Are Mini Brains?
Scientists grow tiny brains outside an organism in their labs. How this is accomplished and why become the central focus of a video and discussion. After viewing the core lesson, ten questions check for content mastery and prepare young...
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Could We Cure Aging During Your Lifetime?
As human lifespans increase, more time is spent sick or in pain than ever before. A brief video introduces some research on how to reduce the amount of our lives that are disease free. Each of these methods offers some promise for a...
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How Does the Immune System Work?
The human immune system doesn't always prevent us from getting sick, so what is it doing? Young scientists watch a short video explaining what the immune system is and how it works. Then, they answer eight questions to prepare for an...
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Who's at Risk for Colon Cancer?
Colon cancer is one of the most preventable types of cancer. Scholars learn how colon cancer develops and spreads. They also learn risk factors, tests, and treatments before answering eight comprehension questions.
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Why do Animals Form Swarms?
Swarms contain no leader, yet often act with an intelligence higher than any individual member. Birds, insects, and fish all commonly swarm for a variety of reasons. Scholars learn about swarming behavior in a short video before...
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Avoid Electric Shock Getting Out of a Car!
Can you avoid static shocks? As part of a larger physics series, an electric video explains what a static shock is and why it happens. Then, the narrator offers an idea for reducing your shock when exiting a car. She also includes a few...