Energize biologists with colorful images in an activity that captivates the imagination while demystifying the subject of cellular respiration. Participants build comprehension skills and access core content knowledge by analyzing text...

Rewrite a quadratic function to easily see the transformations involved. The instructional task takes a general quadratic function and rewrites it into a form that shows the translations and scaling of the parent quadratic function. The...

This is the ticket to learning about function rules! Using online manipulatives, scholars build a table of values and then answer questions about the related function. They examine the relationship between the input and output values and...

How high will it fly? Pairs build straw rockets and launch them at different angles and determine the height and horizontal distance of the flight path. Teams make conjectures about how the angle affects the measured distances and use...

Students use given information on wind speed with the quadratic formula to determine the pressure of the wind on a building. In this quadratic equations lesson, students compute the pressure of the wind from two data tables. They graph...

Not all linear functions are linear transformations, only those that go through the origin. The third lesson in the 32-part unit proves that linear transformations are of the form f(x) = ax. The lesson plan takes another look at examples...

As part of a unit, this lesson familiarizes youngsters with components of a rain garden. They speculate about the role of an assigned component in contributing to a rain garden, and ultimately, in the health of the local watershed. Each...

Build a spectrometer to analyze properties of light. Scholars examine the spectrum from CDs and DVDs from two different light sources. Using the spectrum, they work to identify different elements.

Combine science and playtime with the final lesson in an innovative unit. Scholars apply everything they have learned in previous lessons to build their own motors/generators and use it in a toy of their own design. 

It has been decades since the discovery of DNA. Still, activities such building this DNA model allow blossoming scientists to better understand the components that form this overall structure. During this activity, they will also...

Keep moving along a curve. Two items in the set of released free-response questions from the 2010 AP® Calculus BC exam involve movement along a graph. One involves particle motion along a polar curve while the other uses a squirrel...

Students investigate quadratic functions using geometric toothpick designs. They review transformations of quadratic functions-vertical and horizontal shifts, and stretches and shrinks. Students match the symbolic form of the function to...

Compose and decompose sets of 13 and 14 and compare sets of each with your little learners. They use objects to construct sets of 13 and 14, record their answers, and compare sets in several different ways.

Build a patio from toothpicks and marshmallows to analyze functions! Learners look for patterns in the data as they create different size patios. As they discover patterns, they make connections between the different representations of...

Most problems can be solved using more than one method. A worksheet includes just nine questions but many more ways to solve each. Scholars must graph, solve, and justify quadratic problems.

Introduce a new type of function through discovery. Math learners build an understanding of rational expressions by creating tables and graphing the result. 

Some things are hard to resist. Small collaborative groups build circuits and calculate the voltage using Ohm's Law. Budding engineers explore the connection between the voltage across different resistors and linear...

Augment a unit on parabolas with an instructive math activity. Pupils graph parabolas by examining the relationship between the focus and directrix. 

Examine an exponential growth model. Using a fractal, learners calculate the perimeters of each stage. When comparing the consecutive perimeters, a pattern emerges. They use the pattern to build an equation and make conclusions.

Build an explicit formula using tiles. Pupils develop a tile representation of a term within a sequence given figures of previous terms. Using the diagrams, learners develop the explicit formula by recognizing the common difference and...

High schoolers investigate the structure of DNA, replication and transcription. In this DNA lesson plan, students build models of DNA using piper cleaners and paper clips. They demonstrate replication of DNA and transcription of DNA to...

After giving basic details about the properties of carbon, some of the common functional groups and molecules are featured. There is some information about specific functions and impact on the human body. The diagrams are helpful and...

Students investigate the properties and uses of rocks and minerals. They build towers using only one material from a pile of stones, tiles, wood, etc. provided by the teacher. Students test the hardness of rocks by scratching them with...

Build learning by breaking atoms! Young scientists study the way energy changes with a hands-on activity. As they roll steel marbles down a ramp, learners test the hypothesis that kinetic energy does not go away with friction...