Search Results

Narrow Results:

Lesson Plans (430)

Unit Plans (7)

ALEX Lesson Plans

Subject: Digital Literacy and Computer Science (4), Science (4)
Title: Using Code to Create an Animated Animal
Description:

Students will use the free online coding program, Scratch, to learn the basics of coding and how to use blocks and animations to create an animated animal. Students will show how an animated animal will receive, process, and respond to information using its senses. The students will go through a series of coding steps to create a background and make an animal move and change according to factors in its environment.

This lesson plan was created as a result of the Girls Engaged in Math and Science, GEMS Project.

Subject: Health Science (9 - 12)
Title: Measuring Weight & Height
Description:

This lesson is part of the Nurse Aide Training or Patient Care Technician Course. Students will be able to proficiently perform height and weight measurement skills as outlined by the Nurse Aide or Patient Care Technician Certification. Students will also understand the importance of assessing and analyzing these measurements. This lesson plan could also be used to teach Course of Study Standard #1 in the Health Science Internship Course.

Subject: Health Science (9 - 12)
Title: Standard/Transmission-Based Precautions and Communication Skills - Simulation
Description:

This lesson provides a formative assessment of previously mastered concepts and skills. Students in the Health Science Internship Course or completing the Certified Patient Care Technician or Certified Nursing Assistant training programs should be proficient in analyzing a patient encounter as well as applying skills and knowledge to formulate a plan. Students will complete a pre-learning activity and pre-briefing before the simulation experience. A structured debriefing follows the simulation experience and serves as a formative assessment. This lesson will focus on standard and transmission-based precautions as well as communication skills.

Subject: Science (2)
Title: Where Do You Live?
Description:

The students will create a layered lookbook, which displays recorded information that explains that living things do exist in different places. The students will create a multimedia project, which will retell information learned about living things in different places.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA

Subject: Social Studies (4), Digital Literacy and Computer Science (4)
Title: What if Nothing Ever Changed?
Description:

Imagine if the world as you know it never changed. Students will embark on a journey back in time and research what life in Alabama looked like in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. Students will compare and contrast the information they research with their present-day lives. Students will then identify how technological advancements changed life for Alabamians and reflect on how they feel their life would be today if things never changed. Students will create an Adobe Express digital story to communicate their researched information and personal reflections.

This resource was created as a result of the Alabama Technology in Motion Partnership.

Subject: Mathematics (4), Digital Literacy and Computer Science (4)
Title: Using Scratch to Create a Multiple Game
Description:

Students will use the free online coding program Scratch to learn the basics of coding and how to use blocks and animations to create a game. Students will create a game to find multiples of a given factor by making a character fly into the correct multiple of the given factor. The student will go through a series of coding steps to create a background, make a character fly, and create the factor and multiple game.

This lesson plan was created as a result of the Girls Engaged in Math and Science, GEMS Project.

Subject: Digital Literacy and Computer Science (2), Social Studies (2)
Title: Symbols All Around Us
Description:

This lesson will focus on American symbols. Students will identify American symbols and explain how they represent the United States of America. Symbols include the Liberty Bell, Bald Eagle, Statue of Liberty, United States Flag, Washington Monument, and the Lincoln Memorial. Students will work in pairs and conduct research about American symbols and create a digital story about a symbol of their choosing.

This lesson was created as part of a collaboration between Alabama Technology in Motion and ALEX.

Subject: Social Studies (3), Digital Literacy and Computer Science (3)
Title: Natural Disasters
Description:

Each student becomes an expert on a natural disaster, investigating and discovering how they can prepare for it. Students initially create traditional motivational posters using paper, pencils, markers, and crayons. Then, students create an electronic version to motivate others to prepare for natural disasters. Next, students create storyboards/scripts and digital stories on a natural disaster of their choosing to inform others of ways to prepare for natural disasters.

This lesson was created as part of a collaboration between Alabama Technology in Motion and ALEX.

Subject: Arts Education (2)
Title: Transformation Creations
Description:

The students will use critical thinking skills and artistic abilities to "transform" an image into something completely different. The original images can be taken with a digital camera and printed out or cut from old magazines.

