This activity is a guided investigation into the process of plate tectonics and resulting features. It's a look at the resulting effects which we see as volcanoes, earthquakes, and mountains.

This activity is an inquiry based field investigation where students measure and map a small stream and then develop an understanding of the formation of a variety of small stream features.

This activity allows students to investigate classification and create their own dichotomous key. Discussion will include classification of items in everyday life.

Ms. Castellano and Ms. Wielopolski see art as an expression of student lives and leverage that expression to develop critical thinking and problem solving skills. Viewing art as a set of conscious decisions, both teachers ask students to explore and experiment with artistic elements such as color, texture, space and technique, making decisions about use of these elements purposefully. This experience is different for students because they must think critically and plan around a subject that is non-linear in nature.Emphasis is placed on the importance of the arts in developing traditionally academic skills and ideas, making connections to studentsŐ ability to think analytically, write and understand poetry and express ideas verbally and in writing as a result of this learning.

Students will utilize factually observed or researched information in a creative high interest-writing project.

This lesson from Illuminations provides an introduction to the use of variables, and develops students' algebraic thinking. Students create variable machines to discover the value of words by assigning each letter of the alphabet a unique number value. Learning objectives, a materials list, a pdf file of the student worksheet, an instructional plan, questions for the students, assessment options, extensions, and teacher reflections are provided.

Students work in groups to find a "treasure" using a treasure map with directions written in vector format.

We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution
In this lesson you will discuss some important questions about the responsibilities of citizens. You must develop your own answers to these questions. We hope this lesson will help you develop good answers.

This lesson from Illuminations helps students to begin to develop an understanding of area by using a Java applet on the computer. Learners use 12" × 12" paper squares to measure the area of a door and determine whether area increases or decreases as the length or width of their door changes. The lesson includes discussion questions, extensions, and other teacher support. It is supported by the applet IGD: Areas in Geometry (cataloged separately).

This activity is a lab investigation/teacher directed inquiry, in which a student discovers the pathway of an electric current from a battery source, through a light bulb's inner structure, and then back to the battery source to complete a simple circuit.

Students learn about trigonometry, geometry and measurements while participating in a hands-on interaction with LEGO® MINDSTORMS® NXT technology. First they review fundamental geometrical and trigonometric concepts. Then, they estimate the height of various objects by using simple trigonometry. Students measure the height of the objects using the LEGO robot kit, giving them an opportunity to see how sensors and technology can be used to measure things on a larger scale. Students discover that they can use this method to estimate the height of buildings, trees or other tall objects. Finally, students synthesize their knowledge by applying it to solve similar problems. By activity end, students have a better grasp of trigonometry and its everyday applications.

Positive and negative numbers become more than marks on paper when learners play this variation of the card game, Rummy. Engaged in a game involving both strategy and luck, learners build understanding of additive inverses, adding integers, and absolute value. This lesson guide includes questions for learners, assessment options, extensions, and reflection questions.