Curated OER
Harnessing Solar Energy
Middle schoolers identify the properties of light from the sun. In groups, they participate in experiments with solar collectors, cookers and calculators to determine which one harnesses the most energy. They record their observations...
Curated OER
May The Fastest Toy Win
Middle schoolers determine which wind-up toy is the fastest. However, they can NOT race the toys. They must find another way. On the first day of the activity, students work in pairs or small groups to develop and write a plan.
Curated OER
Angles: Angles, Angles, Everywhere
Middle schoolers estimate and accurately measure the size of angles communicate with the appropriate geometric terms and symbols to describe and name angles, lines, line segments, rays
Curated OER
Learning About Our Five Senses
Students study the sense of touch and various degrees of heat. They design a model that displays how the human hand reacts to heat using a touch sensor.
Curated OER
Blast's Cosmic Carnival
Young scholars, after analyzing the history of a concentrator, model how a Genesis spacecraft concentrator works by playing a game. In groups of three or four, after being given materials to work with, are challenged to roll the rubber...
Curated OER
Sticky Books
Fourth graders investigate items that are magnetic and those that are not. They determine the properties of the magnetic items. They create a digital book that demonstrates what they have learned about magnetism.
Curated OER
Am I Sticky
Fourth graders become familiar with magnets and their properties. They investigate what items are magnetic and non-magnetic and make generalizations about the properties. They utilize technology to develop an interactive digital book.
Curated OER
The Paper Dutch Kite
Learners construct a Dutch Kite using simple materials. For this math lesson, students measure kite dimensions according to specified instructions. They also describe and define the different parts of a kite.
Curated OER
Away You Go
Students build Lego cars which have two different types of tire surfaces. They roll them down ramps that have both rough and smooth surfaces to determine how friction affects the car as it rolls.
Curated OER
Henry Builds A Cabin
Students listen to the book "Henry Builds a Cabin." They design a cabin using Lego pieces based on information from the story.
Curated OER
Optical Illusion Machine
Students explore optical illusions. Using Legos, they construct and motorize a machine that has an axle that's geared up and geared down, complete a worksheet, and answer discussion questions.
California Academy of Science
Measuring Earthquakes
After a brief discussion on earthquakes, make a makeshift seismograph to record the shaking of the table that it sits upon. While the background information will be useful to you as a teacher, the seismograph does not seem like it would...
Curated OER
Soaring With Air Power
Fourth graders view a Newton's Apple show that explores glider mechanics, explore the four forces, build and fly a glider to specific guidelines. They adjust the glider for greater accuracy and distance using four forces, and assess...
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Winter Survival
Students study the Lewis and Clark expedition and work in small groups to solve problems that the explorers might have encountered.
Curated OER
Balloon Staging
Students discover how rockets can reach a higher altitude by using staging. They use balloons to demonstrate this concept and then practice with rockets. They discuss the results to end the lesson.
Curated OER
Egyptians as Engineers
Student design and build Lego vehicles that drag given amount of weight up an incline. They show how this demonstrates Egyptian methods of pyramid construction.
Curated OER
Friction and Machines
Fifth graders experimentally determine the relationship of friction to the functioning of machines. They demonstrate that rollers can decrease frictional force and increase speed and research to discover other ways that friction can be...
Curated OER
Group Initiatives
Students explore the names and qualities about members in the group. They each say their name and something about themselves. Students gather around in a circle. They listen to the teacher as he or she says the name of someone and throws...
Curated OER
Science: Avalanche!
Eighth graders examine avalanches after reading excerpts from John Muir's book, "The Yosemite." In small groups, they conduct experiments with flour, sugar, and potato flakes representing different snow consistencies. Then, 8th graders...
Curated OER
Worksheet 20
In this math activity, students investigate the given vectors. Then they apply the knowledge to prove the formula for the triangle formed by them.
Curated OER
The Concept of Energy
In this energy learning exercise, students read about the discoveries of Galileo and how different philosophers contributed to our understanding of energy. Then students complete 4 short answer questions.
Curated OER
Atlatl Lesson Grades 4-12
Tenth graders explore the weapons of the Aboriginal people. For this tenth grade mathematics lesson, 10th graders investigate how throwing with an atlatl increase the speed of the dart as it is thrown. Students calculate the speed for...
Curated OER
Collecting And Fitting Quadratic Data
Students investigate the concept of using quadratic data to plot coordinates on a plane. They also apply the quadratic formula for a variety of problems with the help of a graphing calculator to draw the parabola for given coordinates.
Curated OER
Water and Ice
Students explore the physical properties of water. For this water lesson, students observe, measure, and describe water as it changes state. There are 2 extensions for this lesson that one can access via the Internet links provided.