Young animal lovers engage in a instructional activity that's all about elephants. They access an elephant sanctuary website and read a story about Shirley the elephant. They perform a series of activities based upon that story, and also...

Compare sizes of student footprints with those of elephants and sauropod dinosaurs! Upper graders make estimations of the areas of irregular shapes; students use grids to make and explain estimates within low and high ranges.

Students compare and contrast different types of elephants.  In this environmental science lesson plan, students examine the characteristics of three species of elephants.  Students view a video of each type of elephant to note...

Students read an essay by George Orwell's life in Burma and place it in its cultural and historical context. They identify the main points of the essay and Orwell's use of symbolism in the essay. They explain how each persuasive tool...

Read Just a Little Bit, by Ann Tompert as an introduction to levers. Discuss playground seesaws and then turn learners loose to experiment with the placement of a fulcrum. Their goal is to determine where to place it in order to lift ten...

It is always a rush to drop objects from great heights, and with this physics experiment, class members will not be disappointed! They drop a single coffee filter from a balcony or table top, record the time it takes to reach the ground,...

Students read a traditional story from India and discover how two people can see the event in different ways. Using their own experiences, they examine how each of their classmates is affected by them in how to read a situation. They...

Students analyze the weather patterns in Namibia. They create a graph of the yearly temperatures and use the internet to gather information. They discuss how the weather goes in cycles in the area.

Students explore the senses of different animals. In this biology lesson plan students will study the animals selected for their grades. The students will learn about the brain and how the senses of that animal have developed.

Introduce literature circles with Roland Smith's novels. Your seventh graders will see the activity modeled as you read The Three Little Pigs together and apply the format to a Roland Smith novel of their choice. The instructional...

Students examine dinosaur footprints and compare them to the shape of elephant footprints and to the size of their own footprints.

Estimate and explore the length and weight of classroom items using standard measurement and scales. Students will work in groups to determine appropriate measuring tools, weigh or measure items, and record their results on a data chart....

Tenth graders investigate the history of Pi and how it relates to circles. In this geometry lesson, 10th graders measure the circumference of a circle and the diameter of a circle. They relate these measurements to the number of Pi or 3.14

Making inferences can be a tricky proposition for middle schoolers. In the lesson presented here, pupils practice the skill of drawing a conclusion and making a judgment - which are what making an inference is all about! There are five...

An ecosystem is really just the flow of energy through many different living organisms. A study of Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book leads to an environmental science activity in which learners study how various factors can affect...

Tenth graders examine the Election of 1912. In groups, they identify the roles of the Democratic and Republican parties along with any third party mentioned. Using the internet, they describe the main issues of this election and discuss...

Students investigate biology by researching wild animals. In this animal extinction lesson plan, students research African wild dogs and discuss the impact of the environment on their survival. Students read and analyze an article titled...

Fourth graders examine the megafauna found in Australia. They create a food web using cut-outs and develop a timeline to show changes in the fauna over time. They draw their own megafauna scene for their classroom.

Students view a video clip on skyscrapers. They discover how columns support different size loads. They participate in activities and discuss their results.

Fourth graders work in groups. They are given magazines. Students cut pictures of five mamals, five birds, five reptiles, five amphibians, and five fish. They place the pictures in a plastic bag. Students switch bags. They are explained...

Students investigate how size affects large and small animals differently. In this animal lesson plan, students determine how size affects different animals by constructing their own animal out of marshmallows. Once students create...

Second graders determine what 1,000 items look like. In this math investigation instructional activity, 2nd graders collect 1,000 items and determine the best way to count them by tens and hundreds. They can use stickers on notecards to...

Second graders review how our society affects nature. In this energy lesson, 2nd graders discuss the different ways that energy is collected. They review renewable and nonrenewable energy sources. 

Students investigate international aid by researching the history of Angola.  In this world crisis lesson, students investigate the history, civil wars and poor economy of Angola and discuss ways to turn the poor nation around....