Subject: Arts Education (7 - 12)
Title: Expressionism: What’s the deal with these strange colors?
Description:

The students will gain a good understanding of the history of Expressionism painting and its use of color and paint application to establish an “emotional feel”. They will use this knowledge to create their own expressionistic oil painting.

Subject: Arts Education (6 - 8)
Title: Illustrate a Song
Description:

Many times when people think of art, they only think about the visual arts. Music is also an art form. Music has the ability to inspire us, change our mood, comfort us, and teach us. It is hard to imagine a day without any sort of music. Therefore, it is necessary that when teaching the arts, students also learn about the value of music as an art form.

Subject: Science (1 - 2), Mathematics (2)
Title: What if I Had Bat Ears? A STEM Challenge
Description:

After reading, What if You Had Animal Ears? by Sandra Markle, students will plan, design, and create bat-like ears from various materials for a STEM challenge. Students will test their models and redesign them to improve the effectiveness of their models to increase their own ability to hear by mimicking the external parts of a bat's ear. The students will measure and collect data from tests and compare results between the design and the redesign. This lesson can be completed in two 45 minute sessions or one 90 minute session.

This lesson plan was created in partnership with the Birmingham Zoo.

Subject: Science (9 - 12)
Title: Solar Angles and the Unequal Heating of the Earth
Description:

In this activity, students will model how the directness of sunlight affects the heating of Earth’s atmosphere at the equator. Students will demonstrate that Earth’s shape has a direct effect on the unequal heating of the atmosphere. The students will discover how the tilt of Earth’s axis affects the amount of sunlight that reaches different regions of the earth’s surface thus causing different seasons.

This lesson results from the ALEX Resource Gap Project.

Subject: Science (7)
Title: Plant’s Nanomachinery for Photosynthesis and Nanotechnology for Solar Energy Conversion
Description:

Understanding the energy conversion capability of photosynthesis and the artificial nanostructured photocatalysts contrast biotic and abiotic systems, while demonstrating the efficiency of photosynthesis compared to titanium dioxide nanoparticles in generating gas production volumetrically. The experiment results transition to a discussion of photosynthesis and the organelles within the cell where it takes place. This lesson explores light energy capture and transformation into chemical energy during photosynthesis. The lesson can lead to discussion of renewable energy conversion methods and nanotechnology, to help advance nanoscience research to solve the challenging energy issues in the future.

Subject: English Language Arts (11), Social Studies (11)
Title: "Should They Stay, or Should They Go?" Considering the Point of View of an Alabama Citizen Regarding the World War I Draft
Description:

In this lesson, students will read and critically examine a letter from an Alabama farm owner to a U.S. Senator from Alabama regarding exemption status for the 1917 Selective Service Act on behalf of one of her workers. This primary source document will allow the students to practice evaluating a complex text. The students will answer active reading questions to participate in a "Philosophical Chairs" class debate regarding the merit of the farm owner's request. The Philosophical Chairs activity will allow the students to verbally articulate an argumentative position while specifically using textual evidence to be able to defend their position.

*Note: A bibliography of resources used can be found at the end of the "Lesson Procedures Section" of this lesson.

This lesson was created in partnership with the Alabama Department of Archives and History.

Subject: Science (9 - 12), Literacy Standards (6-12) (9 - 10)
Title: The Case of the Invisible Signal
Description:

Are cell phones really safe for humans to use frequently? In this mock trial lesson, students will use claim, evidence, and reasoning to construct a scientific argument on the safety of the electromagnetic waves involved in cell phone technology. During the lesson process, students will hold a “trial” and each individual student will construct their own written “verdict” based on the evidence presented at the mock trial.

This lesson results from the ALEX Resource Gap Project.

Subject: Science (4)
Title: Eye Spy
Description:

Throughout this lesson, students will discover how the lens in your eye helps focus light. First, students will discuss the parts of the eye and how these parts work together to allow us to see. Then, students will use a clear plastic bag filled with water to create a model of an eyeball to investigate how the lens in your eye helps focus light.

This lesson results from the ALEX Resource Gap Project.

