Idea Sheets

How do you get really comfortable with measuring mass? Practice, practice, practice.
Subjects: Physical Science

Use successive rolls of a die to produce numerical sequences, and investigate differences among the median, mean, and mode.
Subjects: Math

Create a function machine that transforms an input number into a unique output number. Exchange function machines and discover the rule behind the function!
Subjects: Math

Students can use a variety of these quick and fun games to practice observation and memory skills.
Subjects: Physical Science

Message in a Bottle sparks student interest by its intrigue as a random advice generator, but it's really a lesson in probability
Subjects: Physical Science, Math, Social Studies

Microbes are everywhere! And good, bad, or otherwise, ecologists and science teachers should not ignore them. Teachers can use these microbe pets as a fun way of discussing a topic that can sometimes be a bit uncomfortable.
Subjects: Life Science

Combine, in a unique way, portion cups and clear plastic strips to create a portable, microscope that uses a drop of water for a lens.
Subjects: Physical Science

Students strengthen observation and classification skills as they sort cats and mice.
Subjects: Physical Science

Use "mini mountains" of ice to observe how lakes, rivers, streams, and ice caves are formed. Make observations on erosion and on the patterns created by flowing water.
Subjects: Physical Science, Earth/Space Science

Magnetism is a fascinating phenomenon for students. This simple yet effective activity provides a practical method for teaching students how to find and label the magnetic poles on a magnet, identify magnetic materials, understand the difference between geographic and magnetic poles. Mini Magnet Wands can also be used to understand compasses.
Subjects: Physical Science, Earth/Space Science

A variety of classroom experiments can be developed that use this easy to assemble RAFTy rack that can hold mini preforms or similarly shaped items.
Subjects: Physical Science

Students can use this simple shake table to see how a structure might react to ground movements that resemble those generated by an earthquake.
Subjects: Earth/Space Science

A great idea for children at any time of year to help them understand the passage of time! These personalized time capsules contain memorable information about the maker: their height, favorite color, writing skills, and friends. Time Capsule Minis can be adapted to any grade level and are appropriate for any event: New Year's, Birthday, Beginning of the school year, Summer camp, Christmas Ornaments.
Subjects: Math, Social Studies, Language Arts, Art

Ensure your mummy safe passage to the afterlife with this burial chamber.
Subjects: Social Studies

A simple game to improve observation and memory skills.
Subjects: Physical Science

This activity reinforces the multiplication of monomials, which involves multiplying coefficients and adding the exponents of expressions which have the same base.
Subjects: Math

Students observe and analyze a real apple and then compare their observations with those of a model apple.
Subjects: Physical Science, Life Science, Earth/Space Science, Language Arts

Develop students' 3-D map reading skills by making a model showing the sculpted shape that lies under a large volcanic lake!
Subjects: Physical Science, Earth/Space Science, Math

This simplified DNA model uses beads and chenille stems (pipe cleaners) to represent nucleotide components. DNA is the fundamental hereditary material for all living organisms. The structure of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) was understood only after years of scientific research. Although simple in structure, DNA carries the code for all the complexities of life.
Subjects: Life Science

Use an image viewer to create out of focus nearsighted or farsighted images. These blurry images can be "corrected" with a concave or a convex lens.
Subjects: Physical Science, Life Science

Work as a team to understand variables, coefficients, and constants by modeling and solving equations to find the mystery value of the cup!
Subjects: Math

Moire patterns are formed when two similarly repetitive patterns overlap; they are generated in a wide range of situations and are easy to explore.
Subjects: Physical Science, Math

Smoking is not cheap. Students discover the financial costs of smoking in this "shop with your savings" activity.
Subjects: Life Science, Math

Play a game show with only one choice out of three to win a prize! Learn to improve the chances of getting the prize.
Subjects: Math

Match the planets to the satellites in this quick-play card game.
Subjects: Earth/Space Science

Create a mobile with the 4 points and the 4 intervals known as the phases of the Moon.
Subjects: Earth/Space Science

