Lesson Plans

To Heat or Not To Heat: That is the Question

Students will identify and research the overuse of nonrenewable energy sources as it relates to heating homes. Then they will research and come up with strategies and designs for a solar heater that will help reduce the reliance on nonrenewable energy resources.

Author 

Erica Whitt


Content Area
  • Science

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Protect Our Water Social Media Campaign

The hydrosphere is a large portion of the 8th-grade science curriculum. There is a limited amount of fresh water available on Earth compared to the world’s population. This lesson challenges students to explore how they can use social media to promote the protection of Earth’s water. Students will work in teams to create a branded social media campaign across X (Twitter), Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube on how and why people should protect Earth’s water. Students will use their understanding 8.E.1 science standards to create their social media posts/videos.

Author

Rachel Neckermann


Content Area
  • Earth Science
  • Science

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Biltmore Farms: Career Exploration

Students start at an early age being asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” It is something that most students have thought about or considered. In middle grades and the start of high school, they have opportunities to discover more about themselves. This activity will lead to a better understanding of the career path that is right for them.

Author

Jennifer Taylor


Content Area
  • CTE

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Energy and How We Use It

In this unit, students will uncover how energy is converted to a variety of forms and how these forms are used in our homes from a power plant all the way down to charging our electronics.

Author

Mrinda (Mindy) Thornlow


Content Area
  • Earth Science
  • physical science

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Mapping Science

Students will utilize Google Maps to engage in scientific learning. (Extension: Students will increase cultural understanding and literacy)

Author

Emily Lahr


Content Area
  • Science

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How did the fly get its eyes?

Students will analyze data to determine the inheritance pattern for eye color in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster.

Author

Emily Simpson McDonald


Content Area
  • Biology
  • Science

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Water Quality

The purpose of this lab is to illustrate the importance of monitoring the water quality of effluent (wastewater outflow) and its effects on aquatic organisms.

Author

Annie McEntyre


Content Area
  • Chemistry
  • physical science

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Impact Alamance County (IAC)

Students will work in small groups to research a textile company in Alamance County and create a digital archive for the company. They will research to determine the textiles impact on the community over time. Students will discover how human and environmental actions affect the quality of life for those in Alamance County. The investigation of students’ interviews, research and timeline will allow them to analyze data and make conclusions of impact.

Authors

Angela Dalton, Kelsey Isley, Brandy Lambert, and Tomika Davis, STEMwork Scholars


Content Area
  • Math
  • Project-Based Learning
  • Social Studies

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Green Energy in Haywood County

  • Students will understand the social and economic impact of managing and implementing conservation projects
  • Students will understand the financial, geographic, and social impacts and be able to navigate those issues in planning and designing projects that capture natural resources for the population’s energy needs on a long-term basis
  • Students will be able to research the engineering and scientific data necessary to design and identify the best natural resources to use in a given area

Author

Sandra Hermdia, STEMwork Scholar


Content Area
  • Environmental Science
  • Project-Based Learning
  • Science

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Seismic Smackdown

Students will learn about plate tectonics and how the Earth’s plates move and interact. Students will also learn what causes earthquakes.

Authors

Angela Dalton, Kelsey Isley, Brandy Lambert, Tomika Davis, STEMwork Scholars


Content Area
  • Earth Science
  • Project-Based Learning
  • Science

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Community Inequity Research

Students will work in small groups to research one of the following topics:

  • Healthcare access
  • Neighborhood walkability
  • Park and greenspace access
  • Water quality and access
  • Crime & public safety
  • Internet access
  • Public transportation access

Then they will produce an infographic detailing their findings about the root causes of the inequity, steps that have been taken to address the problem, and what they feel would be the best solution for a community looking to be more just in its access.

Authors

Emmanuel Davis Lipscomb and Monica Perdomo, STEMwork Scholars


Content Area
  • ELA
  • Project-Based Learning

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Population and Growth and Healthy Oceans

Students will create a video presentation on how North Carolina’s growing population affects ocean health and their proposals for sustainable solutions to mitigate the impact. Their videos are intended to be presented to a public audience.

The project was inspired by the World of 7 Billion student video contest. In that contest, middle and high schoolers are given the platform to think critically about global challenges related to population and share what they think we should do to fix it.

Authors

Victoria Mahoney and Jennifer Walski, STEMwork Scholars


Content Area
  • ELA
  • Project-Based Learning

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Dog houses of Various Dimensions

Students will learn how surface area and volume changes as the dimensions of a rectangular prism changes. Students will build and paint a doghouse (surface area) for different sizes of dogs (volume).

Author

Jill Jackson, STEMwork Scholar


Content Area
  • Geometry
  • Math
  • Project-Based Learning

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Volcano Threat Assessment

Students will explore the basic elements and energy that are the driving forces of our universe, from the formation of atoms and matter to Earth’s earliest evolution. Earth is dynamic; it is constantly changing. Limitless energy lies beneath Earth’s volcanoes. Can volcanoes be a resource? Can we harness their energy and fertile soil? Is volcanic activity the Earth’s spontaneous hiccups, or is there a pattern to be observed and predicted? What are the types of volcanoes; what determines their location; and which volcanoes pose the greatest threat to humanity? 

Author 

Shannon Hardy


Content Area
  • Earth Science
  • Project-Based Learning
  • Science
  • Social Studies

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‘Who Would Win?’ Animal Adaptations

Students will utilize resources from experts/online/books about North Carolinian animals and create their own “Who Would Win?” book/Google Slides/Brochure, independently or in pairs. Students will focus on researching the adaptations of North Carolinian animals they choose to compare. This will be shared with a community audience, who will
provide constructive feedback and provide a reference for future field trips to explore the animals and their adaptations in a local habitat.

Authors

Sarah Anna Tronic, Laura J. McDougal, Shanlee Meyers


Content Area
  • ELA
  • Project-Based Learning
  • Science

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