Subject: Science (4)
Title: Earthworm Behavior
Description:

This is an inquiry-based lesson that allows students to investigate different ways animals receive information through the senses, process that information, and respond to it. Students will place earthworms in a lighted area and see if they move toward a dark environment or stay in the lighted environment. Students will observe the behavior of the earthworms and use data from the investigation to conclude how an earthworm uses its senses to affect its behavior.

This lesson results from the ALEX Resource Gap Project.

Subject: Science (5)
Title: Food for Life
Description:

Students will discover how plants, animals, and fungi are all interconnected in a giant web. They will construct a model of a food chain to explain that energy in animals' food is used to sustain life. They will also acknowledge that all food chains start with energy from the sun.

This lesson results from the ALEX Resource Gap Project.

Subject: English Language Arts (11), Social Studies (11)
Title: Not so Fast, Mr. President!: Examining American Opposition to Involvement in World War I
Description:

In this lesson, students will be examining primary sources about differing viewpoints on America's involvement in World War I. The students will annotate the documents, looking for main ideas and supporting details. The students will then form graphic organizers separating two opposing viewpoints. Finally, students will write a group expository essay using the data from the graphic organizer.

This lesson was created as part of the Alabama Bicentennial Commission’s Curriculum Development Project.

Subject: English Language Arts (11), Social Studies (11)
Title: "Cheer, Cheer, for the 'Red, White, and Blue!'" University and High School Students' Contributions and Participation During the World Wars
Description:

Students will examine and evaluate both college and high school students' support of and involvement in the World Wars. Students will research both photographic and textual resources in order to produce factual information about how students reacted to World Wars 1 and 2. This lesson will culminate in a student-driven Socratic Seminar-style discussion which will allow the students to verbally articulate their findings from the resources provided.

This lesson was created in partnership with the Alabama Department of Archives and History.

Subject: Science (3 - 4), English Language Arts (3 - 5)
Title: Animal Adaptions for Grades 3-5
Description:

HyperSlides are digital lessons/units that help students learn the material in a way that is engaging and inquiry-based. Students will work together to complete a HyperSlides unit centering around animal adaptations for standards in grades 3-5. Students will work creatively and collaboratively with a variety of Course of Study standards that engage students through using Google Slides and Hyperlinks to assist in the understanding of animal adaptations. This project will take several class periods to complete. After an introduction to the Hyperslides, students are encouraged to work at their own pace, but Hyperslides can be assigned on a daily basis.

This Lesson Plan was created in partnership with the Birmingham Zoo.

Subject: Social Studies (6), Literacy Standards (6-12) (6 - 8)
Title: Remembering James Reese Europe: Leader in Battle and Music
Description:

James Reese Europe was an "accomplished orchestra conductor, bandleader, and composer of popular songs, marches and dance music during the early twentieth century...Europe was an effective champion of African-American musical performers and composers and helped to gain acceptance for them in the United States and abroad." Born in Mobile, Alabama, Europe accomplished much in his brief lifetime and deserves a place in every study of World War I.

Students will annotate a biography of James Reese Europe and analyze two photographs of the orchestra Reese led across France. Students will view a documentary film of Europe and his "Hellfighter" orchestra as they fought, performed, and received medals for their efforts during the war.

As a culminating activity on the second day, students will write a eulogy for Europe detailing his role as a leader in Jazz and as an African American officer.

This lesson was created in partnership with the Alabama Department of Archives and History.

Subject: Mathematics (9 - 12)
Title: Can You Solve the Mystery of the Variable?
Description:

This lesson will help students master Algebra I standard 15: Rearrange formulas to highlight a quantity of interest, using the same reasoning as in solving equations [A-CED4]. The lesson will make the connection between isolating a guilty person in a “who-dun-it” with isolating a given variable in an equation. In addition, this lesson will involve students creating a list of procedures to use when solving for a given variable. At this time it is not necessary for students to know the formal names for the properties. It is important for students to understand the concepts and take part in creating a set of procedures for isolating a variable and solving equations.

This lesson results from the ALEX Resource Gap Project.

