Fourth graders engage in a lesson which integrates the study of the Underground Railroad in Indiana with a Language Arts unit on quilts. They write a book report on one of the quilt books read in class and design a quilt block for the...

Fourth graders explore history of Underground Railroad in Indiana and discover how slaves were assisted on their journey using codes displayed in different quilt blocks. Students examine connection quilts have to ancestry and family...

Learners demonstrate the attraction of small pieces of paper to a charged plastic rod and conduct experiment with other objects to determine whether they can hold a charge. They then use online applets to apply their experiments to...

Students conduct a variety of experiments related to solar energy, heating, cooling, gravity, physical insulation and wind. They consider how the experiments relate to energy and the consumption of energy and then participate in a class...

Students examine how symbols are used in some societies to influence spirits and to protect rooms. They discuss and view examples of doors decorated with symbols, and create a door mural using African and American symbols.

Students discuss borders and boundaries. They discuss pollution and the fact that boundaries cannot stop pollution and that pollution affects even protected wildlife and plants. They participate in an activity in which they must place...

Fifth graders examine and identify different simple machines that make up complex machines. They analyze and discuss different gadgets and appliances brought in from home, then in small groups examine one of the machines in detail. ...

Student participate in magnetism demonstrations. In this magnetism lesson, students dangle paper clips near magnets and explain what happens. They work with steel wool, metal filings, and aluminum foil to see which items can be...

Students design and launch their own rockets.  In this experimental lesson students launch their own rockets and record the various angles and distance that they go.  Each student has time to redesign their rocket and have a...

Students explore physical science by participating in a class science activity. In this magnet attribute lesson, students define a list of scientific vocabulary terms associated with magnets and participate in hands on magnet activities....

Students explore types of motion. In this motion experiment, students observe how objects move. Students work in small groups to discover the laws of motion.

Reading about history is nothing like experiencing it firsthand. Encourage your eighth graders to do the next best thing with a historical narrative prompt, in which they describe the experience of a first-time traveler on the...

Earth's magnetic poles switch positions about every 200,000—300,000 years. In the activity, groups create a planet with a magnetic field. Once made, they use a magnetometer to determine the orientation of the planet's magnetic field....

Students describe an everyday situation which demonstrates Newton's Third Law. They state Newton's Third Law;"Every action has an equal and opposite re-action, or every force has an equal and opposite force" in their own words. ...

Students demonstrate rotary motion by practicing with gyrocopters. In this physics lesson students work in groups to construct a gyrocopter and explore how physics effect it torque and inertia.

Learners investigate Bernoulli's principle of air pressure and how it relates to the lift of an airplane. Students identify various Aeronautical vocabulary terms. Learners construct a paper glider and experiment with the control surfaces...

Students apply inquiry and problem solving approaches in science. They design a device (invention) that solves a special problem.

Students record data of using a track system with variables and how those variables affect a ball used in the track. In this track lesson plan, students design their own track in groups, test the ball's rates of speed, and record their...

High schoolers explore the principles of flight. In this flight lesson, students construct a model plane and investigate the forces acting on the flier. They will measure the thrust and calculate the stored energy.

Students study drag and how it affects a parachute in the sky.  In this parachutes instructional activity students build models and compare their drag. 

Students study the solar system by researching the planets.  In this exploratory instructional activity students divide into teams and create mobiles.

Young scholars investigate the magnetic attraction of different materials by observing a demonstration, and review the words "attraction" and "materials." Next they conduct exploration of a number of materials which have different...

Students are introduced to basic outdoor survival concepts. They identify the seven basic needs for survival. Students describe the symptoms and treatment for frostbite and hypothermia. They compare and contrast the value of different...

High schoolers examine maps showing the hog and corn distribution of the United States. In groups, they research the reasons why Chicago became the natural hub for meat-packing processing in the United States. They examine changes in...