PBS
Using Variables in Simple Equations
A Cyberchase clip shows Hacker creating a game show that uses a variable to find out how much power is produced by a gleamer bug. Follow the video with a lesson about using variables to solve equations. Terrific handouts and...
PBS
Arguing over Area
With the help of the Area Officers and Perimeter Patrol, you learners will develop a better understanding of area and its relationship to perimeter. First, they view a video clip from Cyberchase, and then they visit a website to...
PBS
Frame Yourself: Area and Perimeter
Elementary schoolers are arranged in pairs and view the video Math Works: Measurement: The Difference Between Perimeter and Area. They discuss any prior knowledge they have of the term perimeter and then brainstorm together what the...
PBS
Button, Button
Youngsters count, classify, and estimate quantities using buttons after a read aloud of The Button Box by Margarette S. Reid. They discuss the difference between guessing and estimating. Based on an experiment, they predict the...
PBS
Geometry: Hide and Seek
A geometry game that resembles Battleship is the foundation for hide and seek where "hiders" draw shapes on coordinate planes and "seekers" must guess the shape and its location based on questions and clues. Reproducible, paper-sized...
PBS
Analyzing Information - Can Pigs be Pets?
Engage your scholars in a discussion about pigs! Scholars analyze information about keeping pigs as pets and write a persuasive paragraph. An informational text and video are included for research. While examining these materials, class...
PBS
Writing a Historical Poem
Students conduct field research of a historical site in order to discover a more complete understanding of a time period. They choose one particular historical figure and write a short poem about the site from the historical person's...
PBS
Inventions
Use this lesson plan to discuss inventions that have changed your class's world and have impacted society. Middle schoolers investigate important inventions of their time and design an invention in a simulated business atmosphere. Modify...
PBS
Measuring Waves | UNC-TV Science
Discover the secrets used by scientists to measure mechanical waves. Young physicists learn about measurable wave qualities—amplitude, wavelength, and frequency—by watching and listening to a video discussing longitudinal and transverse...
PBS
DNA 101: Life's Instruction Manual | UNC-TV Science
Unravel the DNA molecule in just over a minute! Future geneticists listen and watch a video exploring DNA's structure, function, and the interaction of the genes and proteins that decode and interpret the complex molecule. Scholars...
PBS
Electromagnetic Spectrum | UNC-TV Science
Illuminate lightwaves, even those not visible to the human eye, in a concise activity about the electromagnetic spectrum. Pupils watch and listen to an animated video describing the electromagnetic spectrum as well as frequency and...
PBS
The Yo-Yo Problem
What do yo-yos and pennies have to do with linear equations? Learn about writing and solving linear equations while considering the Yo-Yo Problem and Penny Pattern Exploration from the High School Math Project. Learners utilize algebra...
PBS
The Personal Writing Worksheet
Get your writers started on their personal essay with a activity that gently guides them into formulating some ideas they might use. Strengths, weaknesses, major experiences, influential individuals, all offer something that can be a...
PBS
Shakespeare & The Renaissance: Activity Ideas
Looking for ways to implement the words and works of William Shakespeare into your curriculum? This list of activity ideas is a great starting point, as it covers a wide range of grade levels and a wealth of online references to explore.
PBS
The Caterpillar or Larva
The larval stage of the butterfly life cycle is quite exciting. Start a discussion about the specially designed body parts unique to caterpillars. After examining images of caterpillars, learners use plastic soda bottles, string, and...
PBS
The Egg
The first stage in the butterfly's life cycle is the egg. Young entomologists discuss why different butterflies lay different eggs and what their eggs look like. Then they use the handouts to make a replica of one type of butterfly egg...
PBS
NOVA Elements
It's like a periodic table variety show! When the plethora of periodic table apps becomes ho-hum, this one may revive interest.
PBS
Baseball: The Tenth Inning
The intent of this resource is to explore Latin American accomplishments in baseball, recognizing the changes in demographics of players over the last century. Social studies classes begin with a discussion and brainstorm surrounding...
PBS
Blue Ribbon Readers: Drawing Inferences
Model for young readers how to use illustrations, chapter titles, and events in a story to draw inferences and make predictions. Learners then practice these essential comprehension strategies by drawing inferences for another section of...
PBS
Surface Area and Volume
You and your class will like this lesson on using visual models to relate the volume and surface area of solid shapes. Learners construct three-dimensional forms using nets. They calculate the surface area and volume for each and then...
PBS
Remove One
With a set of 15 chips and a number line, learners predict what sums may occur with the rolling of two dice. When their sum comes up, they remove one of the chips from their number line with the objective of being the first to remove...
PBS
Snowboarding Women Making History: Winter Sports, Gender Roles in Sports, Biographies
Students will explore biographical Web pages about women who are competing in snowboarding. They will compare and contrast the experiences of these women, and design interview questions to be submitted via email.
PBS
Baker's Gold
Students examine art of the California Gold Rush. In this visual arts instructional activity, students analyze the photography and art of Isaac Wallace Baker. Students also conduct further research about the miners of the era in order to...
PBS
Women's History: Clara Barton
Students investigate Clara Barton's contributions to society. In this Clara Barton lesson plan, students watch videos, listen to lectures, and conduct research regarding Clara Barton's life and her possible authorship of a Civil War...