Learners explore shipping through song lyrics. They delve into the world of water transportation as they analyze the lyrics from the song "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald." Plenty of web resource links and background information are...

Groups of two to four work together to design, construct, and experiment with a boat. Each boat must include all of the major parts of a real ship, be less than 12 inches long, and be able to carry a load up twice its own weight in calm...

The product of the hard work is learning. Scholars use a simulation tool to collect information to analyze. They must decide when two ships traveling back and forth across a river at different rates will meet on the same side. The intent...

Learners examine a fresnel lens and compare it to simple concave and convex lenses. They measure its focal length and then discuss why this type of lens is useful in a lighthouse system. That is about all there is to this instructional...

Students investigate the dimensions of a full-rigged ship and a schooner. Using the dimesions, they calculate and compare the area of the sails. In groups, they create model sails that require modeling and estiminating using the...

Students research the importance of naval development in history. The unit includes hands-on activities such as the creation of timelines, powerpoints, and use webquests. Students examine famous ships and naval leaders.

Students read two books about fishing and ships. After viewing portraits, they identify and describe the various types of sailing vessels. They discuss how the artist showed water and detailed the areas around the ships. They create...

Students investigate the trip Christopher Columbus took to the new world.  In this U.S. History lesson, students create a fictional ship from cardboard and construction paper simulating the ship Columbus used to get to the New...

You've located buried treasure, now what? Explore how to use algebraic and geometric methods to determine where to place a recovery ship based on the location of the treasure.

Students work in small groups and design a ship out of balsa wood. They hypothesize what happens when the ship is placed in water then make predictions as to which ship stays afloat the longest with the greatest amount of weight added.

Students create a water transportation device powered by wind. In this wind power lesson, students research transportation concepts after reading the poem "Sea Fever" by John Masefield. Students design the fastest sailboat they can...

Second graders practice identifying the four cardinal directions. After locating a compass rose on a map, 2nd graders explain each point that corresponds to a direction. Using a toy ship as a manipulative on a map, students observe its...

Students compare shipping peanuts made from corn and made from Styrofoam. In this corn based peanuts lesson, students understand why to use eco-friendly materials for packing. Students participate in an experiment to compare the...

Three class periods are required to carry out this science lesson on glacial movement, the Great Lakes basin, and the lock system that allows travel on the lakes. It is an ambitious undertaking as your class experiments with a glacier...

Students explore the size of one ton. They research the capacity of sialing ships and estimate the volume of rectangular prisms. Students perform activities to discover the capacity of a classroom in tons.

Learners plan a voyage as the captain of a tall ship in the early days of exploration and merchant trading. They choose 2 ships and 3 voyages for a total of 6 possibilities. They calculate the number of days and distance of their...

Young scholars examine the construction and operation of various sailing vessels. In groups, they use the internet to make flash cards of the different types of classes of sailing ships. They participate in a game in which they use the...

Students participate in a lab experiment in which they discover the need for so many blocks and tackles on sailing ships. In groups, they make and test their predictions and practice measuring objects in various units. They record and...

Young historians research one of the most colorful periods in US History: the cattle drives of the 1800's. They research the three most popular trails, and complete mapping and writing assignments about each one. The lesson has many...

This lesson combines math, visual arts, and language arts activities that all focus on the making, and baling of hay. The activities can be adjusted to address different age ranges. Most of the activities focus on gaining...

Groups rotate through a series of stations and work with a partner to observe sound waves. Children describe sound in terms of pitch, volume, and frequency. To apply their new knowledge, the class considers how these observations can...

Young explorers examine the route that Marco Polo and his father traveled to reach China. They examine online maps of the Silk Road and harsh terrain of Afghanistan to determine challenges that may have been encountered during travel.

Chemists consider a situation in which an ethanol producer needs to determine how much to add to t-butanol to prevent freezing during transport. They work in the laboratory to obtain the freezing point depression constant for the...

This is the perfect resource to accompany your class project on famous explorers! Learners detail basic information about their chosen explorer, his/her main events of exploration and means of transportation, and finally,...