Radford University
A Place at the Table
Find a seat at the table. Learners design a non-rectangular picnic table given constraints on the number of people that should be able to sit at the table. They draw blueprints and build scale models of their tables. After researching...
Space Awareness
History of the Universe
Your pupils may believe that you and their parents are the oldest things in the universe, but surprise! There are elements of the universe that are even older. Elementary scientists create a class timeline to demonstrate the...
Inside Mathematics
Functions
A function is like a machine that has an input and an output. Challenge scholars to look at the eight given points and determine the two functions that would fit four of the points each — one is linear and the other non-linear. The...
Inside Mathematics
Population
Population density, it is not all that it is plotted to be. Pupils analyze a scatter plot of population versus area for some of the states in the US. The class members respond to eight questions about the graph, specific points and...
Trash For Teaching
The Light-House Project
Groups work together to design a lighthouse, from designing and drawing the wiring diagram, to creating prototypes of the switch and circuit, to envisioning and building a scale model along with a blueprint. By including different...
Teaching Tolerance
Identity Self-Portraits
What symbols represent you best? Individuals consider how they would draw peers using symbols about their identities with an interview and art activity. After conducting interviews and portraits, the art makes a great centerpiece for...
Illustrative Mathematics
Comparing Products
How can 5th graders show understanding that 30 x 225 is half of 60 x 225 without completing the computation? They can use an area model and draw it out. An array, or an open array, is an area model that allows for young learners to...
Discovery Education
Exploring Geometry
Middle schoolers construct a three-dimensional model of a city using both similar and congruent figures and geometric transformations. City must have at least ten buildings with each building labeled and may be constructed out of paper...
Curated OER
Access Ramp
Just about every public building that your students are familiar with has an access ramp which complies with ADA requirements. As it turns out, designing such a ramp is an excellent activity to incorporate slope, the Pythagorean Theorem,...
Curated OER
Math - Design a Ship
Learners design a ship. They calculate square footage and draw their ship to scale. They build models of their ships.
Curated OER
Balobbyland City Planners
Students create a mini city using proportions that fit a model human they construct using tin foil. They plan the city including a library, sports arena, living spaces, parks and businesses. When constructing the paper buildings, they...
Curated OER
How'd They Do That?
Students research the movie production occupation and careers in the industry. In this movie careers and effects activity, students watch a video about special effects used in movies and scale. Students draw a building to a specific...
Curated OER
A Sculptor's Model
Students investigate visual arts by researching art on the Internet. In this expressionism lesson, students identify several famous artworks on-line based on self expression and discuss the techniques. Students examine steel sculptures...
Curated OER
Distance Makes a Difference
Students create a clay model of the Sun and Earth. In this space science lesson, students explain how distance affects the appearance of objects. They write a poem or riddle about the Sun in their journal.
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Classroom Activities: EarthViewer
The spot you are standing in right now—how did it look 2,000 years ago, one million years ago, or even four billion years ago? Scholars use a model of Earth throughout history to learn about continental drift, climate change, changes in...
Curated OER
Scale Basketball
Students discuss scale diagrams and maps as well as the use of spreadsheets to find the best scale to use in a model before practicing scale and ratio problems on their own.
Curated OER
History of Our Solar System Time Line
Ninth graders explore the concept of ratios. In this ratio lesson, 9th graders construct a to scale time line that starts at the beginning of time. Students determine the correct placement of big events in time such as when the dinosaurs...
Curated OER
Language Arts: Chasing Vermeer - A DaVinci Code for Children
Students read the mystery novel, Chasing Vermeer, research the artist and his works. Through observation of his works, they create their own pencil sketches of selected paintings. Finally, students simulate Vermeer's interiors with...
Curated OER
Finding Fractional Parts Using an Area Model
Students explore math functions by completing a problem solving worksheet in class. In this division lesson, students utilize visual aides such as marshmallows and candy to visualize the act of division. Students complete a division...
Curated OER
Parallel and Perpendicular Lines
Fifth graders complete activities to investigate parallel and perpendicular lines. In this plane geometry lesson, 5th graders watch a movie about parallel and perpendicular lines. Students work in pairs to describe and draw the lines in...
Curated OER
Universal Proportions: Earth and Moon
Students create scale models of Earth, the Moon, and the distances within the universe. Working in groups, they construct their models of Earth and the Moon on a scale of 50:1 and calculate how far apart to place their models. They...
Curated OER
Scale and Equations
In this Algebra I learning exercise, 9th graders solve equations by using the concept of a scale where unknowns are represented by cylinders and numbers by marbles. The four page learning exercise contains ten problems. ...
Curated OER
Motion of the Sun and Earth: Using a Playground Model to Explore Rotation and Revolution
Students experience the rotation of the Earth and the Sun and the Earth's revolution around the Sun, using a playground mode.
Curated OER
Introduction to Fractals: Infinity, Self-Similarity and Recursion
Students think about several of the concepts from fractals, including recursion and self similarity. They use mathematical concepts of line segments, perimeter, area and infinity are used, and skill at pattern recognition is practiced.