Subject: Social Studies (4), English Language Arts (4)
Title: Who Was William Weatherford?
Description:

William Weatherford was a Creek leader during the Creek War of 1813-1814. This lesson explores who William Weatherford was as a person, as a Creek leader, and his role in the Creek War of 1813-1814. Students will view a PowerPoint, read an excerpt from an article about William Weatherford from the Encyclopedia of Alabama, share information with peers, and view the engraving of William Weatherford surrendering to Andrew Jackson. At the end of the lesson, the students will draw a conclusion about William Weatherford and support it with evidence from the lesson. This lesson should be done in conjunction with studying the Creek War of 1813-1814 so that his role in this historical event can be better understood.

This lesson was created as a part of the Alabama Bicentennial Commission's Curriculum Development Project.

Subject: English Language Arts (2), Science (2)
Title: Lesson 1 - If We Ran the Zoo: How Do Animals Impact Our Environment?
Description:

A brainstorming activity and class discussion will begin the lesson and provide the background knowledge students have regarding zoos and how the animals in zoos impact our environment. Students will select an animal for further research using an online survey created by the teacher to determine their research group. Afterward, students will view an informational video about the origin and purpose of zoos, and complete an exit slip stating new learning that has been added to their background knowledge.

This lesson was created as part of the ALEX Interdisciplinary Resource Development Summit.

Subject: English Language Arts (2), Science (2)
Title: Lesson 2 - If We Ran the Zoo: How Do Animals Impact Our Environment? Research/Zoo Book
Description:

The lesson will begin by reviewing the groups and animals assigned to each group. Students will begin working in their Zoo Booklets by discussing vocabulary that is associated with their animal. Students will use various types of text and other resources to find the information needed to learn more about their animal. Students will work cooperatively in groups to complete their animal research and complete their final project.

This lesson was created as part of the ALEX Interdisciplinary Resource Development Summit.

Subject: Science (K - 2), English Language Arts (K - 2)
Title: Amazing Animal Adaptations for K-2
Description:

This is a multi-session interactive lesson plan about animal adaptations for kindergarten through second-grade students. The goal of this interactive digital lesson plan is to guide students through activities that help them understand how characteristics such as body covering, body parts, and behaviors help animals survive. These lesson plans also build cooperation and communication skills for students. There are additional resources provided for the teacher to use before or after using the HyperDoc.

This Lesson Plan was created in partnership with the Birmingham Zoo.

Subject: Mathematics (9 - 12)
Title: Binomial Expansion -Shortcut Please
Description:

This lesson is an introduction to Binomial Expansion and the Binomial Theorem. Students begin by expanding binomials using multiplication. They will examine the expansions looking for patterns. These patterns will be used to develop the Binomial Theorem. Both Pascal's Triangle and Combinations will be used to complete the Binomial Expansion.

This lesson results from the ALEX Resource Gap Project.

Subject: Mathematics (9 - 12)
Title: Radians: Just Another Way
Description:

Students will be guided through a review of the special angles on the unit circle in degree measures. They will use a circle/paper plate and paper strips to measure and mark these special angles. Students will be introduced to the definition of a radian and will discover the number of radians in a circle as well as the measures of the special angles in radian measure. The students will find the formulas for converting degrees to radians and radians to degrees. They will then use these formulas to convert angles from degrees to radians and from radians to degrees.

This lesson results from the ALEX Resource Gap Project.

Subject: Literacy Standards (6-12) (6 - 8), Social Studies (6)
Title: Reading Can Save a Soldier
Description:

At the turn of the 20th century, illiteracy was common across the United States. Percentages ranged from 10-30%, depending on location. Rural Alabama suffered from a high illiteracy rate. During this lesson, students will read and analyze primary documents that focus on the importance of literacy for Alabamian soldiers - LIT2010 (6-8)(2 & 7). Students will create a propaganda poster that asks citizens to do their part [SS2010 (6)(3)] in changing the culture of Alabama illiteracy and for teaching Alabama soldiers that literacy is a powerful weapon [SS2010 (6)(1)].

This lesson was created in partnership with the Alabama Department of Archives and History.

Subject: Mathematics (9 - 12)
Title: Logarithms: Undo the Exponential
Description:

In this lesson, students are asked to provide a written description of both an exponential function and its inverse. They are then introduced to the logarithmic function and will practice writing exponential functions as logarithms and logarithms as exponential functions. Students will evaluate logarithmic expressions and will solve logarithmic equations.

This lesson results from the ALEX Gap Resource Project.

