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The Math in the Design and Building of Bridges
Research various types of bridge designs. Your class will be asked to consider what it would be like without bridges while learning about how they work. They will construct a model bridge based on given parameters. They then calculate...
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Yesterday in Energy
Clever! Collaborative groups of environmental scientists create a museum exhibit and presentation for an energy-using activity such as heating a home or transportation. They must compare past to present use of energy for that particular...
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Looking at French Decorative Arts: The Science of Good Design
Young scholars examine the style of an 18th-century compound microscope and its case. In this scientific design lesson plan, students look at Jacques Caffieri's, "Compound Microscope and Case" before comparing the design to a modern...
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Jazz Exploration: A Collage Project
Middle schoolers explore and experience jazz through collage. They listen to improvisational jazz, discuss the origins of jazz, then design and create a collage that shows jazz being played. This project will result in amazing works of...
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Papier-Mache Masks
Read about, and then make culturally inspired masks. Learners watch the video, "Masks and Face Coverings," then design and make a mask with cultural significance out of papier mache. Tip: Have small groups research, write about, and make...
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Legends of Stars
After choosing a figure from Greek mythology, middle schoolers design, draw, and color a constellation to represent that person. Additionally, they create a story to tell how the constellation came to be. This lesson is a great addition...
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Native Design Coil Vase: Ceramics Lesson
After a quick study of Native American art, symbolism, and pattern design children make a ceramic vase. They read about the use, production, and design of Native American vases or pots, then use clay to create one of their own. Tip:...
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Der Lehrling: A Lesson Plan for Advanced German Students
Have your advanced learners concoct a new soft drink, create a product name, slogan and jingle, and present their creation to another class. While originally designed for a German classroom, this plan could easily be adapted to another...
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Testing and Refining Aircraft Design
Students design and make a flying device. They work in small groups to brainstorm ideas for the design of their device. They choose an idea or combination of ideas to use for their design and create a sketch of their design. The students...
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Streetfilms' Moving Beyond the Automobile
This is an exceptional series that you can use in an environmental or engineering unit. There are four lessons: "Sustainable Transportation," "Designing for Safety," "Changing the Landscape," and "Engaging in Policy." Each instructional...
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Creative Problem Solving
Young scholars arrange and write all letters of the alphabet on a tag board using spatial awareness. They create a design of something that starts with their chosen letter and fill the letter with their design.
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The Use of Substitution As a Creative Thinking Tool
Students practice using substitution as a creative way of thinking about writing and try to substitute song lyrics, food items, rhythm movements and more. For this substitution lesson plan, students create a new candy, and create...
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On the Cutting Edge
Introduce the background of design and designers and their role in communicating their thoughts to others. In groups, you can assign participation in a writing cluster on various designers and write paragraphs to submit to magazines. To...
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Shoe Box Turtles
Turtles are the stars of the show in a creative lesson designed for very young learners. In it, learners are shown pictures of real turtles. They discuss the shell and the head, then they compare them to other animals. Pupils are given a...
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Corn Cob Painting
Young scholars explore creativity and imagination. In this lesson about art, students experiment with different tools used for creating prints. Young scholars use ears of corn with kernels and without kernels, tempera paint, paper plates...
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Designing a Flag
Fourth graders design a flag. In this social studies lesson, 4th graders discuss the basic principles of flags. Students research flags and flag designs. Students work in teams to design a flag using the computer.
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Designing Our Own Inventions
Third graders use research from a previous lesson to design their own inventions. In groups, they brainstorm a product they would like to see built and share them with the class. They must explain how each one would serve a purpose or...
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Life Inside Castle Walls
Students use their creativity with the knowledge learned about the Middle Ages. A.D.400-1500. They use their information and creativity to design a castle and a personal coat of arms, then plan a medieval feast.
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Signs in the Stitching
Young scholars exercise their creativity by designing an original quilt and a written explanation of its meaning. They use primary sources to develop an understanding of Underground Railroad routes through Indiana.
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Humourous Head Planter Spike: Ceramics Lesson
What a great activity. Kids create humorous ceramic character (heads) spikes to enliven a planter. Modern art is full of expressive and exaggerated forms and your class gets to create them out of clay. This would be a lovely activity to...
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Pocket Full of Posies: Ceramics
After studying the plant or flower life cycle, have the class create a basket of flowers out of clay. They hone their ceramics skills while they push, pull, then paint clay to look like flowers they've seen in nature. There are several...
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Mini Masks: Ceramics
Masks have been used for many reasons throughout human history. They are also great subjects for art projects! Included here are instructions, background information, and all the supplies needed to create mini masks in your class.
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Conveyor Belt Production
Students design a system that will move their glass product across a room in the plant. They must move the product 12 feet and their items cannot fall off at any time.
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Paper Bag Puppets
Students incorporate their hands into their own artwork. They practice cutting out shapes, gluing, and creating a specific design. Students will get an opportunity to work with more then just paper and glue, they will get the chance to...