Students explore philanthropy in literature. In this cross curriculum literacy and character development lesson, students read A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens and note charitable acts described in the story. Students relate story...

Computers need precise directions to complete a task. Class members experience what it is like to program a computer with an activity that asks one pupil to describe an image while classmates follow the directions to duplicate the picture.

Experience collecting rock samples using a robotic arm with an activity that has pairs work together to operate a robotic arm. One pupil serves as the eyes and the other operates the controller. The objective is to be the fastest pair to...

Learners dismantle and reassemble a camera. For this reverse engineering lesson, students work in groups to disassemble a one-time use camera while writing directions for reassembly. Learners switch cameras and directions with another...

There are several important components in this how to build a PowerPoint presentation. Luckily there are some explicit instructions on how to put these components into the PowerPoint. This is a short, 3 slide, assignment on finding a...

Learners complete an activity that illustrates the concepts of giving accurate instructions and computer programming. They also identify the relationship of the instructions/code to computer programming. Students then create a peanut...

Students examine maps of Palmer, Massachusetts and practice giving directions. As a class, they discuss how it changed from a farming community to more industrial. To end the lesson, they take pictures of the community to show how it has...

Your plants will survive without you. Scholars create a device that can water plants using a coiled string. Along the way, they learn about adhesion and cohesion of water. The challenge is to keep the plants alive for at least a week.

Bridges rely on tension and compression to keep them standing. Pairs test this principle by constructing simple bridges and applying a force to the center. Teams use the provided worksheet to record their observations of the...

Have you ever conducted a Web search and received too many hits? Teach your class about Boolean search terms and provide them time to practice conducting efficient online searches. This lesson plan contains several fun activities which...

If you use the resource, then pupils will understand conditional block instructions. In the first lab of a six-part unit, pupils learn how to use conditional statements (if/then) in block instructions for computer programming. They apply...

Explore optics using an inquiry-based experimental approach! Young scholars use a set of materials to design and build a unit capable of focusing a beam of light. They experiment with different lenses to determine the best approach to...

Pupils research snow removal in their community. They survey students to find out if they are having problems with the walks on their way to school and how bad the problem is. Next, they organize the findings to present in class....

Students create "how to" presentations using speech skills, the Inpsiration educational software, digital cameras, and iMovie (or similar presentation software) in this technology-based Language Arts instructional activity. The...

Young scholars create a collage of wood products labeled by type of wood product.  In this product engineering instructional activity, middle schoolers work in groups to find pictures of solid wood products, engineered wood...

Students conduct a series of experiment on incandescent and fluorescent bulbs. In this physics lesson, students explain how they operate. They compare the efficiency and power rating of both bulbs.

Young scholars research things that are controlled by computer in their home, school and local area. They design and make toys with moving mechanisms as part of their design technology topic work. Students visit a toy museum or...

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.

Third graders choose two Native American tribes to compare and contrast using an assigned website. They complete a chart that shows how the tribes are the same and different. Using information gathered on their charts, they answer...

Students observe human psychology by completing a media analysis worksheet. In this parent and teen communication lesson plan, students identify the main programs on television today and how sex is used to sell the program as well as...

Students use paper rolls covered with construction paper as backgrounds for their individual photos. The photos are printed using Adobe Photo Deluxe and locate their pictures by finding their names on the files. Students are videotaped...

Students analyze how the performance of a company affects its stock value resulting in profits or losses. They simulate buying stock and earning dividends.