Subject: Science (K), English Language Arts (K)
Title: Plants and Animals Provide for Their Needs
Description:

This lesson will allow students to gather evidence to better understand how plants and animals provide for themselves by altering the environment. Students will observe plants and animals. Students will discuss their findings with group members. The students will write or draw about their findings. After writing with their group members, students will produce and present their knowledge to the class via Chatterpix.

This lesson results from the ALEX Resource Gap Project.

Subject: Mathematics (9 - 12)
Title: Add, Subtract, and Multiply Matrices
Description:

The lesson will introduce the concept of a matrix. The matrix is labeled by its rows and columns. This lesson will teach the concept of adding, subtracting, scalar multiplication, and multiplication of matrices. This lesson will be a prerequisite for solving systems of equations with matrices.

This lesson results from the ALEX Resource Gap Project.

Subject: Mathematics (9 - 12)
Title: Solving Formulas for the Given Variable
Description:

This lesson will use the process of inverse operations to solve formulas for a given variable. Some formulas will not be recognized by the student. The actual formula is not important, but the variables are.

This lesson results from the ALEX Resource Gap Project.

Subject: Science (K)
Title: Made In The Shade
Description:

Students will discuss the effects of sunlight. Next, they will be introduced to the task of designing and constructing a device to reduce the effect of sunlight. In groups, students will design and then construct a tent that will keep an ice cube from completely melting before the uncovered control ice cube melts. Students will test the effectiveness of their tents.

This lesson results from the ALEX Resource Gap Project.

Subject: Mathematics (4)
Title: Measuring Angles
Description:

This lesson is designed to teach students to measure angles with a protractor. The student will be taught how to read the protractor correctly by using either the top or bottom set of numbers. The lesson will reinforce classifying angles as acute, right, and obtuse. The student will sketch angles given a specified measure.

This lesson results from the ALEX Resource Gap Project.

Subject: Mathematics (6)
Title: Equations and Solutions
Description:

This lesson will use the substitution property to determine solutions to equations and inequalities. The students will be given a replacement set of values. The student will check the values to determine if the result is true or false. The values that are true will be the solution. The student will graph the inequality solutions on the number line.

This lesson results from the ALEX Resource Gap Project.

Subject: Mathematics (8 - 12)
Title: Complex Numbers Solutions
Description:

This lesson is designed to teach the students that some quadratic equations will have imaginary solutions. The lesson will examine the concept of complex numbers in terms i. The student will use the quadratic formula to solve the equations and write the the solutions in the form a +bi.

This lesson results from the ALEX Resource Gap Project.

Subject: Social Studies (6), English Language Arts (6)
Title: The Flu Affects All Walks of Life in Alabama
Description:

This lesson will include a study of several primary sources that detail the 1918 flu epidemic and how it affected a variety of people in Alabama. Students will work in small groups to study different primary sources and will complete graphic organizers specific to the type of primary source. Groups will then share their information with the class and discuss how the flu affected different populations of Alabama. The focus and outcomes of this lesson will meet the Social Studies standard (SS2010(6)) by allowing the students to describe civilian roles during WWI and to recognize the military bases in Alabama.

This lesson was created in partnership with the Alabama Department of Archives and History.

Subject: Mathematics (8)
Title: Systems of Equations Part 3 -- Solving by Elimination
Description:

This lesson will be completed in one class period. This lesson, the third in the series, will focus on another way of solving linear systems, the elimination method. When using this method, the students will multiply one or both of equations to make one of the variables equal. Afterward, the students will add the equations to eliminate the variable.

This lesson results from the ALEX Resource Gap Project.

Subject: Mathematics (5), Science (5)
Title: Rain Drops
Description:

In this lesson, students will examine the amount of annual and seasonal rainfall in four cities to compare decimals to the hundredths place. Students will add and round digits to the thousandths place. Students will utilize technology by navigating to a specific United States climate website to get relatively current and accurate data.

This unit was created as part of the ALEX Interdisciplinary Resource Development Summit.

