DiscoverE
Build a Better Candy Bag
Every child's dream: stuffing as much candy into a bag as possible. Doing this, though, requires a nice sturdy bag. Scholars design the sturdiest bag they can and test the limits of those bag using a sweet treat!
University of Southern California
Human Impact on the Sea
How far does the human hand reach? Five interactive lessons lead classes through a unit exploring the human impact on ocean resources, pollution, and even extinction. Learners discover how their decisions affect the ocean...
Roald Dahl
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
You can't read Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory without craving the rich treats described in Dahl's vivid prose. Young writers try their hands at sensory language with a lesson plan that prompts them to write about...
NOAA
Biological Oceanographic Investigations – What's in That Cake?
Have you ever tried to find hidden items in a picture when you don't know what you are looking for or how many things are hidden? A lesson plan applies that same concept to sampling the deep sea habitats. Participants must first...
Curated OER
Real-life Problems, Working with Decimals
Put your learners' decimal skills to the test with these five word problems. With space for students to write their work, the word problems contain addition and multiplication problems with money and measurement units. Use this resource...
Curated OER
Dietary Rules
Healthy eating habits is the focus of this resource. Learners discuss fat and cholesterol, caloric needs, and the importance of exercise. There is a worksheet and a handout of dietary guidelines to supplement the information provided.
Science 4 Inquiry
Layers of the Earth
We can't dig a hole through the Earth, so how do we know about the layers beneath our feet? Scholars learn about layering through hands-on exploration of common materials. They study the characteristics of each layer and apply their...
Curated OER
Our Dependence on Fossil Fuels
Students become aware of their dependence on fossil fuels. As an introduction activity not all students are treated equitably to emphasize that fossil fuels are finite resources. They are asked to list the external sources of energy used...
Curated OER
Edible DNA
Students use multicolored soft candies (gumdrops and candy orange slices) and toothpicks to create models of DNA structures. They discuss the fact that DNA must copy itself before splitting into two cells. Students demonstrate this by...
Curated OER
How Big is a Crowd?
Sixth graders compare the relative sizes of the five Great Lakes and their human populations. They describe some of the problems that arise when many people depend on a limited resoure. Students discuss how the Great Lakes and the...
Curated OER
Justice, Is it Fair?
Fifth graders investigate conflict resolution through the study of justice. In this justice instructional activity, 5th graders are put in scenarios of unfair conditions. Students discuss the unfair situations and their...
Curated OER
Sensational Soil
Fourth and fifth graders explore soil by taking a simulated field trip under the earth. They go to an Internet site that runs a simulation which charges them with finding a source of pollution that could destroy all of Earth's soil, and...
Generation Rx
Medication Safety Patrol: Trivia Game
It trivia time! Small groups work collaboratively to answer questions all about medication safety. Groups earn points with each correct response, and as the ultimate game changer, they wager all or a portion of their points on one final...
Curated OER
Introduction to Economics
Pupils discover the basic economic problem: scarcity; examine how "there is no such thing as a free lunch" (opportunity costs); and define economics. They act out a play demonstrating basic economic principles.
Curated OER
Ecosystems II
Pupils engage in a lesson that is about the concepts related to the careful balance of an ecosystem. They identify the beneficial and harmful relationships that can exist with diverse populations in an ecosystem. The lesson includes...
Curated OER
A New coat for Anna
Second graders participate in a bartering activity. They discuss the problems of bartering. Students read the book "A New Coat for Anna," by Harriet Ziefert. Students discuss the bartering Anna's mother did. They record the trades made...
Curated OER
Build a Skittles Graph
Students construct a bar graph with a given set of data. They calculate the ratio and percent of the data. Students discuss alternate ways of graphing the data as well as multiple strategies to approach the task.
Helping with Math
What is Division?
In this division assignment, math learners can use counters to help solve simple division problems or draw pictures to show how things can be shared. Real-world scenarios allow youngsters to apply division concepts. The webpage contains...
Curated OER
Learn How Baby Birds Survive
Students role play baby and mother owls. They learn how owls are fed and figure out which type of beak will work for different kinds of food. Students do this by using chopsticks, tweezers, forks and toothpicks to try and pick up...