Curated OER
Tessellation Lesson Plans
Students in second through eighth grades can fill their imaginations with repeating shapes!
Scientific American
Life-Sized Drawing
Ocean explorers or mathematicians research the wreck of the CSS H.L. Hunley. They investigate the actual dimensions of the Hunley using math and measuring skills. Afterward, they sketch a large scale drawing of the submarine outdoors on...
Curated OER
Winter-time Temps
Students measure temperature and become aware the the temperature above and below the snow is different. In this winter temperature lesson, students measure temperatures to find variation based on how the snow is packed. Students...
Curated OER
A Sphere and Its Net
Students identify and sketch the nets for sphere. In this geometry lesson plan, students differentiate between two and three dimensional shapes. They find the surface area of each sphere.
Teach Engineering
Aerogels in Action
Model an oil spill cleanup. An engaging engineering lesson has groups using aerogels to simulate an oil spill cleanup (vegetable oil in water). Along the way, they learn about nanotechnology and hydrophilia/hydrophobia.
Curated OER
Leaves: All-Natural Solar Collectors
Take a good look at tree leaves and notice the adaptations for collecting solar energy. Pupils trace the margins of five different leaves onto graph paper and count the number of squares covered. They then relate this infomation to the...
Curated OER
Why Are Cells So Small?
Young scholars examine the relationship between cell surface area and the ability of materials to diffuse through a cell. They participate in an experiment in which they determine which materials diffuse easier than others. They...
Curated OER
Easy as Pi
Learners describe the importance of structural features that increase surface area in a coral reef habitat. In this investigative lesson plan students quantify the impact of modifications on surface area in model habitats.
Curated OER
Review of Triangles
Students investigate the Pythagorean Theorem. In this geometry instructional activity, students define angles and sides of right triangles. They calculate the area and surface area using formulas derived by the Pythagorean Theorem.
Curated OER
Heat Loss
Middle schoolers comprehend how heat loss is affected by exposed surface area. They decide what type of and how many data to
collect. Students decide how the results should be presented. They make a series of accurate observations
Curated OER
Canada's Geographic Position
Ninth graders investigate the characteristics of the geographic position of Quebec and Canada in the World. They study Canada's land and water boundaries, surface area and time zones.
Curated OER
Sketching Cones
Young scholars sketch cones and identify its properties. In this geometry lesson, students calculate the surface area and volume of each three dimensional shape. they define and sketch prisms, pyramids and cylinders.
K12 Reader
World Climates
Why is weather different around the world? Learn about world climates with a reading comprehension passage. Kids read a short passage before answering five comprehension questions based on context clues.
Curated OER
Line and Pattern Design Paper Sculpture
The students create patterns and repeat colors for unity. They explore organic shapes and demonstrate awareness of design principles and art elements. They then create 3-D paper relief from a 2-D surface and demonstrate the difference...
Teach Engineering
Will It Fly?
Go fly a kite, then fly a plane! The 19th part of a 22-part unit on aviation looks at the way kites and gliders help aid in the understanding of flight. Pupils discuss how engineers used kites to influence airplane designs.
University of Nottingham
Drawing to Scale: A Garden
See how design and geometry go hand in hand. The activity asks learners to use geometry to design a backyard garden given dimensions of each feature. Scholars work with ratios and scale to develop an accurate scale drawing that includes...
Mathematics Assessment Project
Designing a 3d Product in 2d: a Sports Bag
Sew up pupil interest with an engaging, hands-on lesson plan. Learners first design a sports bag given constraints on the dimensions of fabric. They then evaluate provided sample responses to identify strengths and weaknesses of included...
Teach Engineering
What a Drag!
Stop and drop what is in your hand! Pupils investigate how form effects drag in the 12th part of a 22-part unit on aviation. Groups create equally weighted objects and determine which one falls the fastest by collecting data.
American Statistical Association
Exploring Geometric Probabilities with Buffon’s Coin Problem
Scholars create and perform experiments attempting to answer Buffon's Coin problem. They discover the relationships between geometry and probability, empirical and theoretical probabilities, and area of a circle and square.
Virginia Department of Education
Going the Distance
Estimate the value of one of the most famous irrational numbers. The hands-on instructional activity instructs classmates to measure the circumference and diameters of circles using yarn. The ratio of these quantities defines pi.
Curated OER
Measurement: 2D and 3D
Young scholars solve volume problems. In this geometry instructional activity, the class watches a video about clean water (link provided) and individuals compare the volume of different prisms, including an actual drinking glass....
Curated OER
To Be Or Not To Be, Soaked
Students test the absorbency of paper towels by dropping water onto the center of each towel and then find the surface area of the stain using a transparent grid. With both pieces of data, students analyze the results of their absorbency...
Chicago Botanic Garden
Impacts of Climate Change
Scholars become experts on the eight major impacts of climate change through a jigsaw and grand conversation. They then research and present what they learned about effects specific to their region.
It's About Time
Concentrating on Collisions
How important is momentum? Pupils investigate and apply the definition of momentum as they conduct analyses during a series of one-dimensional collisions. They infer the relative masses of two objects by carefully staging and predicting...