American Chemical Society
Designing a Shade Structure
Bring the learning outdoors with an enjoyable activity about Earth's heating, sunlight, and shade. Scholars use problem-solving skills as they design, build, and test a sunshade structure. Participants view a video summarizing the...
Nebraska Department of Education
You're Fired!
Is willing to learn. Follows directions. Takes the initiative. The big idea in this career development lesson is that the work habits that make one successful in school are the same as those required to succeed in a career. Class members...
Overcoming Obstacles
Creating a Win-Win Situation
Win-lose? Lose-lose? or Win-win? The activities and games in the fifth instructional activity in the Resolving Conflicts module teach middle schoolers how they might use their problem-solving skills to transform a conflict into a win-win...
Oceanic Research Group
Heat Transfer and Cooling
Astronauts train underwater to simulate the change in gravity. An out-of-this-world unit includes three hands-on activities, one teacher demonstration, and a discussion related to some of the challenges astronauts face. Scholars apply...
Illustrative Mathematics
Dividing by One-Half
Understanding when to divide by two or one-half can be confusing. Here is an activity that gives four different scenarios. It is up to your number crunchers to decide if they divide by two or one-half. The easiest way to approach the...
Teach Engineering
Introduction to Environmental Engineering
A series on environmental engineering introduces the class to issues that environmental engineers work to solve. This first lesson focuses on air and land issues, and looks at ways to reduce pollution.
Illustrative Mathematics
Listing Fractions in Increasing Size
Increase the depth of your class's fractional number sense with this number-ordering activity. Given four fractions, each with different numerators and denominators, young learners are asked to place them in order from smallest to...
Cornell University
Fibers, Dyes, and the Environment
Nanofibers can be made through electrospinning or force spinning in order to reduce the negative impact on the environment. Pupils study the role of fibers and dye on the environment through a series of five hands-on activities. Then,...
Illustrative Mathematics
Who is the Tallest?
A simple question, with a not-so-simple answer. Working with whole and mixed number measurements in inches, feet, and yards presents a problem with many possible solutions. A great activity that challenges the minds of young...
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Statue Display Tower
Sometimes engineering problems that seem easy prove to be more challenging than imagined. Present your class with the challenge to build a functional display tower to support a statue using only the supplies available in class while...
Curated OER
Two Triangles' Area
Need an activity for teaching the Pythagorean Theorem? Geometry juniors apply the Pythagorean theorem to two triangles to determine a final calculation.
Mathematics Assessment Project
Representing 3-D Objects in 2-D
How does the shape of the surface of water in a container change as water leaks out? After tackling this question, learners take part in a similar activity with more complex figures.
Curated OER
Stop Signs, Musical Notes, Letters & Logos: Designing Symbols
Students develop an awareness of environmental print, such as signs, logos, brand names, and other print and non-print items that the children see and read in their neighborhood each day. They then engage in active problem solving as...
Curated OER
Right on Time
The hour is nigh for your class to practice equivalency problems in the form of time-zone conversions. They write equations to describe elapsed time and apply problem solving strategies, including writing a plan, to solve the problems.
Curated OER
Strategic Games Y1: Nim
First graders play Nim online to practice problem solving skills and strategies.
Curated OER
Ticky Plans His Trip to Antarctica to See Tacky
First graders participate in creative problem solving activity to get from Utah to the Atlantic Ocean.
Curated OER
Word Problems
Students use the "gist" strategy to understand how to dissect parts of a word problem. In this word problem lesson plan, students learn how to solve word problems and then solve them.
Curated OER
Tax, Tip and Discount Word Problems
Students solve problems involving tax, tips and discounts. In this algebra lesson, students convert between percents and decimals. They calculate commission using conversion from percents and fractions.
Curated OER
The Corner Problem
Students explore the concept of the corner problem. In this corner problem instructional activity, students use the TI-NSpire to determine the maximum length a rod can be and still pass horizontally around a corner. Students use similar...
Curated OER
Let Algebra Tiles Solve Equations for You
Students practice solving algebra equations utilizing model tiles. In this algebra lesson, students observe a clip from the movie Homeward Bound and break the action down into an algebraic equation. Students solve an algebra...
Curated OER
Problem/solution
Young scholars examine presentations of problems and reaching solutions in literature. In this writing skills lesson, students read "The Three Little Pigs," and respond to several discussion questions about plot, characters, setting,...
Curated OER
Selecting the Best Material to Use While Solving Technological Problems
Students examine natural resources and discuss their pros and cons. In this sustainable environment lesson, students describe reasons to use specific resources when faced with different problems, specifically why wood is a great...
Curated OER
Problem Solving Lesson Plan 2
High schoolers study a number of work and family management roles and techniques.
Curated OER
Solving Equations By Systematic Trial
Young scholarss solve equations using guess and check. In this algebra lesson, students solve linear equation using the systematic trial. They isolate and identify the missing variable using non tranditonal methods.