Mystery is an exciting genre for young readers to investigate. The plots are so intriguing! Here is a series of lessons featuring Sherlock Holmes stories that invite learners to enter the world of the mystery genre.  Based on what...

First, biology pupils research land and marine habitats along the route of skipper Rich Wilson's Great American II. Then, using colored paper clips scattered across a colored paper background, they play the predator-prey game to...

Students investigate mining and economics. In this mining lesson, students play a game in which they purchase property, mine the property, and pay for reclamation.  Students earn money for each ore mined. 

Students discuss the properties of popcorn. They explore the connection between corn, popcorn and Thanksgiving. As a class, students sing a popcorn song and create a popcorn craft. They practice writing the word popcorn. As a...

Learners explore the properties of a pumpkin. In this What's Inside a Pumpkin lesson plan, students use a real pumpkin to investigate pumpkin facts, sing a song "Five Little Pumpkins", paint pumpkin patch artwork, participate in a...

Fifth graders define vocabulary terms, identify the characteristics of a pillbug, and create a dichotomous key. Then they examine the pillbugs and make observations and record these observations. Finally, 5th graders observe specific...

A well-designed, comprehensive, and attractive slide show supports direct instruction on how sonar and echolocation work. Contained within the slides are links to interactive websites and instructions for using apps on a mobile device to...

Students research volcanoes. In this volcanoes instructional activity, students visit websites with worksheets about the terms for volcanoes and volcanic eruptions in the world. Students complete the work online and play a game for...

Sixth graders complete a lesson plan on the properties, types and amounts of water on Earth. In groups, they travel between stations to identify water resources in Illinois and pollution sources. They complete the lesson plan with a...

Young scholars study the concept of bird migration. In this bird lesson, students read Make Way for Ducklings, discuss the concept of community, and write reflections.

Students research the history and uses of the different elements in the periodic table. In this chemistry lesson, students explain the significance of an element's valence electrons. They create a multimedia presentation of an element...

Students predict what will happen to ice when salt is put on it. They make observations and discuss what actually happened to the ice. They relate their experiment to the salt trucks they see on the street.

What's the Matter? is a guided inquiry lesson on classification of matter, physical and chemical properties, and physical and chemical changes. There are two parts to this lesson: (a) concentration game for definitions and (b)...