Subject: Science (3)
Title: Coral Reef Nursery Evaluation Presentation
Description:

Students will be exposed to an engineered solution to the current issue of excessive algae growth that is inhibiting the health of Staghorn and Elkhorn coral populations. Students will then use their knowledge, as well as conduct research, that would allow them to aid in the effort to protect this crucial living element to the oceanic environment. Students will collaborate with their group to apply their knowledge and create an Animoto presentation that consists of at least five slides.

This lesson results from the ALEX Resource Gap Project.

Subject: Science (1), English Language Arts (1)
Title: What Makes Light?
Description:

This lesson is an introduction to the concept of light sources (both natural and man-made), as well as levels of light (bright, dim, dark, pitch black). Students will explore these concepts through a children’s literature read-aloud, discussion of personal experiences, brainstorming and sorting activities (with optional technology use), and hands-on activities with lightboxes. Students conclude with a narrative writing assignment. This lesson can be divided and taught over the course of several days, or integrated into multiple subject areas (reading, science, and writing blocks) as time permits.

This lesson results from the ALEX Resource Gap Project.

Subject: Digital Literacy and Computer Science (5)
Title: Rain Drops
Description:

This unit was created as part of the ALEX Interdisciplinary Resource Development Summit.

Subject: English Language Arts (5)
Title: Movement of Constellations in the Night Sky
Description:

In this lesson, students will examine time lapse photos and videos to see the movement of stars during the night. Students will use star wheels to track the visibility of constellations throughout the year and graph the number of days a constellation is visible each month. Using data from the graphs, they will collaboratively construct a large-scale model of the sun, Earth, and constellations to better understand the role Earth’s movement and axial tilt play in the visibility of stars. Finally, students will draw a diagram and write an explanation of the apparent movement of stars using data from the graphs and class model.

This lesson results from the ALEX Resource Gap Project.

Subject: Science (K), English Language Arts (K)
Title: Ramp Exploration
Description:

In this lesson, students will work in groups to design a ramp to increase the speed of a ball. The teacher will guide students' work through careful questioning. After creating different ramps, students will record and report their findings to the class.

This lesson results from the ALEX Resource Gap Project.

Subject: Science (5)
Title: Movement of Constellations in the Night Sky
Description:

This lesson results from the ALEX Resource Gap Project.

Subject: Mathematics (9 - 12)
Title: Unit Circle - Special Angles - Just Know One
Description:

This lesson will demonstrate that in order to find the coordinates of the special angles on the unit circle, students will need a knowledge of the first quadrant angles only. Students will use special right triangle relationships for 30° - 60° -90° or 45° - 45° - 90° triangles to find the first quadrant coordinate values. These values will then be reflected across the x- and y-axis to locate the coordinates in the remaining quadrants. Students will also convert the angle measurements from units in degrees to units in radians. They will become familiar with finding angles in the quadrants by using reference angles (π-x, π+x. 2π-x).

This lesson results from the ALEX Resource Gap Project.

Subject: Health Science (9 - 12), Science (9 - 12)
Title: What Bloody Type are You?
Description:

Students will compare and contrast similarities between the eight different human blood types and be able to explain how these differences affect blood transfusions. Students will complete the online modules in The Blood Type Game and hunt for answers to a worksheet on The Red Cross website. After the lesson, students will be assessed with an online quiz on Quizziz.

This lesson was created as part of a collaboration between Alabama Technology in Motion and ALEX.

Lesson author recommended by TIM Trainer Courtney Winn Hamilton.

Subject: Mathematics (8)
Title: System of Equations -- Part I Graphing
Description:

Systems of Equations will be taught over a three-day period: the first day will include a lesson regarding equations that can be solved by graphing, the second day will include a lesson regarding equations that can be solved by substitution, and the third day will include a lesson regarding equations that can be solved by elimination. The students will graph two lines on the same coordinate axis and determine where the two lines cross. The teacher will be able to rock the teenage world with the website "DESMOS". Solving the equations graphically will enhance the graphing skill of the students. The lesson will explain all the ways to graph a line.

This lesson results from the ALEX Resource Gap Project.

Subject: Science (2)
Title: Finding Suitable Solutions
Description:

Students will be exposed to three different scenarios. The scenarios will require that students hypothesize two solutions, test their hypotheses, document the results, and document the property that proved the effectiveness of the material chosen. An example of a scenario would be, “When provided toilet paper, tissue paper and paper towels, which material would be most effective in cleaning spilled water, and what property makes it so effective?” Students will then present the data collected in a Google Slides presentation. The lesson's total duration is about six days.

