University of British Columbia
The Outsiders: Identity, the Individual, and the Group
S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders is the anchor text in a unit that asks readers to reflect on their own identity, their place in their family, in groups with which they identify, and in school.
National Security Agency
Borrowing from Our Neighbors
Young mathematicians explore two-digit subtraction. They will investigate multiple ways to subtract numbers involving regrouping. Resources are provided.
Physics Classroom
A Critical Lab
Physics lab groups finagle with laser lights to determine the critical angle of refraction for both water and Lucite. Because there are no detailed steps or an answer key for this enlightening exercise, an inexperienced physics...
Curated OER
Measuring Matter
Explore various types of measurement with fourth graders. They will practice using balance pans to measure the weight of a coin and a graduated cylinder to determine the displacement volume for a bolt. The metric system will be the focus...
Curated OER
Lesson Plan: Before and After a Moment in Time
Think about a moment, frozen in time. Now take a critical look at the painting, Better, Homes, Better Gardens. This painting works to provide learners the opportunity to analyze art, critique artist's choices, and write a story inspired...
Midland Independent School District
Drama
Ten drama lessons are the perfect addition to your language arts or theater class. With a focus on script elements, plot development, and parts of a dramatic story, the lessons guide young playwrights through the steps of telling a story...
Curated OER
Putting the Pieces Together
Children explore fractions on a conceptual level by making individual quilt squares. Each student works with small paper swatches to divide them into pieces that represent a given fraction. The class is then separated into groups and...
Conflict Resolution Network
Empathy
Children are naturally friendly and communicative, but often have a hard time expressing their emotions in a clear and understandable way. Help them hone their communication skills with a set of activities based on creating empathy,...
DiscoverE
Designing Highway Interchanges
How do engineers determine the most efficient highway designs? Introduce young scientists to the world of topology, the branch of mathematics that examines how things are connected. Teams use model highways to create the most...
Curated OER
Constructions and Creations: Sturdy Structures
Have your class draw the plans and design a structure. Learners discuss and investigate the variables in the stability of a 2D and 3D model. They also consider how to add a circuit to the design. Afterwards, they present their work.
Scholastic
Groundhog Day
A simple activity for a simple, but special, holiday. Young learners read a brief history of Groundhog Day, practice reading aloud, and then discuss how shadows are formed.
Curated OER
How Big is the Playground: Creating a Map
Students create a topographical map of an area outside of the school. In this mapping lesson, students compile data on angles, distances, and key landmarks for a predetermined area on the school grounds to create a map using Geometer's...
Curated OER
How Big Is The Playground?
Students calculate the standard and metric measurements of a playground. In this measurement instructional activity, students use GPS coordinates and graphing calculators to determine the dimensions of an area outside of the school in...
Arizona State University
Physics of Boats
Let's go sailing! An instructive unit includes six lessons with multiple activities to teach scholars about density, center of gravity, buoyancy, and the Archimedes Principle. They can complete the final project of building a boat...
Code.org
Events Unplugged
Introduce event-driven programming. Young computer scientists learn the meaning of event-driven programming and how it is different from previous styles of programming. They play a card game to simulate the challenges that occur in this...
Biology Junction
Classification of Life
Did you know scientists identify more than 13 billion species of organisms, and they discover more almost every day? An interesting presentation demonstrates how scientists keep track of so many species. It also shows how they...
West Contra Costa Unified School District
Introduction to Logarithms
Build on pupils' understanding of inverse functions by connecting logarithmic functions to exponential functions. This activity allows individuals to see graphically the inverse relationship between an exponential and logarithmic...
Bowland
You Reckon?
Sometimes simple is just better. A set of activities teaches young mathematicians about using plausible estimation to solve problems. They break problems down to simpler problems, use rounding and estimation strategies, and consider...
Curated OER
Converting Fractions to Decimals
Seventh graders take a simple fraction and give it decimal form either by the use of equivalent fractions or division with a calculator.
Curated OER
Being the Boss: Entrepreneurship
Young scholars describe the meaning of entrepreneurship and list three characteristics of entrepreneurship. They discuss the disadvantages and advantages of being an entrepreneur. They identify potential entrepreneurship opportunities in...
Curated OER
Subject/Verb Agreement and Pronoun/Antecedent Agreement
Pronouns need to learn how to get along with their antededents. Learners practice making subject and verbs agree as well as pronouns and antecedents agree. They work together to analyze the sentences using legos. They know they are...
Curated OER
Paul Revere and Point of View
Students analyze the engraving of Paul Revere to make a judgment about the time period of the Boston Massacre. The objective is that one creates an account of the event from the perspective of a British soldier.
Curated OER
How to Integrate Quotations
Quotations add validity to an argument or an analysis, but how do you integrate them into your writing? Several examples are provided, and your emerging writers will surely benefit from looking at different ways to add quotations....
Curated OER
Teaching Grammar Without the Hammer: Five Fun Activities
There are five lessons on teaching grammar here for you to peruse. Two of them work well for kindergartners; one on teaching synonyms and one on teaching parts of speech by reading Tall Tales. These lessons are especially engaging and...