High schoolers map connections among raw materials. In this environmental stewardship instructional activity, students design strategies to minimize the use of raw materials and discuss how to use more sustainable materials.

Upper graders explore the new industrial revolution and how the tech boom in recent years is similar and different to the Industrial Revolution of the past. They watch a video, explore web sites, and discuss what they see. They work...

After reading about the history and recycling of paper, creative crafters collaborate to think of a new process for making recycled paper. A complete teacher's guide and student worksheets are included. There is no written procedure for...

Students survey the clothing they are wearing to determine where it was made. They work in groups to locate the countries where the clothing was manufactured, develop questions about what makes a good purchase and work with a buddy class...

Challenge your class with this fun and engaging engineering design project. The goal, to create a brand new cereal complete with a list of ingredients, a name and logo, and a box to hold it in. Starting with a survey to determine the...

As part of an investigation of the folk traditions of their area, class members research the articles of clothing worn at earlier times, the fibers and materials, and the machinery used to produce these items. In addition, class...

An investigation of the 1911 New York City Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire leads class members to examine primary and secondary source materials related to the event and apply what they learn about the working conditions at the time to...

In this manufacturing learning exercise, learners match words from a word bank to one of two pictures showing work environments, categorize jobs under the categories of primary, secondary, and tertiary, then write short descriptions...

Students examine the historical purpose of the forests in Pennsylvania and investigate how the iron manufacturing process works.  In this chemistry lesson students write the chemical formula for making charcoal.

Students make no-bake cookies to learn basic engineering principles, road construction and material science. They experience properties and changes in matter.

Students investigate the ways in which ancient technologies - six types of simple machines and combinations - are used to construct modern buildings. As they work together to solve a design problem (designing and building a modern...

How often have you passed by a recycling container in your school? Scholars research the issue of recycling in the ever-changing global world. Using documentation and video evidence, they form their own opinions on recycling and how it...

A study of an image from The Library of Congress collection Civil War Photographs 1861-1865 launches an investigation of the connection between the Civil War and American industrialization. After analyzing “Petersburg, Va. The...

The urbanization and consumerism of modern China is the hot topic up for critical analysis. Kids view a series of photographs that specifically describe Chinese modernization, urbanization, consumerism, and waste. They discuss each...

How do local businesses support their state or regional economy? The New York Times has prepared another great lesson plan for your class. They begin by listing products grown or manufactured in their state or region then write interview...

Students identify potato chips as a consumer product and investigate what processes are needed to make the chips. They investigate where the potatoes are grown and harvested before being made into chips at a processing plant. They make a...

Students study the transactions that trade involves. They determine how raw materials that are produced in one country are returned as finished products. They research and present this cycle for a product.

In this social studies worksheet looking at the past, students identify, list, and explain the materials that were used to build schools in the past as compared to their school today. Then they look at a photo of boys playing marbles and...

Students examine environmental and social impacts of products that consumers buy. In this environmental stewardship lesson, students play a game that requires them to consider real costs of products. Students consider the environmental...

Here's a sweet activity! As part of a study of psychological research methods and statistic gathering, individuals develop a hypothesis about the number of each color of M&Ms in a fun-size package. They then count the number of each...

Students consider assembly line production. In this lesson on Industrialization, students explore rifle manufacturing then create a workshop in the classroom to assemble clocks. They determine the pros and cons of assembly line...

Students conduct research of three different products that are made in Michigan. They determine how the product is made, manufactured, gathered, or found. They work with a partner to produce a multimedia presentation using their combined...

Students identify and explain the variables effecting supply and demand in the marketing industry. Then they define the terms supply and demand and graph supply and demand curves on a standard grid. Students also formulate what happens...

Eighth graders research how and why electronics are recycled. In this earth science lesson, 8th graders determine the types of materials electronic devices are made up of. They produce a creative ad to encourage people to recycle.