Create a model of the Moon that will reflect light in the same way as the real Moon.
Subjects: Earth/Space Science

While nothing in the game of life is guaranteed, making good choices, like not smoking, can make big differences. More Time on Earth shows players how not smoking will increase their chances of living longer.
Subjects: Life Science, Math

Don't just send a nice greeting... send an activity! Students create a mosaic image card that also offers hours of creative play for the receiver.
Subjects: Language Arts, Art

Build a simple structure on the shake table, start the motor, and watch the action! Will your building design survive the "earthquake"?
Subjects: Physical Science, Earth/Space Science

Have fun while using a mousetrap to convert potential energy into kinetic energy.
Subjects: Physical Science

This twist on the classic game of match will help students identify and sort healthy foods from unhealthy choices.
Subjects: Life Science

A variety of scientific and gravity "defying" demonstrations can be done by combining pill and ring magnets in unique ways to create a multipurpose demo unit.
Subjects: Physical Science

Students can investigate cause and effect, center of mass, balance, and stable equilibrium while they solve this fascinating, scientific puzzle!
Subjects: Physical Science

Germinate seeds in these inexpensive and easily made containers.
Subjects: Life Science

Create this artistic and outdoorsy book from easily found materials.
Subjects: Life Science, Earth/Space Science, Language Arts, Art

Static electricity can light up a neon bulb, no batteries needed! Handling the bulb and observing the flashes are made easier by mounting the bulb in a black container.
Subjects: Physical Science

In this modeling activity, students use RAFT materials to build "bird nests" for protection and comfort. Since birds mainly use their beaks for this survival activity, students use only a model "beak" for building. Who will make the best nest and have the best chances of having their baby birds survive?
Subjects: Life Science

No need to buy pots to run plant investigations in the classroom! Use these simple pots made from newspapers. The best part is that the pots can go right into the ground with the seedlings when the time comes... no need to transplant.
Subjects: Life Science

If this historic "three-in-a-row" strategy game seems familiar, it's because Nine Men's Morris is Tic-tac-toe taken to the next level! Use it to teach logic and problem-solving.
Subjects: Math, Social Studies

A faster and easier way to quilt in the classroom! No Sew Quilting has all the patterning benefits of quilting, without the difficulty and time of using a needle and thread. In this activity, students use Styrofoam and swimsuit fabric to create wonderful patterns or depict images from any topic.
Subjects: Physical Science, Math, Social Studies, Art

Ever had the blues? What shade of blue was it? All blues are not created equal. Explore the world of color, with its many shades, in this simple and fun exercise.
Subjects: Physical Science, Art

Children work together to create a kid-sized dot to dot by rolling a ball of string from one to another following a number sequence.
Subjects: Math

Practicing good nutrition habits can help to make kids better learners of all subjects. Sometimes kids forget which foods are good for them. This nutrition band is fun way to remember how much of each nutritional food group they should eat through the day.
Subjects: Life Science, Math

This flexible game is two games in one. Students can either evaluate or solve algebraic equations. Both games reinforce order of operations, evaluating equations, and solving equations.
Subjects: Math

Our oceans have an entire world of aquatic life and provide a home to thousands of species. Life on Earth depends on healthy oceans and learning about the variety of animals and plants that coexist in oceans can help students appreciate this vast resource on our planet.
Subjects: Life Science, Earth/Space Science, Art

These yarn weavings have magical and ritual significance to the Huichol peoples of Northwestern Mexico, and the craft has grown into a popular activity throughout North America.
Subjects: Art

Ever see a magician pull out a tablecloth from under dishes? This wonderful demonstration of inertia (not magic) will be a sure-fire "hit"!
Subjects: Physical Science

Create, test, and evaluate paper airplanes as a simple and fun introduction to the basics of research engineering.
Subjects: Physical Science, Math

Shrink billions of years and Earth's significant events into a pocket sized strip.
Subjects: Life Science, Earth/Space Science, Math