"Introducing Engineering to K-8 Students" will provide you with the tools you need to incorporate engineering design into your classroom. Rather than prescribing a specific curriculum to follow, this book will help you engage your students with hands-on, open-ended engineering design problems that can be easily integrated into your…

This article presents the Blended Learning Virtual Reality Inquiry Framework, an original framework for creating virtual reality inquiry-based lessons for the modern technology-driven classroom. The framework shared in this article invokes research on blended learning , experiential learning, and inquiry-based learning to structure a virtual…

We present an active-learning strategy for undergraduates that applies Bayesian analysis to candy-covered chocolate m&m's®. The exercise is best suited for small class sizes and tutorial settings, after students have been introduced to the concepts of Bayesian statistics. The exercise takes advantage of the nonuniform distribution of…

Young children's capabilities continue to be revealed through brain and other scientific research. These advances in knowledge have led to the implementation of more progressive learning experiences in preschool programs. More in-depth explorations accommodate young children's intellect and they help children develop life skills as competent…

Part of a curriculum series for academically gifted elementary students in the area of reading, the five lesson plan guides are intended to provide teachers with suggested activities stressing high levels of reading comprehension as well as encouraging teachers to use their own ideas. Each guide focuses on one of the following major objectives:…

Photography has been used to record war since the Crimean War in 1855. This lesson plan explores how and why war has been photographed and also gives students an opportunity to see the bias within the recording/reporting of war. The lesson plan: cites educational objectives; gives time required; recommends a grade level; notes curriculum fit; and…

This teacher's guide on the 50 state quarters emitted by the United States Mint includes 6 "teacher-friendly" lesson plans that fit easily into the curriculum of grades K-1; reproducible student worksheets that coincide with each lesson; "fun" state facts and information on the new quarter designs; and USA map template with…

This teacher's guide on the 50 state quarters emitted by the United States Mint includes 6 "teacher-friendly" lesson plans that fit easily into the curriculum for grades 2-3; reproducible student worksheets that coincide with each lesson; "fun" state facts and information on the new quarter designs; and USA map template with…

This teacher's guide on the 50 state quarters emitted by the United States Mint includes 6 "teacher-friendly" lesson plans that fit easily into the curriculum for grades 4-6; reproducible student worksheets that coincide with each lesson; "fun" state facts and information on the new quarter designs; and USA map template with…

Much of history is interpreted from an adult point of view. But in Karen Hesse's Newbery Award-winning "Out of the Dust," the Great Depression's Dust Bowl is seen through the eyes of a child. By using the novel, this lesson plan gives students the opportunity to identify with the personal experiences of youth in the 1930s. In addition,…

Teaching the basic public speaking course during the summer session requires the teacher to compress a semester's worth of activities into one month or 20 two-hour classroom sessions, requiring organizational skills to ensure that all relevant instructional activities are addressed. This paper outlines a plan of instruction specifically designed…

British poet Edward Lear (1812-1888) is widely recognized as the father of the limerick form of poetry and is well known for his nonsense poems. In the first lesson for grades 3-5, which focuses on Lear's nonsense poem "The Owl and the Pussy Cat," students learn about nonsense poetry as well as the various poetic techniques and devices…

In this unit, students learn what a symbol is, and how this particular symbol--the American flag--is an important part of people's everyday lives. Learning the history of the flag will help instill in students respect for this national symbol and help them learn appropriate etiquette regarding the flag. Students will learn that other symbols of…

This thematic unit for teaching descriptive writing is organized around 10 days of lesson plans. The unit begins by asking key questions about descriptive writing and providing information on grade level, ability level, number of lessons and length of classes, and prior knowledge students should have. It also offers a unit rationale and key…

In this lesson for grade 4, after students study the American colonists, they work in groups to create articles and artwork that depict colonial life--the art and articles are put together in newspaper form and copied for distribution to the class, other classes, and parents. The lesson should take 4-5 days for classroom implementation. It…