Curated OER
Transformation, Reflections, Rotations and Translations
Students create a quilt, using different patterns. In this geometry lesson, students apply prior knowledge as they use different patterns to help them create a quilt using transformations and geometric shapes.
Curated OER
Finding the Area of Polygons
Third graders are exposed to finding the area of polygons by decomposing figures and recomposing them into rectangles. This strategy allows children to expand on their prior knowledge of constructing shapes by rearranging parts into...
Illustrative Mathematics
Comparing Years
Who knew that the Egyptian, Julian, and Gregorian year were different lengths? Your mathematicians will! They will have to calculate the difference between the years in seconds and find the percent change. Using dimensional analysis,...
Curated OER
Lesson 2: The Constitution: Our Guiding Document
Explore the structure and content of the US Constitution in the second lesson of this five-part social studies series. A collection of activities, games, and videos complement a class reading of a document summarizing the US...
Arizona Department of Education
Area and Perimeter of Regular and Irregular Polygons
Extend young mathematicians' understanding of area with a geometry lesson on trapezoids. Building on their prior knowledge of rectangles and triangles, students learn how to calculate the area of trapezoids and other irregular...
Science Matters
Potential and Kinetic Energy
Everything has potential energy; learning to use it is the key to understanding all types of energy. Scholars learn the difference between kinetic and potential energy. They then apply the concept to drawing examples of both types of...
National Research Center for Career and Technical Education
Salads
Lettuce talk for a moment about your culinary scholars; do they have what it takes to create a great salad? Show them the finer points of salad preparation with a career and technology lesson that combines direct instruction, creativity,...
PBS
The Supreme Court: Liberty of Contract
How did the Supreme Court apply the Fourteenth Amendment to cases involving working people? Learn all about labor rights in a resource that focuses on the liberty of contract and protections for workers. Scholars complete handouts that...
Kenan Fellows
Applying Linear Regression to Marathon Data
It's not a sprint, it's a marathon! Statistic concepts take time to develop and understand. A guided activity provides an opportunity for individuals to practice their linear regression techniques in spreadsheet software. The activity...
Curated OER
Introduce Vocabulary: How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World (Priceman)
Ask budding readers, "How do you make an apple pie?" You may get many answers, but Marjorie Priceman takes the cake with her idea in How to Make an Apply Pie and See the World, an adventurous tale full of wonder and new vocabulary. Using...
Flipped Math
Parallelograms and Triangles
Expand area problems to incorporate prior knowledge. Pupils begin by reviewing the formulas for finding the area of parallelograms and triangles. The scholars apply previous learning of trigonometric ratios and the Pythagorean Theorem to...
Curated OER
Molas
Seventh graders apply their prior knowledge of the Principle of Balance to create a paper mola. Students examine a variety of molas, which are fabric works of art made by women in the country of Panama. To arrange the composition of the...
Curated OER
Conscientious Catalyst
Middle schoolers access prior knowledge to list careers working with the environment. In this environmental careers lesson, students create a want ad for environmental jobs. Middle schoolers complete job applications for specific...
Illustrative Mathematics
Dan’s Division Strategy
Can Dan make a conjecture about dividing fractions with the same denominators? That is what your scholars are to determine. They must show that if the statement is true, they understand how the quantities were determined, and how the...
Illustrative Mathematics
Buying Bananas, Assessment Version
Practice with unit rates, proportions, and ratios when Carlos purchases an amount of bananas. Learners must interpret a graph to decide whether points on the same line represent similar proportional relationships. Use with lesson plans...
NASA
Ascent: 50 Seconds to MECO
All systems go! With a video and a Google Earth tour as background, pairs investigate two graphs. The graphs display acceleration vs. time and velocity vs. time of a space shuttle launch. Using graphing calculators, the pairs take a...
EngageNY
Law of Cosines
Build upon the Pythagorean Theorem with the Law of Cosines. The 10th part of a 16-part series introduces the Law of Cosines. Class members use the the geometric representation of the Pythagorean Theorem to develop a proof of the Law of...
Curated OER
Investigating Properties of Water: Temperature
Investigate how temperature affects the density of water and stratification that occurs in bodies of water when temperatures vary. Water of differing temperatures is given different colors to see the layers that form. The lesson is meant...
Curated OER
"If you build it..."
Learners utilize prior knowledge to erect and assemble a building from a drawing using spaghetti noodles and marshmallows. In this building instructional activity, students visualize a three dimensional structure from looking at a...
Curated OER
Data Analysis, Probability, and Discrete Math
Choose to supplement your probability unit with this resource and you won't be disappointed with the outcome. Teach young mathematicians to organize information using tree diagrams and lists in order to determine the possible outcomes of...
Curated OER
Applying KWL Guides to Sources with Elementary Students
What is a KWL chart? Here is a well thought-out activity that has learners use KWL charts to gain historical perspective. Your class examines primary sources about historical events and identifies what they know, want to know, and,...
EngageNY
Numbers in Exponential Form Raised to a Power
Develop an understanding of the properties of exponents through this series of activities. This third lesson of 15 explores the patterns associated with the power property. Scholars expand the powers before applying the property.
Scholastic
Study Jams! Multiples
Cupcakes and pancakes help teach young mathematicians about multiples in this mouth-watering presentation. Watch and learn how knowing her multiples helps Zoe bake enough desserts for her birthday party. Following the presentation, go...
EngageNY
Estimating Quantities
Apply the concept of magnitude to estimate values and compare numbers. The ninth lesson of the 15-part series asks learners to write numbers to their next greatest power of 10 and then make comparisons. Scholars begin to understand the...