Classroom Resources

Students learn that living things experience diverse lifecycles. For example, baby birds go through distinct stages as they grow up into adult birds. This lesson uses the eagle to model universal avian life stages: from egg, to chick, to fledgling juvenile, to adult.

Students begin by creating a collage of bird images, discussing the characteristics that all birds share. A well-known story, The Ugly Duckling, is then read to introduce the concept of change over the life span. Students then use segments from the Nature film American Eagle to learn how eagles look and act in different stages of their life cycle. At the conclusion of the lesson, students diagram the eagle life cycle, and may enhance their science learning with vocabulary and math activities.

In this lesson, students watch a video that explains how certain animals rely on their sense of hearing for survival. The video also explains how sounds are produced and how sound waves travel. Then students watch a video that illustrates how scientific inquiry was used to explore the mysterious hearing loss that plagues an Inuit Eskimo population. Finally, students discuss the structure and function of the human ear.

Students use scientific inquiry to understand how sound is generated, how animals hear, and the role hearing plays in survival.

In this lesson, students observe chemical reactions that produce obvious effects (as opposed to reactions in which the substances appear not to change at all). They begin by exploring a different substance every day for one week. They compare the substances and learn that substances can be solids, liquids, or gases. Next, through teacher demonstration (or direct, supervised student involvement), students watch what happens when sand and water are mixed together (no chemical reaction), and when several pairs of acids and bases are mixed together (a chemical reaction occurs). Students then get to build their own "film canister rockets," using baking soda and vinegar as rocket fuel. This lesson concludes with open-ended thinking when students are asked to determine where rust comes from.

We've all seen substances change as a result of changes in temperature. Water heated on the stove eventually changes from a liquid to a gas and seemingly disappears as it disperses into the air. But even at lesser extremes, temperature affects the density of water. In this video segment adapted from ZOOM, a cast member demonstrates how temperature affects the way water molecules react with one another.

Students experiment with density by changing the density of water, in this activity from Zoom. Students will discover that the more salt there is in the water, the denser the water is. Density is one thing that makes things float. 

We often take the force of gravity for granted, even though Earth's gravity is what keeps each of us from floating off into space! In this lesson, students begin to more fully understand and appreciate the force of gravity. They predict what will happen when a whole apple and half an apple are dropped at the same time from the same height then test their predictions. Next, they observe cannonballs of different masses being dropped out of a tower, and leaking cups being dropped into a bucket. These activities demonstrate that all objects fall at the same rate, regardless of their mass--a concept known as the law of falling bodies. Students then watch a video segment showing a NASA astronaut dropping a feather and a hammer on the Moon. They repeat the activity in the classroom then consider why these objects fall at the same rate on the Moon but not on Earth. Finally, they use what they have just learned to predict what will happen when two balls of the same mass but different volumes--and then two balls of different masses but the same volume--are dropped at the same time from the same height.

This lesson is designed to help students understand that vibrations are responsible for the sounds we hear. Additionally, they learn that sound vibrations can travel through different mediums. Students experience vibrations using several of their senses: They feel the vibrations in their throat as they hum music, and on their lips as they play their straw kazoos. They see that when a ruler is struck, it vibrates, producing a sound. Drums are also used to show vibrations, as students watch grains of rice bouncing on the surface of the drum after it has been hit, and a laser pointer creates a laser show in the classroom when reflected off a vibrating mirror. Finally, students design a test that uses their sense of hearing to judge the effectiveness of different solids to transmit sound vibrations.

Students use the engineering design process to create a magnetic train in this lesson plan created by teacher Heather Rizzo.

In this lesson, students think about what might happen to plants and animals if their environment changed and they were faced with conditions to which they were not well adapted. First, students read The Great Kapok Tree: A Tale of the Amazon Rain Forest by Lynne Cherry. Then they watch a video about camouflage and learn that praying mantises are well suited for life in the rain forest. Next, students play a predator/prey game to simulate what might happen to the praying mantis if the rain forest were cut down. Finally, they use a Web activity to explore what would happen to living things if the concentration of oxygen in the air changed.

The laws of nature are constantly influencing and interacting with our lives. Forces and motion are part of everything we do. How do we know what forces are acting on us or an object for that matter? Can we predict how the laws of motion will affect an object? Is it possible to create an art piece that can prove that these laws of nature exist? In this lesson, students will be able to study forces and motion vocabulary, visualize and describe the three laws of motion, discuss and design an art piece that justifies their knowledge and understanding of forces and motion, and present and interpret their art piece using vocabulary.

This link provides a downloadable reading of the book Lazarillo de Tormes, a book on the College Board's AP Spanish Literature and Culture Exam's suggested reading list. The audio file allows students to use interpretive listening skills as they gather information from this authentic text read by a Spanish speaker. The site divides the audio into 5 separate sections that match the book's natural divisions.

This is a public domain Spanish language copy of Lazarillo de Tormes, one of the texts recommended by the College Board for the AP Spanish Literature and Culture exam. This resource provides students an opportunity to interpret, restate, and react to what is read in the authentic written text. The text can also be used to describe the main ideas and significant details from the story. There are multiple download options so that students can read the book on a variety of devices.

