Curated OER
Space the Next Frontier
Students examine the use of space as the frontier of the future. Using the colonist's experience coming to the New World, they identify challenges they would face if they were to settle in space. As a class, they share what they already...
Curated OER
Using the Very, Very Simple Climate Model in the Classroom
Learners study the relationship between the average global temperature and carbon dioxide emissions. In this weather activity students develop a test scenario using a model then read and interpret graphs of data.
Curated OER
Deposition
Students follow carefully designed instructions to bond silver to glass thus creating a mirror. The process used, Brashear's Process, uses sugar rather than formaldehyde to reduce the compounds, but many of the chemicals are dangerous,...
Curated OER
Families and Neighborhoods
Middle schoolers explore the concept of community. In this community instructional activity, students explore the cultural flavor of their neighborhoods as they discuss the history of their neighborhoods and draw pictures of their family...
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Water, Water Everywhere: The Johnstown Flood
Students analyze the events that lead up to the failure of the South Fork Dam and the impact the flood had on the region. In this historical lesson students develop presentations on the Johnstown Flood.
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Kites: Patang - The Indian Fighter Kite
Students investigate the history of fighter kites and build their own. In this aeronautics lesson, students discover how other countries utilize fighter kites and where they originated. Students create their own fighter kites...
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Rockets: Kinematics or Energy?
Students construct model rockets, measure and record the height of the launch. In this creative lesson students use different methods to calculate velocity and height data from their launched rockets.
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Understanding a Geological Map
Students identify different types of maps and observe a geological map. In this geology instructional activity students create a replica map of a geological area that includes a key.
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Periodic Table
Eighth graders examine the metallic and nonmetallic elements on the Periodic Table. They identify the characteristics of these elements.
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Heart 2: Changing Lifestyles and Heart Health
Students examine and evaluate changes in diet and lifestyle from prehistoric to modern times and how these differences have spurred the development (and better treatment) of heart disease.
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Heart 1: Transplant
Students explain the workings and anatomy of the heart and to explore new medical techniques that help people live longer, healthier lives.
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Ptolemy vs. Copernicus
Students list differences in the diagrams of a geocentric universe and a heliocentric universe. They students describe the religious impact of this change on man's conception of the universe and man's place within it. Students describe...
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Stable and Unstable Structures
Students consider ways to create stable bridges. In this bridge design lesson, students view pictures of bridges that have collapsed. They use the information to work in small groups creating a blueprint for a bridge of their own. Their...
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What is in a Name?
Students examine taxonomy and the use of dichotomous keys through two activities. They use a dichotomous key and create one of their own as well as create new scientific Family names for penguins using same word roots used by taxonomists.
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Magnus Effect
Students examine the Magnus effect and its history. In this forces instructional activity students investigate the lift of a rotating cylinder.
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Science: What Happens to Create the Lode?
Students understand how mineral deposits are formed and why they are not evenly dispersed. They create and describe three different precipitates from four solutions simulating mineral ore deposit formation in sedimentary rock.
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Adapting to the World
Students consider dog breeds that are helpful to humans and their hereditary link to wolves. In this biology lesson, student research a dog breed for traits that make it useful to humans. Students write a report of how these traits...
PHET
Mapping the Ambient Magnetic Field
No GPS allowed! High school scientists continue to explore magnetic fields with a hands-on activity. After mapping the ambient magnetic field in the classroom and completing data analysis, they write about the similarities and...
Curated OER
Comparing Kwakiutl, Cheyenne and Navajo tribes
Third graders study the difference between the Kwakiutl, Cheyenne and Navajo tribes. They identify the people, resources, lifestyle and beliefs of the Kwakiutl, Cheyenne, and Navajo Indians. Afterward, they present their projects on each...
Population Connection
The Human-Made Landscape
Agriculture, deforestation, and urbanization. How have human's changed the planet and how might we mitigate the effects of human activity on the planet? To answer these questions class members research the changes in human land use from...
NASA
Measuring Dark Energy
You're only 10 minutes late? Do you know how much the universe has expanded in those 10 minutes? Scholars graph supernovae based on their redshift and see if the results verify Hubble's Law. If it does confirm it, the universe is...
Curated OER
Put Your Truss in Building Bridges
Students apply abstract concepts, such as stress, fulcrums, the law of gravity, and the strength of different geometric shapes. Groups of student contractors operate simulated architectural firms to create strong, economical bridges.
Curated OER
Myth of the Western Man
Students identify ways in which history and culture influence identity. They make a time-line and research dates to identify their significance, as well as, create a self portrait pictorially or verbally, that explores the complexity of...
Curated OER
A Common Thread
Sixth graders explore the Renaissance. In this Renaissance lesson, 6th graders study the culture and society of the middle ages. Students research the geography and climate of the times and discover how these affected agriculture.