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America's Civil Rights Movement, Cubing
Students explore cubing as a graphic organizer to better explain the key concepts of the Civil Rights Movement and take positions on key concepts regarding the Movement.
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Types of Dinosaurs
Students complete puzzles of dinosaurs. They compare each piece of the puzzle to a fossil and simulate a scientist's role in learning about dinosaurs.
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Octopus Legs
Students have oceans of fun transforming a wienie into an octopus they can eat! After counting, cutting halves and fourths, observing steam and the effects of heat, they mix colors as they create a yummy dipping sauce from mustard and...
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Drawing a Bird's Eye View Map
Students make birds-eye view maps and place the compass rose on the map.
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Mr. Lincoln's Way
Students read the book, Mr. Lincoln's Way by Patricia Polacco, They discuss racism and discrimination. They draw a bird and write a paragraph discussing what makes their bird special and unique.
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Naked to the Eye
Sixth graders conduct a variety of experiments that enable them to investigate bacteria. They use microscopes, prepared slides, video, moldy bread and pond water to observe types of bacteria and how bacteria interacts with the...
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Mighty Minerals
Students investigate the physical and chemical characteristics of minerals. They make a list of the uses of minerals found in Illinois. They write a report individually based on their observations.
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Attributes and Patterns with Buttons
Students work with attribute buttons in order to sort, create, and analyze patterns. Students practice identifying patterns and verbalizing the sorting rules and patterns they used. Sample assessments and rubric are provided.
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"Fall"owing Changes in the Season
Students create a whole class A-B-"C"eason Book. Each student is responsible for creating a "letter" page relating to changes, adaptations, or other fall concepts. After hard copies of the class ABC books are created, the teachers using...
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Flowera of the Prairie
Students with severe disabilities view pictures of flowers in a scanning box and identify them. Outside, they locate flowers on the school's property, label and care for them. Students use flower pictures to aid identification.
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Feet Are Neat
Students describe several types of bird feet and explain how each type helps a bird survive in its habitat. Students then match birds to their feet and mold bird feet out of clay.
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What Sense Does It Make?
Young scholars identify the five senses and their functions and explain what information each sense gives us. They collect information gained through observation and experiences. They practice identifying new vocabulary words from the...
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Clam Anatomy
Students are introduced to the anatomy of the inside and outside of a clam before dissecting the animal. During the dissection, they label and identify the function of each part they see including the outside of the clam. They complete...
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Solids and Water
Students investigate mixtures made of water and familiar solid materials. They observe and discuss the changes that occur immediately and set the mixtures aside for a day. Finally, students observe the mixtures, note changes, and graph...
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Motifs and Variations Worksheet
In this reading artifacts activity, students find images of baskets by three different basket makers and examine them carefully in order to identify crafting motifs.
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Artifact Analysis Worksheet
In this artifact analysis worksheet, students decipher what type of artifact they have based on a complete list of criteria. Students then answer multiple questions based on their discoveries.
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Elements, Compounds, and Mixtures
In this elements, compounds, and mixtures worksheet, students answer questions about the properties of elements, mixtures, and compounds. Students identify the physical changes that is made to a substance to determine if it is an element.
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Donut Sort
Third graders create dichotomous keys using donuts. In this dichotomous lesson, 3rd graders review what a property is and sort donuts by a specific property. Donuts are kept in plastic baggies for the activity so they can be enjoyed by...
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Observations and Inferences
Students observe how to distinguish observations form inferences. In this examining inferences lesson students list observations relating to the activity and discuss the importance of them.
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Algebra: Sorting, Representing, and Patterns
Students sort objects and create patterns. In this sorting and graphing activity, students work at centers to find a way to sort a group of objects, then make a graphical representation of the number of each item. Finally, students...
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Let's Catch Some Dirt From the Air
Learners investigate the dirt in the air. In this air quality lesson, students use aluminum foil and petroleum jelly to discover if there is dirt in the air. Learners discuss results.
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The Ruler, The King of Measurement
First graders learn how use a ruler to measure common items. In this measurement lesson, 1st graders examine the numerical markings on rulers and learn that each number stands for a unit of measure. They measure 5 classroom items after...
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Going West: The Artist Who Painted the Way
Fifth graders study the artists and artwork of the Westward movement. For this Westward Movement lesson set, 5th graders examine the characteristics of the art of this era. They look at the lives of the artists and think about how the...
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Shake, Rattle and Roll
Students compare the weathering of materials. in this weathering lesson, students experiment with the chemical and physical weathering of different materials. Students use salt and water as an example of how weathering occurs.