This link provides an audio reading of Gustavo Becquer´s Rimas. Track 6 features Rimas 51-60 which includes Rima LIII (53) also known as Volverán las oscuras golondrinas". This specific Rima of Bécquer's is listed on the College Board's suggested reading list for the AP Spanish Literature and Culture exam. To focus on this specific Rima, start at 1:18 on track 6. The audio file allows students to use interpretive listening skills as they gather information from this authentic text read by a Spanish speaker. 

This is a public domain Spanish language copy of Adolfo Gustavo Bécquer´s poetry which includes Rima LIII (53) also known as "Volverán las oscuras golondrinas".This specific Rima is featured on the College Board´s suggested reading list for the AP Spanish Literature and Culture Exam. This resource provides students an opportunity to interpret, restate, and react to what is read in the authentic written text. The text can also be used to describe the main ideas and significant details from the story.

Adriene Hill and Jacob Clifford teach you about one of the fundamental economic ideas, supply and demand. What are supply and demand? Well, you’ll have to watch the video to really understand it, but it’s kind of important for everything economically. Supply and demand set prices, and indicate to manufacturers how much to produce.

This week, Adriene and Jacob teach you about macroeconomics. This is the stuff of big picture economics and the major movers in the economy--taxes, monetary policy, inflation, and policy. We need this stuff because if you don't have a big picture of the economy, crashes and panic are more likely. Of course, economics is extremely complex and unpredictable. Today we'll talk about GDP as a measure of a country's economic health, the basics of economic analysis, and even a little about full employment and unemployment.

Why are some countries rich? Why are some countries poor? In the end, it comes down to productivity. This week on Crash Course Econ, Adriene and Jacob investigate just why some economies are more productive than others, and what happens when an economy is more productive. We'll look at how things like per capita GDP translate to the lifestyle of normal people.

Used for modeling and guided practice, this activity allows for the labeling of the cardinal and intermediate directions on a compass rose. This interactive can be used to reinforce compass rose and cardinal directions after an introductory lesson. 

Informational material about a prominent political leader (Wiliam Wyatt Bibb) during early statehood in Alabama. 

This novice mid to novice high interactive activity requires students to comprehend a set of instructions written in the informal tú form. Students then present their own informal commands as they complete their posters. Over 30 unfinished poster printouts are included with this activity each fashioned after the popular "Stay Calm And...." posters. These should be placed around the room or throughout the school. Students will follow a set of teacher-prepared instructions written with informal commands in order to locate their posters. Once they are successful they are to return to the starting location and complete their poster for display in the classroom. 

This clip describes the history of Veterans Day in the United States. It states that the holiday was originally called Armistice Day to celebrate the truce between the Allies and Germany after World War I. The name of the holiday was changed to honor all veterans, not just those who served in World War I. Also, it explains the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day.

The purpose of this activity is to demonstrate body management skills specific to balance with and without the use of apparatus. This lesson involves a series of balances and an individual balance checklist that can be copied and used by each student. 

This is a great way to assess jumping and hopping skills. As an extension, have students put together repeatable patterns using different movement concepts and locomotor skills or jump patterns.

This is an informative overview of how an experienced physical education teacher teaches gymnastics. This resource includes a unit plan, instructional videos, and instructional materials. 

This module introduces students to the basics of volleying and striking through developmental play. Striking with the hand is followed by striking with a short-handled paddle, preparing students to progress toward paddle and racquet activities at the intermediate level.

The student outcomes for this lesson activity include:
-Skill: I will volley the balloon up into their air as many times as I can before it hits the floor.
-Cognitive: I will work with a balloon in my space.
-Fitness: I will actively engage and work to improve my volleying skills.
-Personal & Social Responsibility: I will work safely and follow all rules.

Students will draw different shapes on the screen.  The images will be transferred to sound by the website. This activity is inspired by Wassily Kandinsky, an artist who compared painting to making music.  

Explore ten surprising facts about the civil rights activist, Rosa Parks in this informational material. Includes links to additional information.

In this informational material, students learn about meridians, latitude, and longitude. Students will learn how latitude and longitude lines are measured and why they are important. 

This is an article on the Montgomery Bus Boycott. The article summarizes the events in easy-to-understand language to help students understand the meaning of the word boycott. The site includes photographs and links to additional resources and related materials. 

This resource provides teachers and/or students with information about the career of sport management. Links for other reading, educational requirements, and career opportunities are included.

Objectives:

- Recognize that healthful food choices can enhance body composition and self-concept.

- Identify and understand the social, cultural, and psychological factors that influence food choices.

This is a producible worksheet that students can use to analyze advertisements. 

“Environmental Ed” informs us that in the United States each person throws away about 4.5 lbs. or 2 KG of trash per day. He reminds us that we all make litter and that the problem is finding appropriate ways to dispose of trash once it is no longer useful to us.

This free, downloadable curriculum provides high school students with a deep understanding of critical food system issues, empowers them to make healthy and responsible food choices, and encourages them to become advocates for food system change.

Students take part in a simulated election in which they roleplay poll workers at a polling site and vote in a simulated election. Students become familiar with polling site procedures and the mechanics of voting in their state. When the election simulation coincides with a general election or a state election, it provides for a more authentic experience. A supervisor should be in the vicinity of the voting booths you have created (or provided for), to assist students who may have questions about the voting process and mechanisms. A teacher can use their own classroom or a different room (i.e. Library, Media Room, Cafeteria, etc.) to complete any part or all of this lesson.