Teach Engineering
Concentrating on the Sun with PVs
Concentrate to determine the best reflector design. Pairs use the engineering design process to build a reflector to increase the current output of a photovotaic panel. Teams arrive at a final design and present it to the class along...
Teach Engineering
Battle of the Beams
Make the strongest beam possible using taffy? Groups mold a taffy-water mixture into a beam and a reinforcing material of their choice. To finish the final installment of a two-part series, participants test its strength by adding...
Curated OER
How much room?
Students examine the amount of usable space that exists in their classroom using square meters and square centimeters. They apply the information to predict the ideal size of a classroom.
National Wildlife Federation
Master P in the House: An All School Energy and Climate Change Plan
A person in the US uses 20 times more energy than a person in India—that's a drastic difference! The final lesson in the 12-part series goes back to the initial energy audits, analyzes which room showed the most conservation of energy,...
Curated OER
Science: How Tall Are Plants
First graders investigate plant growth and examine what factors contribute to plant growth. They keep a class chart of plant growth and write about and illustrate their conclusions.
Curated OER
Investigating the Idea of Tan
Fifth graders use tan to solve problems involving right-angled triangles. They solve equations of the form tan(8) =a, for a between 180 degrees and 360 degrees. They state the value of tan (8) in special cases.
Curated OER
PLANETS IN PROPORTION
Students discover scales for both the solar bodies' relative sizes and their distances from the sun. They find equatorial circumference and volumes of their solar bodies. Students apply estimation strategies and proportioanl reasoning to...
Curated OER
The Quadratic Formula
Students solve quadratic function by completing the square. In this algebra lesson plan, students use the quadratic formula to factor quadratics and find the roots. They graph the parabola and identify its properties.
Curated OER
My time to Shine!
Fifth graders identify and acquire the attitudes, knowledge, and skills that contribute to effective learning in school and across the life span. Then they identify and practice through an experiment, time management skills and why it is...
Curated OER
Topos, Compasses, and Triangles, Oh My!
Young scholars triangulate using a compass, topographical (topo) map and a view of outside landmarks. They take a field trip to another location away from school and mark discernible landmarks (like mountains or radio towers) and changes...
Pennsylvania Department of Education
Volume of Regular and Irregular Objects
Fifth graders examine patterns and relate to equations to solve math problems. In this patterns lesson, 5th graders diagram, graph, use models and use tables to solve equations for real world problems.
Curated OER
Sliders - Static and Kinetic Friction
Students work in groups to conduct experiments the demonstrate the differences between static and kinetic friction. They consider how friction affects us in our everyday lives, determine the effects of weight on friction and complete a...
Curated OER
Newton's Laws
Students identify Sir Isaac Newton and his contribution to physics. They write Newton's three Laws of classical mechanics. and apply Newton's Laws to the world around them. They isolate a situation and apply Newton's Laws.
Curated OER
Foods and Languages of the World
Students explore cultures around the world. In this cross-curriculum geography lesson, students listen to This is the Way We Go to School , a Book about Children around the World , and locate various countries on the globe and a map....
Curated OER
Scavenger Hunt
Second graders participate in a Scavenger Hunt to find out how long 1 cm is. They then find 10 objects that estimate to be 1 cm in length and record their findings on the table provided and check their estimates using a ruler.
Curated OER
How Much Liquid
In this science instructional activity, learners identify the amount of liquid that is present in a container and make a conversion for the five problems.
Curated OER
Who Needs What?
Young scholars identify the physical needs of animals and if plants need the same things as animals. They conduct an experiment to see if plants need light and water to grow. They compare the growth of the plants exposed to the...
Curated OER
Investigating Soil
Fourth graders swap local soil samples with another school and examine the differences. They research soil properties, identify organisms that live in soil, create and maintain a biome of soil decomposition and design a poster to present...
Curated OER
Alfy plays "Time Flies"
Third graders use the Internet to go to a math web site to explore, practice and play time telling exercises. They play a time game by moving the clock arms to match a time presented on a button.
Curated OER
What I Didn't Know...
Students practice creating wikis. In this wiki lesson, students create a wiki about any math topic that they know nothing about. Students learn about their topic and create a wiki that explains the math topic in detail.
Curated OER
Enrichment Activities - "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH"
Fifth graders read the novel "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH." They discuss the various characters in the book, and the different types of conflict that take place within the book. They also research owls and rats to make comparisons...
Curated OER
Which Came First?
Young scholars examine the significance of the Louisiana Purchase and the journey of Lewis and Clark. They sequence events that occurred on the journey of Lewis and Clark.
Curated OER
Geometry: Calculating Volumes
For this volume worksheet, middle schoolers find the volume of 8 prisms. Students are given the length, width, and height of each prism.
Curated OER
Newton's Laws
Students examine and discuss Newton's Laws and discover his contribution to physics. In groups, they participate in an experiment in which they much apply the Laws to the world around them. They describe contact and conservative forces...