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Helium Balloon Race
Students determine the force of a helium balloon that allows it to rise a specific distance. In this helium instructional activity students calculate the amount of paper needed to construct a weight and determine the density of a piece...
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Does Shape Affect Drag?
Students study drag and how it affects a parachute in the sky. In this parachutes lesson students build models and compare their drag.
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The Greatest Survival Story of All Time
Students use the Internet to read about an explorer's survival in the Antarctic. They try to find a better route for him to have taken.
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When You're Hot, You're Hot!
Eighth graders examine the development of the different temperature scales. They experiment with hot and cold temperatures.
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Who Sunk the Titanic
Students discuss possible reasons for the Titanic sinking. They are split into small groups to research a historical figure involved in the sinking of the Titanic. They formulate a way to prove their characters guilt or innocence....
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Pythagorean Theorem
Students investigate the Pythagorean Theorem. In this seventh through twelfth grade geometery lesson, students explore the Pythagorean Theorem and its converse and use it to find the length of the missing side of a right triangle.
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Colonial Research Fun
Middle schoolers review the characteristics of the thirteen colonies. In groups, they use the internet to research one of the colonies more in depth and answer questions about it. They develop a newspaper or travel brochure to share the...
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Let the North Star Tell You Where You Are
Students create an astrolabe and locate the North Star in the night sky. They determine the latitude of the North Star, and calculate an average latitude based on class results.
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The Unknown Secrets of the Rain Forest
Students explore the rain forest and where they are located. Students examine why the rain forests are important and what is happening to them. They investigate the water cycle and life cycle of a frog. Students build a rain forest in...
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Pilgrims in Style
Students explore the Pilgrims and their clothing. They discuss current trends in fashion and complete a Venn diagram comparing the Pilgrim attire to present day clothing and research websites regarding the Pilgrims. After researching,...
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Let the North Star Tell You Where You Are
Students participate in activities in which they find the Big Dipper and locate the North Star in the night sky, examine the relationship between the angle to Polaris and latitude, and determine latitude by using an astrolabe.
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A Thanksgiving Feast
Students compare a Thanksgiving feast of today to the Thanksgiving feast of 1621. They analyze information to write a Rebus story about a Thanksgiving feast of today of the Thanksgiving feast of 1621. Pupils describe a typical...
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Trash or Treasure
Students explore the importance of recycling. Students are read "Can Kids Save the Earth", they are then guided in a recycling project. Students discuss Earth Day, and make poster to promote Earth Day.
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Red October
Fourth graders follow directions given in bearings. They invent their own maps using them and use a protractor to help them with their designs. Students
produce their own maps with instructions for navigating the maps. The channels...
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To Be Salty Sea Ice Or Not
Students explore what type of solutions freeze. They design their own experiments to compare how fresh water and salt water freezes. In addition, they write their observations in a journal and complete analysis questions.
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From Where to Where?
Learners find locations based upon their latitude and longitude coordinates. In this latitude and longitude lesson, students locate points on a grid and learn how to use an astrolabe.
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Presidents of the United States
Students discuss American Presidents. They each complete research on one particular President and then, using a template, create a short biography (including a picture) about him. When all biographies are complete, they compile them into...
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Westward Ho
Students examine primary sources regarding Western migration. In this Manifest Destiny lesson, students determine why the pioneers moved west and what the trip was like as they examine sources and write journals based on their findings.
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In Country: An Integrated Look at the Vietnam War
High schoolers explore aspects of the Vietnam War and how it relates to the heritage of America. In an attempt to understand the level of involvement, students analyze statistics from the Vietnam war. High schoolers watch a video, read a...
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Archaeological Self-Study: What Do Our Belongings and Trash Tell About Us?
Students examine how their belongings and their trash represents who they are. In this archaeology skills lesson, students watch a video titled "Discovering the Past" and then give archaeological techniques a try. Students examine and...
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Seasons and Shadows: Investigate How Shadows Shift Throughout the Year
Students examine their shadows and why they are different in the summer and winter. In this seasons instructional activity students complete an activity to see how the earth's tilt on its axis changes the length of shadows.
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Dynamic River Model
Students develop the concepts of flood stage, levees, floodplain, and the dynamics of river flooding. They construct river models and test various flow rates and volumes. This lesson has an excellent experiment for students to do.
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Applied Evolution: How Will We Get There from Here?
Students explore the basic process of natural selection and how people can manipulate that process today. The consequences of natural selection on daily life and the implications of evolutionary biology in basic and applied science is...
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Catapults
Students are introduced to the concept of a catapult and how it is used with the help of a media presentation. They use catapults in a large, open area and record the distances objects travel. Students use the scientific method while...