Pupils sort animal picture cards into classification groups such as mammals, reptiles, amphibians, insects and fish. They discuss the characteristics that each group of animals shares then arrange the pictures into a clasificatioon poster.

Second graders examine The Learning Page Fact Files about ocean life and categorize the data by weight and group. They distinguish between fish, mammals, and invertebrates and which weigh the most and the least. Students record their...

Introduce S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders with a bell work journal that asks class members to define loyalty. Key words (patience, unity, honesty, caring, etc.), drawn from their musings, are posted around the room, and groups search for...

Grand Canyon II is an advanced level game for a Ropes Course. It challenges a group of learners to swing on a rope from Cliff One to Cliff Two, without touching the ground. There are penalties for touching the ground. This...

Students examine the effect of temperature on how often crickets chirp. In groups, they complete the experiment and answer lab discussion questions. They create a graph of temperatures and the amount of chirps and discuss the results.

Students identify basic two-dimensional shapes. They are able to identify the four basic two-dimensional shapes: squares, rectangles, triangles, and circles. Students write/draw in their learning logs a reflection of what they noticed...

Eighth graders divide into groups of 4 or 5. They go to the track and have every student run/walk one lap around the school track. Call out their times as they cross the finish line. In the computer lab, have the students create a table...

Middle schoolers, through modeling and independent practice, are introduced to the different methods of brainstorming. They explore and engage in these different approaches individually, in pairs, and as a group.

High schoolers, who may soon be entering the workplace, read and discuss a case study in which a business service representative has an unpleasant confrontation with a customer that results in a lost sale. Groups review three questions...

Real-life math is really great! In groups, learners measure objects in the classroom. After comparing measurements, they determine a scale and create a blueprint of the classroom. They discuss the purpose of using scale drawings in...

Students read excerpts of the Declaration of Independence and United States Constitution. Using the documents, they identify the ideas of how the government should be run. In groups, they develop a skit that encourages people to be...

Billy finds himself in many difficult situations because he is unsure about how and when to take responsibility. Collaborative groups work together to answer if Billy made responsible choices and what he should have done instead....

In this counting and comparing numbers worksheet, students count the object pairs in 2 problems. Students identify the group in each pair that has more objects than the other.

Your young architects use the Internet to research tall structures or sky scrapers to help in the design of their scale drawings. This is activity one of three in which learners design, build, and test model skyscrapers for seismic...

With the swing of a paper ax, young learners demonstrate how to appropriately segment three-letter words. Consider breaking learners into small groups and having them share a paper ax to keep the peace. This plan is so creative, but be...

There's nothing better than using a cooking lesson to teach about fractions! In this clever lesson, young chefs must determine the proper amounts of ingredients while using a standard measuring cup. The recipe is embedded in the plan,...

The content of this lesson is intended for a mature group. Participants imagine that they must decide which eight of fourteen people on a doomed cruise ship will be allowed to board the only life boat and survive. A list of passengers...

Does watching TV increase one's blood pressure? Assess student understanding of how study design dictates whether a conclusion of causation is warranted. Use this as a prompt for a small group or whole class discussion, or as a part of a...

Celebrate the diversity in your classroom with an activity that has children explore the backgrounds and experiences of their peers. Each child is given a worksheet intended to foster a conversation about things commonly associated with...

Provide some group brainstorming and story-planning time with the fifth lesson in a series on examining and creating documentaries. After you've explained the purpose of each section of a documentary, groups meet to plan the beginning,...

Storyboarding is an essential part of planning a film. Introduce your class to storyboarding and allow groups time to plan out their documentaries in this sixth lesson in a series about creating documentaries. Class members review an...

To set the stage for a study of the Aztec Empire, groups use the provided definition of civilization and generate a list of elements that make up our modern day civilization. The whole class then examines an image of an Aztec city and...

Introduce learners to allegorical art with four bronze sculptures by Francesco Bertos. After modeling how to recognize bias and allegory in Bertos' Africa, class groups examine the other three sculptures in the series before creating...

Foster a sense of community by having youngsters work together to create a list of classroom rules. They draw pictures of their hopes for first grade after reading a children's book as a group. They also discuss why it is important to...