Primary Source Exemplar: Life on the Move

In this unit, students will explore the different forms of transportation over time—from the New World and early America, to present day—and their impact on society and the environment (Change and Continuity). They will explore the impact of the different forms of transportation on economics, migration, and geography (where people live and how they adapt their environment to their transportation need), as well as how to become critical readers by gathering information from a variety of primary and secondary sources to understand the impact of transportation on history.

Material Type: Lesson Plan, Primary Source, Unit of Study

Authors: brent sackris, Mitzie Higa, Connie Williams, Rachel Hull, Kitty Rutherford

Primary Source Exemplar: The Moon

Through a study of the moon, students will be guided through an inquiry process using primary sources to learn how we shape our understanding of the past (history). They will also learn how new discoveries and observations change our perceptions over time, as each succeeding generation creates knowledge and adds new technology. Students will then pose their own questions to wonder how future discoveries or new technology might change our understanding of the world and our universe.

Material Type: Lesson Plan, Teaching/Learning Strategy

Authors: brent sackris, Mitzie Higa, Connie Williams, Rachel Hull, Kitty Rutherford

Art, Science and Writing: Nature's Treasure Chest

While taking a walk around their school, neighborhood, park, or nature trail, students (suggested ages 3-8) will be challenged to create a map of the 'nature treasures' they discover. Students will make thumbnail sketches and brief descriptive notes of what they observe. This activity is adapted from "Nature's Treasure Map" (page 34) found in "Opening the World Through Nature Journaling" a curriculum by Jack Laws, that integrates science, art and writing for grade 4-8 classroom.

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Lesson Plan

Author: Admin

Playing with Probability

Students learn how to calculate both theoretical and experimental probability by rotating through a series of work stations.

Material Type: Interactive, Lecture Notes, Lesson Plan

Fire: Modeling Probability

Students use an applet to model probability in the spread of a forest fire.

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Interactive, Lesson Plan, Student Guide

St. Paul Chamber Orchestra: Listening Library

The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, founded in 1959, is widely regarded as one of the finest chamber orchestras in the world. In this free Listening Library, enjoy performances of more than 250 compositions written from 1691 to 2011.

Material Type: Activity/Lab

Rational Vs Irrational Numbers

The scope of this video lesson consists in studying the sets of Rational and Irrational numbers. It is best suited for an advanced math course: Algebra 2 or higher.

Material Type: Lecture

Explore Leonardo's Studio

The site is a colorful and interactive imaginary recreation of Leonardo da Vinci's studio. Users can click on 12 items for more information. Produced by BBCi/Open University, this site is part of a large collection of materials on da Vinci.

Material Type: Simulation

CTE Architecture: Miniature Golf

Worksheet with solutions is provided.

Material Type: Activity/Lab

Five Pointed Star Origami

Origami is the Japanese art of paper folding, originally from China and now practiced all over the world. In this activity, create an origami star. Introduce children to both geometry and analytical skills in a creative way.

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Game

Art Within Math

Watch this short video and try to identify the location of the sculptures. Then see how art and these sculptures relate to the science of mathematics.

Material Type: Activity/Lab

Unexpected Answers

Four activities in this lesson give examples of probability problems with unexpected answers. The goal of the lesson is to demonstrate that people should be careful when using probability, and that some games that seem fair are not. The discussion helps users to draw conclusions from the activities.

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Data Set, Game, Interactive, Lecture Notes, Lesson Plan, Teaching/Learning Strategy

Author: Shodor

National Archives Experience: Digital Vaults

The "National Archives Experience: Digital Vaults" is a site that features digital items (mostly created or associated with the federal government) from the National Archives' extensive collection relating to United States history. The site provides interactive exercises and a tool to create posters, as well as slideshows with audio, captions, and multiple images.

Material Type: Activity/Lab

The Pythagorean Theorem: Geometry's Most Elegant Theorem

This lesson teaches students about the history of the Pythagorean theorem, along with proofs and applications. It is geared toward high school Geometry students that have completed a year of Algebra.

Material Type: Lecture

The Quadratic Equation: It's Hip to be Squared

Video lecture on quadratic equations and their graphs. The video connects the equation, the graph, the roots, and the minimum or maximum of the quadratic function.

Material Type: Lecture

Venn Diagram Shape Sorter

Students can choose a rule to sort shapes, and can choose whether to have one circle, two distinct circles, or an overlapping Venn diagram. Kindergarten students would need help with the reading on this page. From the Shodor Education Foundation.

Introduction to the Concept of Probability

An activity and two discussions of this lesson introduce the concept of probability and the basic set operations that are useful in solving probability problems that involve counting outcomes. This lesson builds on intuitive and experimental knowledge.

Material Type: Lecture Notes, Lesson Plan

Advanced Phonics Activities

This page contains sequential and supplemental activities that help teachers teach students to read word families, compound words, contractions, double-letter words, silent-letter words, -ed words and 's words.

Material Type: Activity/Lab

PBS Learning Media: Daily News Story

Advertises itself as "instant access to tens of thousands of classroom-ready, digital resources." Videos, games, audio clips, photos,lesson plans, etc.

Material Type: Lesson Plan, Reading

Kids Video: Video Production for Students

Kids' Vid is an instructional web site that gives teachers and students the tools necessary to implement video production in the classroom. Kids? Vid is part of 4Teachers.org. A free service for teachers in public and non-profit schools, grades k-12, with sole funding provided by ALTEC at the University of Kansas.

Material Type: Activity/Lab