New York City Department of Education
Egypt
This six-week unit encompasses all subjects with a focus study on world history and the development of ancient civilizations. As gifted and talented students dive into the interesting yet challenging topic of Egypt, they think critically...
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The Physics of My Life
Twelfth graders review the basic principles of physics. In groups, they use these principles to discover how they are present in their everyday lives. They create a webpage that demonstrates on of the principles and share it with the class.
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Food Fat
Students evaluate snack foods based on calories and fat. In small groups, they use this information to make informed and wise food choices. Students graphically represent the fat in a food by measuring the equivalent of the food fat with...
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In the Mix
Students construct a water filter. In this engineering lesson, students discover how to construct a water filtration system. Students work in groups to sort tools by their properties. Students analyze and construct a water filtration...
Alabama Learning Exchange
How Fast Can You Go?
Learners investigate force and speed. In this physics instructional activity, students construct model cars in small groups and perform experiments to identify what factors influence speed and force.
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Heat Loss and Cool Gains
Fifth graders predict what happens when cold and hot water are mixed together. In this physics activity, 5th graders discuss how heat transfer takes place. They record temperature readings and compare it with their prediction.
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Inter-State Matters
Students explore the six phase transitions between gases, liquids and solids for a variety of elements. Each group of students focuses on a different element, investigating its physical properties during each of the six phase transitions.
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Boning Up on Fossil Features
Students investigate a specific dinosaur; produce a poster relating what is known or speculated about where and how the dinosaur lived to the physical features of the dinosaur.
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Survival of the Fastest: Predator and Prey in the African Savannah
Students explore the predator-prey relationship using an interactive game. In this biology instructional activity, students compare their physical attributes. They explain how predators develop to make it stronger and efficient as...
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The Chemistry of Ceramics
Learners compare the characteristics of a fired porcelain sculpture to the clay used to create it. They discuss the physical and chemical changes that occur in the clay as it is heated and then create their own clay sculpture. This...
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Fluid Thinking About Liquids and Solids
Second graders examine the physical characteristics of the different states of matter. In this chemistry lesson, 2nd graders observe how matter changes from one phase to another. They classify substances according to its type of matter.
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Global Warming
First graders discover the effects of global warming on polar bears. For this life science lesson, 1st graders model the polar bear's habitat and observe what happens as they raise the temperature. They record their observation in the...
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Weather, Sea Level Rise and Climate Change
Students compare the carbon dioxide content of four different samples. In this chemistry activity, students research the causes of global warming. They explain how humans contribute to rising global temperature.
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Alternative Energy
Students discover types of energy. In this physics lesson, students discuss ways to power a car a design a model car kit with an alternative form of energy.
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Introduction to the Periodic Table of Elements
Students explain how the elements are arranged in the periodic table. In this chemistry lesson, students determine the subatomic particles for certain elements. They research the physical and chemical properties of an element they chose.
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Forms of Energy
Students complete a series of activities related to forms of energy. In this energy instructional activity, students look at forms of energy in their school, how energy is conserved and used efficiently, how magnets are used to generate...
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The BEAM Project: Building Efficient Architectural Models
Technology or engineering teams are given a task to design, construct, and test the efficiency of a structure that will foster an even temperature throughout an entire sunny day. Intended as a long-term project, pupils research, plan,...
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Cooking with the Sun
Students explore using energy from the sun for heating and cooking as they build and compare the performance of four solar cooker designs. This excellent two-day lesson has groups of students build and test a variety of solar cookers....
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The Airplane
Young scholars demonstrate the Bernoulli Principle, review the influences that affected the Wright Brothers, and make and modify paper airplanes. This amazing lesson plan has an excellent structure, and very clear plans for the students...
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Balancing The Day Away In Grade 2
Second graders sped the day exploring about balance by playing with and making balancing toys. They discover how varying the amount and position of mass affects the toys' balance. Pupils explore gravity and balance while playing with the...
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Animal Adaptations
Fourth graders view slides on the SMART board of physical and behavioral adaptations of animals. In this animal adaptations lesson plan, 4th graders also view a video and match a physical adaptation with the animal it pertains to.
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Classify Rocks
Students classify different types of rocks. In this earth science lesson, students test different rock samples and construct a chart to record observations. They create a concept map that answers essential questions.
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The Wheels on the Bot Go Round and Round, Part I
Students determine how speed is measured. In this physics lesson, students design an experiment to find out if the robot's drive wheel size affects its speed. They collect data and discuss results.
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The REAL Transformers
Ninth graders create a model of a hydroelectric generator. For this physics lesson, 9th graders discuss how energy can be transformed from one form to another. They make a flow chart for different energy generating plants.