Teach Engineering
Optimize! Cleaner Energy Options for Rural China
What are the trade-offs when looking to get the most benefit from an energy source? Small groups compare the cost-to-emission levels of several energy sources by looking at the information graphically. The groups utilize this...
Teach Engineering
A Simple Solution for the Circus
Class members are challenged to design a device that will move a circus elephant into a train car. Groups brainstorm ideas that use simple machines to load the elephant. They then choose one of their ideas, sketch a plan, and present it...
Teach Engineering
Searching for Bigfoot and Others Like Him
Individuals create a GIS data layer in Google Earth that displays information about where one might find seven different cryptids. The class members research to find data on cryptid sightings they can include in their data...
Agriculture in the Classroom
Build it Better
If you think you can do better, feel free to give it a try. Pupils learn about the work on Temple Grandin and consider ways to improve animal handling facilities. They work in groups to build models to showcase their ideas.
Teach Engineering
The Great Gravity Escape
Groups simulate an orbit using a piece of string and a water balloon. Individuals spin in a circular path and calculate the balloon's velocity when the clothes pin can no longer hold onto the balloon.
Curated OER
Interactive Fractions
Middle schoolers determine the common denominator of two unlike fractions. They practice adding fractions and finding equivalent fractions of numbers. They compare and contrast different types of equations involving fractions and...
Curated OER
Symmetry and Geometric Shapes on Campus
Build on your learners' previous knowledge of geometric shapes and symmetrical figures. Then set them out to take photos of geometric shapes on campus. They assess whether the photos contain symmetry or not.
Curated OER
Holiday Greeting Cards: A Graphing Activity
Pupils examine statistics about the popular type of greeting cards and create pie or bar chart using an online tool. They illustrate the sales statistics for the greeting cards before making the charts.
Curated OER
Word Problem Exchange
Students discuss elements of word problems: key words, data, computation clues, and unnecessary information and use the four steps of problem solving to find a solution and check for reasonableness.
Curated OER
Searching for Angles and Lines
Middle schoolers work to find and reinforce concepts related to lines and angles. They identify the characteristics of shapes that have one, two, and three dimensions. The students also work on definitions related to the geometry of shapes.
Curated OER
Agriculture & Alaska's Economy
Students examine Alaska's agriculture numbers from previous years. They answer questions based on Alaska's production levels.
Curated OER
Marmots: Groundhogs of the World
Students research 14 groundhog species found around the world, including the woodchuck. They use the internet to research groundhogs and students organize their information using a graphic organizer.
NOAA
What Little Herc Saw
See the underwater world through a different pair of eyes! Middle school marine biologists identify deep-sea organisms by examining images taken by an ROV from the Okeanos Explorer. After determining what creatures lie beneath the...
Curated OER
Classroom Triangles
Students use bearing measurements to triangulate and determine objects' locations. Working in teams of two or three, students must put on their investigative hats as they take bearing measurements to specified landmarks in their...
Curated OER
Base 10 Rounding
Pupils build two, three, and four digit numbers using base ten blocks and round those numbers. In this rounding numbers lesson, students work in pairs and build numbers using base ten blocks.
Curated OER
Eye From the Sky
Students are introduced to the concept of aerial perspective and scale. Students will use satellite technology to view their neighborhoods and sketch the area surrounding their schools. They will take part in a neighborhood walk to view...
Curated OER
Water Use Around the World
Students compare their water use with other places around the world. They calculate the amount of water they use in a week and discuss how to conserve water. They discover the amount of clean water throughout the world.
Curated OER
Pardon me. Do You Have exChange for a Dollar?
Students are familiar with United States currency-dollar and cents. They are asked to compare it with currency of another country. Students explore currencies of various countries using the Internet, video, and hands-on activities. ...
Curated OER
TE Activity: The Boxes Go Mobile
Students create a mobile of boxes and cubes that they made in a previous lesson that can be accessed from this page. They design the mobile using method that an engineer would use to balance the items based on surface areas and volumes.
Curated OER
Making a Pictorial Timeline
Learners create a pictorial timeline of a biographical character. In this timeline lesson, students create a slide show illustrating the life of the person from a biography they've read. Learners also use Kid Pix to create a pictorial...
Curated OER
Wildlife, Wolves, Endangered Species
Students use the Internet to research wildlife and conservation efforts. They examine pictures and graphics to research endangered species and humans role in their lives. They also use math to measure areas of habitats and add the number...
Curated OER
Building Web Quests
Students work together to develop their own web quests. They research different topics and create a PowerPoint presentation. They share their web quests with the class.
Curated OER
Children's Health: Children Aren't Little Adults
This lesson is a compilation of interdisciplinary, technology-infused activities that focus on the often complicated and sometimes controversial issues related to toxic chemicals in children's environment. Special emphasis is placed on...
Curated OER
Sweethearts and Data Analysis
Students explore the concept collecting and representing data. In this collecting and representing data instructional activity, students record the different colors of sweetheart candies in their sweethearts box. Students create a table...