US National Library of Medicine
Mental Health Awareness Project
Here is a thoughtful group assignment for researching mental health disorders. Team members focus on a different aspect of a chosen disorder: symptoms, treatments, and community resources.
Curated OER
Measuring Pumpkins and Our World
Students estimate the circumference of a pumpkin. They measure the pumpkin and other school objects, and record the measurements on worksheets.
Federal Reserve Bank
Journey to Jo’burg: A South African Story
How did South African apartheid affect the ability of people of color to increase their human capital? Here is a rich lesson in which learners come to understand the relationship between investment in human capital and income, while also...
Curated OER
From Curiosity Cabinet to Museum Collection
Students study binomial nomenclature and museum-based research. They create a curiosity box, label the objects in their curiosity box , develop a classification scheme for the objects, and create a database of all objects collected by...
National Academy of Sciences
Lights at Night Webquest
Help learners find ways to become more efficient energy consumers. To start, individuals research how different countries address energy efficiency and then analyze their own carbon footprint. They use their research to identify ways to...
University of Colorado
Modeling Sizes of Planets
The density of the huge planet of Saturn is 0.7 g/cm3, which means it could float in water! In the second part of 22, science pupils explore the size and order of the planets. They then calculate weight and/or gravity and density of...
Curated OER
Schoolyard Bird Project
Middle schoolers observe and count bird sightings around their schoolyard throughout the school year.
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Measuring the Wavelengths of Visible Light
Pupils demonstrate use of an Emission tube power supply, a diffraction grating, and a scientific calculator to determine the different wavelengths of light.
Curated OER
Who is the Sea Otter Related to?
Students examine the genetic relationships of different organisms. In groups, they discover the importance of genes and how different amino acids show various evolutionary relationships. They use an online database to continue their...
Curated OER
Dream Career Presentation, Part 1
Fifth graders brainstorm a list of characteristics which people have when they have their dream career. In groups, they complete a worksheet which helps them describe their dream career. To end the lesson, they present their information...
Curated OER
Multiplication Tables Using Microsoft Excel
Eighth graders are introduced to Microsoft Excel as a computer application software program. They create multiplication tables in Microsoft Excel. Students work in small groups. They discuss the $ (anchor) function in Microsoft Excel.
Curated OER
Personal Code of Ethics
Tenth graders develop a personal code of ethics and relate their personal code of ethics to school situations. They discuss steps they will take to resolve ethical issue at school and develop a personal plan to advocate for an ethical...
Curated OER
Graphs and Functions
Use this series of activities to introduce learners to graphing functions. They graph both linear and quadratic equations by hand and with a Graph Sketcher Tool. Several imbedded links and handouts are included in the activity.
Noyce Foundation
Snail Pace
Slow and steady wins the race? In the assessment task, scholars calculate the rates at which different snails travel in order to find the fastest snail. Hopefully, your class will move much more quickly in finishing the task!
Curated OER
Median, Mean, Mode, and Range
In this math learning exercise, students read about the median, mean, mode, and range. The learning exercise includes the following rhyme: Hey diddle diddle the median's the middle.
Curated OER
Determining the Age of Fossils
High schoolers examine the concept of radioactive dating. In this radioactive dating lesson, students investigate how to determine the ages of fossils and rocks as they learn about half-life radioactive decay.
Curated OER
Mean, Mode, Median, and Range
In this math learning exercise, students read about the mean, mode, median, and range. Students analyze a color-coded example problem for each.
Curated OER
No Bias Allowed
Students differentiate graphical representations looking for the bias. They use a systematic process in order to solve problems. Students explain how a problem is solved and the steps involved. Even deeper than this is giving the...
Curated OER
The Estimation Station
Students challenge "common knowledge" against newly learned estimation strategies and put those strategies into use. They consider variables in estimating different groups of objects and practice skills of representing numbers.
Curated OER
The Strongest Shape
Students work collaboratively to design and construct a roof out of Legos for a house that was built in a previous instructional activity. The roof must be structurally sound and pass certain criteria determined by the teacher.
Curated OER
Norman Suburban Activity
Students analyze the factors affecting organisms in the pond ecosystem. In this environmental science lesson, students perform an experiment to determine pH, nutrients and temperature of different pond sites. They present their result to...
Curated OER
It's Not Your Fault
High schoolers determine how to measure the movement of the plates along the San Andreas Fault. Students calculate the movement of tectonic plates over a period of time and describe the processes involved in the occurrence of earthquakes...
Curated OER
Blindfolded Building
Students build a Lego design and then work with a partner to reproduce that design. They guide the building of the reproduction by description only and then check their work.
Curated OER
Popcorn!
Second graders pop popcorn as a way to experience the scientific process. They form a hypothesis, carry out an experiment and explain their findings.