Who needs the daylight to simulate a lunar eclipse? Astronomers model the positions of the Sun, Earth, and Moon to explain the necessary conditions for a lunar eclipse. Investigators cut and label a paper plate to represent the Earth and...

Being able to get along with a variety of personalities in the workplace is a key job skill. To gain insight into the importance of this skill, class members take on roles of various personality types and work in groups to try to build a...

Heat water up like a NASA engineer. Using the engineering design process, investigators create a system to trap and move heat through a water-filled tube. Designers participate in a post-activity discussion that highlights the role of...

Can the class think like the scientists on the International Space Station? Engineers design, test, collect data, and improve a water filtration device similar to a system found on the ISS. Participants use pH strips, optional...

Calculate the movement and properties of planets like professional astronomers! Scholars use Kepler's third law to find Mercury and Venus's distance from the sun. Using changes in brightness of distant stars and Kepler's third law,...

Combine math and science with fun in the sun! Scientists build a solar gnomon using reusable materials to calculate relative air mass. Mathematicians measure the pole's shadow and use the data to solve for relative air mass....

Bud followed a series of rules from Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis. The question is, how did he use those rules to thrive or survive? After a grand discussion, class members explore the novel to locate and cite textual...

Putting a rectangular object into a circular one—didn't the astronauts on Apollo 13 have to do something like this? Learners first construct the center of a circle using perpendiculars. They then discover how to inscribe a rectangle in a...

Challenge classes to think deeply and apply their understanding of polynomials. The assessment prompts learners to use polynomial functions to model different situations and use them to make predictions and conclusions.

Collaborative groups utilize their knowledge of parent functions and transformations to determine the equations associated with graphs. The graph is then related to the scenario it represents. 

Building upon previous knowledge of sequences, collaborative pairs analyze sequences to determine the type and to make predictions of future terms. The exercises build through arithmetic and geometric sequences before introducing...

Looking for performance tasks to incorporate into your units? With its flexibility, this resource is sure to fit your teaching needs. Use this module as a complete assessment of graphing linear scenarios and polynomial operations, or...

Ninth graders reflect on what they have learned throughout the unit.  In this Science lesson, 9th graders demonstrate how working together can produce an informative useful project.   

Learners apply the scientific method to the act of taking apart appliances. In this scientific process lesson, students disassemble appliances to learn how their components work together.

Middle schoolers explore responsible behavior. In this character education instructional activity, students work in groups to act out scenarios using or disregarding responsible behavior. Middle schoolers discuss personal feelings and...

Students create and present an original design. In this visual arts lesson plan, students watch a video about design and learn the elements of design. Then students work in groups to construct and present an original design.

Learners research the first Thanksgiving. In this first Thanksgiving lesson plan, students research the Internet about how the first Thanksgiving came about between the Native Americans and the Pilgrims. They complete a KWL chart, and...

First graders listen to the book The Story of Sand and make predictions about an investigation based on soil, sand, and silt. In this sand lesson, 1st graders work in groups to discuss their observations about sand and answer higher...

Students explore development of jazz music in the 1930s by forming imaginary jazz bands which tour several cities in Depression-era America. Jazz band members create imaginary identities for themselves, develop publicity for their tour,...

Learners from the fourth grade research a solution to a community problem and converse with eighth graders via email. Eighth graders study the political process and work with the fourth graders to present information to the public to...

Students read about Humane Genome Project, examine structure and function of DNA, and participate in gel-electrophoresis lab. They complete Internet activity to test their knowledge of DNA.

Students investigate a frog's life cycle. For this tadpole lesson, students observe tadpoles in an aquarium and record results. Students fill in a KWL chart as an assessment.

Students examine the Earth's crust or lithosphere, mantle and core. They complete research using assigned web sites before designing a model of the Earth using items such as Play-Doh, peaches and apples.

Students observe populations and determine the functions (e.g., decomposers, producers, consumers) they serve in an ecosystem. They investigate the energy flow ecosystems. Students investigate factors (.g., Resources, light, water) that...