University of Minnesota
Connect the Neurons!
Create a neuron frenzy as your pupils play the part of the neurons. An engaging lesson creates a human chain of neurons that pass cotton balls posing as neurotransmitters. Scholars learn about pre- and post-synapses as they complete...
Smithsonian Institution
War of 1812
Luckily for those who aren't history buffs, anyone can guess that the War of 1812 happened in ... 1812. But how to cover the rest of the story? The resource does just that with effective direct instruction that includes statistics,...
ProCon
Minimum Wage
The first ever minimum wage in America was set at 25 cents per hour in 1938 and has been steadily, if slowly, increasing ever since. Using the provided website, pupils decide if the United States should further increase the federal...
EngageNY
Analyzing Character and Theme: Tracking Control in A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Scholars examine how characters try to control one another in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. They engage in a read-aloud and class discussion to iron out ideas. They also work in small groups to complete a note-catcher...
EngageNY
Analyzing the Resolution of the Play: World Café Discussion
It's time to get active! Scholars participate in a World Café protocol to promote discussion and leadership. They leave their seats and move from group to group to discuss critical questions related to their read-aloud of Shakespeare's A...
EngageNY
Final Performance Task: Sharing Visual Representations of Position Papers
It's time to put down those pencils and celebrate! Scholars share the visual representations of their position papers with the class. They participate in a gallery walk to view each other's work, writing a piece of praise for their...
EngageNY
Synthesizing Chávez’s Central Claim
Class members play an interactive game, matching strips of paper containing rhetorical devices with examples from César Chávez use rhetoric in his 1984 speech, "Address to the Commonwealth Club of California." Next, partners discuss...
EngageNY
Coda: What Gives My Story Power? Celebrating Student Work
It's time for a celebration! Scholars go on a gallery walk around the classroom to view their peers' completed illustrated children's stories. Using sticky notes, pupils provide feedback about the powerful elements they find in their...
EngageNY
Identifying Main Ideas and Supporting Details: What’s Going On in the Teenage Brain?
What's going on in the teen brain? Pupils consider the question as they continue reading an informational article about the topic. While reading, they use a Thinking Log worksheet and an anchor chart to track their understanding of...
EngageNY
Forming a Research-Based Claim: Analyzing Risks and Benefits for Stakeholder
Welcome to the World Café, where lively debate is on the menu! Scholars participate in the World Café protocol, moving between discussion groups to decide if the American Academy of Pediatrics should increase its adolescent screen...
EngageNY
Mid-Unit 2 Assessment: Analyzing the Author’s Point of View: Relief Camps
We're halfway there ... what a relief! Scholars read an excerpt from a primary source about the relief camps associated with the1906 San Francisco earthquake. Next, they complete a mid-unit assessment, answering short-answer and...
Texas Education Agency (TEA)
Investigating Careers - Careers in Marketing Strategy
The biggest balloon wins! Pupils play a balloon race game, answering questions about careers in business and marketing while blowing air into balloons. Additionally, scholars research two similar companies to study their marketing...
EngageNY
Performance Task: Hosted Gallery Walk of Scientific Posters
The guests have arrived. Scholars participate in a hosted gallery walk, using their scientific posters to share their research about DDT with their classmates. Then, using sticky notes, individuals leave positive feedback on their peers'...
EngageNY
Continued Close Read of “Sloth Canopy Researcher: Bryson Voirin”
Let's explore the rainforest by studying its inhabitants. Pupils continue reading an interview with a sloth scientist and answer text-dependent questions. Next, they engage in a class discussion to share the new facts they learned about...
EngageNY
Whole Class Model Letter Writing, Introduction: Opinion, Reasons, and Evidence about Jackie Robinson’s Legacy
Sharing is caring! Using the collaborative instructional activity, scholars engage in a shared writing process with the teacher. Working together, they compose opinion letters about Jackie Robinson's legacy.
EngageNY
Revising Draft Letters to a Publisher about an Athlete’s Legacy: Using Critique and Feedback, Part II
Let's get opinionated. Scholars participate in a peer critique and revision process using a fun activity called a Four Corners strategy. After incorporating classmates' feedback, individuals share their final drafts of their opinion...
Pingry School
The Periodic Law
Time to put the knowledge to the test! Young scholars take what they know about the periodic table and build their own from scratch. Using clues from 26 different elements, they place elements in a blank periodic table. The clues include...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Exponents and Division
Create a human fraction to learn about division of exponents. Scholars develop the rule for division of exponents by being part of a human fraction to explore and justify the rule. They also consider zero exponents and negative exponents.
Curated OER
Yummy Gummy Subtraction
Here is a quick 15 minute lesson intended to introduce subtraction. Learners count and subtract gummy bears to complete 5 problems. The lessons suggest that the gummy bears can be saved and used the next day, but gummy bears get gross...
Curated OER
Things in a Line
Little learners recognize symbols, objects and how to depict numbers. In this matching lesson, they can match the number names with a set of items, model ordinal numbers, and complete a cute, cartoon-character worksheet.
NOAA
Individual Species in the Deep Sea
A tube worm's outer covering is made of chitin, the same material that makes up the shells of lobsters and crabs. Scholars create tube worms and analyze and discuss the longevity of organisms living near cold seeps. They then discuss and...
CK-12 Foundation
Operations with Sets: Let's Roll the Dice!
There's no need to roll dice for this probability experiment, the resource includes them already. Scholars use an interactive to see how including more possibilities as favorable outcomes in a dice activity affects the probabilities....
CK-12 Foundation
Fundamental Counting Principle with and without Repetition: Outfit Combinations
But I have nothing to wear! Using an interactive, individuals create all possible outfits from three shirts, one belt, and two pairs of pants. Answering a set of challenge questions helps them see what they have learned from the...
CK-12 Foundation
Permutations and Combinations Compared: Colored Candies
Here's a sweet resource on sample spaces. An enticing interactive allows users to list all possibilities for the flavors of candy given to a friend. Scholars must also determine whether permutations or combinations are more...