Lesson Plans

Students are completing a unit on sharks. The unit is investigating different types of sharks, concept of sinking and floating and engineering tools that can solve a particular problem. Students will work in teams to solve the problem of retrieving shark teeth from the bottom of a container and conduct research after they have completed their task.

Students will:

1. Be able to identify which shark their tooth has originated from through research
2. Be able to measure and compare the different teeth found
3. Work as an effective member of a team and collaborate to build a tool that can complete the design challenge using the engineering design process

Author: Justin Osterstrom

• Math

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Heather Earp created an engaging curriculum unit for middle or high school students that explores forest biotechnology. She developed six lessons that focus on science, technology, engineering and math but will also integrate pressing social issues.

• Biology
• Environmental Science
• Genetics

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Was America discovered or conquered?  What were the costs and benefits of the Indian Removal Act of 1830?  What were the attitudes and behaviors toward the Native American population? This project based lesson is designed to allow students to use a variety of technology tools to research the trail of tears, influencing factors and the key players involved.  The activities are designed to motivate students while allowing them to be in charge of their learning.  Teachers may elect to have students create all activities, place them in groups and allow them to select from the various choices or follow the instructions as provided.  Try the lesson, modify it to meet the needs of your students and contact the author with ideas or suggestions for improvement.

Author: Gail Holmes

• Social Studies

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Have you ever gotten tired of trying to figure out how to simplify complex linear equations? Learning how to manipulate linear equations is the cornerstone of Algebra and mathematics after middle school

Have you ever gotten frustrated with working out math problems and still not grasping the concept of why you are doing what you are doing to the math problem? The following lesson takes the major concepts of Algebra and middle school mathematics and simplifies the process so that a 4th grader could understand the concept.

Author: Thomas Kirkley

• Math

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Students will evaluate the functions of cell organelles by creating a children’s book of analogies relating the role of each organelle to everyday objects. Students will then work cooperatively to create an online collage of their best analogies using padlet.com formerly wallwisher.com.

Author: Willow Alston

• Biology

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Hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” as it is more commonly called, is one of the major issues in environmental and political news today. Recently, the issue has come to the forefront in North Carolina, as various municipalities have begun considering whether they will allow the oil companies to purchase oil rights on private and public property. This lesson seeks to provide students with the background knowledge and critical thinking skills necessary to understand and evaluate the issue to be able to take a stand in the debate.

Author: Gabby Patrick

• Science

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The purpose of this project is two fold:

1. To show show the cycle of connectedness from science to economics, through use of Math and Language Arts.
2. To utilize cotton as a catalyst for comparison and discussion in all aspects of this project.

We understand that schools cannot solely devote their time to one crop for their source of material and discussion. We do recognize the importance of comparing crops through specific science units. Cotton is a versatile crop with a dynamic endurance to both natural change and economic change.

The project aims to help students engage deeper into understanding of content already outlined in the NC Public School Systems. You will note that all of these activities and lessons are meant to partner with lessons you may have already created for your classroom. The best way to read these lessons is thru the lens of the lessons you have already created. How can you take portions, or all of what we have to offer here, and establish it into your lessons already made?

Author: Doug Price

• Economics
• Language Arts
• Math
• Science

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This lesson introduces students to the Electromagnetic Spectrum.  The lesson begins with a comical narrative chain which leads in to a simple jump roping activity that will simulate an electromagnetic wave.  The teacher will then prompt the students with discussion prompts related to jump rope as it acts as a metaphor for the Electromagnetic Spectrum.  Students then label the EMS using the narrative chain as a reference.  Finally, the class then discusses uses of each type of wave and possibilities for the future.

Author: Marty Creech

• Science

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Eighth grade students will be discussing and discovering the Pythagorean Theorem. Students will view a video of a real world situation that involves right triangles and the Pythagorean Theorem. They will work collaboratively to discover the theorem and formula to solve Pythagorean Theorem problems.

Author: Mark Jankowski

• Math

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The purpose of this lesson is to engage prior learning of the student in what they know about cancer. Students will use a model system to compare and contrast how cell structure and requirements differ between “normal” cells and “cancer” cells. Students will role-play using an NIH (National Institutes of Health) activity in order to better understand how both family history and life style choice may increase a person’s risk for developing cancer. It is important that students learn how cells become cancerous (teacher input) in order for them to conceptualize the influence of mutagens or other cells on the development of tumor cells in the body. Students will also take on the role of researcher or medical doctor in order to assess the risk of four different patients using patient medical histories.

Author: Karen Quick

• Biology

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The purpose of this lesson is to engage prior learning of the student in what they know about cancer. Students will use a model system to compare and contrast how cell structure and requirements differ between “normal” cells and “cancer” cells. Students will role-play using an NIH (National Institutes of Health) activity in order to better understand how both family history and life style choice may increase a person’s risk for developing cancer. It is important that students learn how cells become cancerous (teacher input) in order for them to conceptualize the influence of mutagens or other cells on the development of tumor cells in the body. Students will also take on the role of researcher or medical doctor in order to assess the risk of four different patients using patient medical histories.

Author: Karen Quick

• Biology

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Through this lesson students will understand that fractions are part of a whole. Students will gain knowledge of numerical and visual representations of fractions using read aloud books, categorizing fraction cards and exploring interactive web-based applications.

Author: Dianna Stavros

• Math

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Throughout this entire module, students will be investigating how estimation and formula manipulation are used in the field of aviation.  The lessons and assessments will provide realistic Algebra applications for airplane mechanics, private pilots and airplane engineers.  This lesson requires students to estimate fuel consumption and mileage of different length flights.   In the field of aviation pilots are required to determine this information before takeoff in order to know if the airplane has adequate fuel and for the passengers to know their air time.

Author: Danielle Flores

• Algebra
• Math

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The purpose of this lesson plan is to give students a real life application of how to recognize and use a linear function. Too often, the experience of learning linear functions is relegated to memorizing an algorithm with little attachment to anything concrete. This abstract learning experience, disconnected from anything tangible or real, relies solely on the ability of the student to memorize the steps to solve the problem. Most struggling math learners lack the ability to retain information, unless it is connected to a concrete model or real life experience. By participating in the exploration in this lesson, students will design a linear function without realizing it! This lesson will help demystify this abstract content.

Author: Austin James

• Algebra
• Math

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In these lessons (originally designed as a part of a larger four week unit on Energy Efficiency), students explore heat transfer and earth’s climatic change impacts over time through experimentation, data collection, discussion, research and analysis.   The lessons are written for five eighty-five minute class periods in an integrated math and science course as a series of culminating activities and as an assessment of a student’s ability to engage in informational research, real-world data analysis, and communication of data significance. Therefore, you will find standards listed below for both math and science.  However, if desired, a primary focus in either math or science content could be taken with only minor modifications.  In their original context, these lessons were followed by a week of students writing an informational research paper regarding energy efficiency. Students received help from their English teacher about how to write an informational research paper.

Author: Allen Nice-Webb

• Math
• Physics

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