This unit was created as part of the ALEX Interdisciplinary Resource Development Summit.

Subject: Mathematics (9 - 12)
Title: Building Functions: Inverse Functions from Tables and Graphs
Description:

This lesson will lead students on a guided discovery to find the inverse of a function given the graph or a table of values. Students will relate the inverse of a graph to finding the reflection of the graph over the line y=x. They will identify characteristics of functions whose inverses are also functions (One-to-One Functions) and will be introduced to the horizontal line test. Students will also apply their knowledge of a graph to a table of values to determine if the table represents a One-to-One Function.

This lesson results from the ALEX Resource Gap Project.

Subject: Science (3)
Title: Optimal Snow Sled Experience
Description:

Students will determine the difference between balanced and unbalanced forces through an experiment. The experiment consists of a student-created scaled snow sled model going down a teacher-created ramp. Students will plan to change one variable, collect data, and chart the data graphically. Students will change a variable such as: number of students riding the snow sled, size of the child (children) riding the snow sled, direction, position on the hill the snow sled is released, position of children on the sled (sitting, standing, laying), friction caused by materials that makes up the sled, and air resistance caused by an object such as a parachute. Students will collect and chart data of each experiment graphically in order to determine the longest snow sled ride.

This lesson results from the ALEX Resource Gap Project.

Subject: Mathematics (9 - 12)
Title: Triangle Area: No Height?--Use the Sine
Description:

This lesson will lead students through a review of the proof of the Law of Sines. This proof will remind them that they can use the right triangle relationship for Sine to find the height of a triangle. They will then apply this knowledge to find the area of a triangle when given two sides and an included angle. Finally, they will be asked to find the area when no values are given. This result should produce the Area Formula for a triangle given two sides and the included angle.

This lesson results from the ALEX Resource Gap Project.

Subject: Social Studies (5), English Language Arts (5)
Title: Native Americans: How Their Environment Affected Their Culture
Description:

In this lesson, students will research one Native American group from each of the six main biomes in North America. Students will use their developing technology and language arts skills to find reliable sources on the internet, evaluate and integrate information from these texts, select a suitable digital platform to share their findings, and create a cohesive presentation showcasing their mastery of the learning outcomes. Students will discover the climate, landforms, water, and other natural resources available within each region and how they were used by the natives living there. Students will explore the relationships between the cultures found within each region and its resources.

This unit was created as part of the ALEX Interdisciplinary Resource Development Summit.

Subject: Science (4)
Title: The Eyes Have It
Description:

In this lesson, students will investigate how light rays reflect from the surface of an object and allow us to see the object by viewing several small items inside a black bag with and without the use of a light source. Students will work collaboratively on an online simulation to control the path of light in order to illuminate objects. Students will construct a model to describe how an object can be seen when light reflected from its surface enters the eye.

This lesson results from the ALEX Resource Gap Project.

Subject: Science (5), Digital Literacy and Computer Science (5)
Title: Native Americans: How Their Environment Affected Their Culture
Description:

This unit was created as part of the ALEX Interdisciplinary Resource Development Summit.

Subject: Mathematics (8)
Title: Solving Systems of Linear Equations -- Part 2 Substitution
Description:

This lesson is the second part of solving systems of linear equations. The lesson will be taught in one class period. The concept for the lesson is to solve one equation in terms of "x" or "y" and substitute the results into the other equation. Calculating the final solution to the system will take a few more steps. This lesson will describe the remaining steps as well as examples to follow.

This lesson results from the ALEX Resource Gap Project.

Subject: Science (5)
Title: Modeling Energy Within the Food Chain
Description:

In this lesson, students will demonstrate an understanding of the transfer of matter (energy) in various ecosystems by constructing a model food chain. In the food chain, students must show how an ecosystem provides energy from a producer to the consumers and ending with a decomposer.

The students will begin by working in groups to compete with their peers by sorting food chain picture cards (producers, consumers, decomposers of an ecosystem) in the correct order. Students will be assessed at the conclusion of the lesson with a multiple choice exit ticket quiz.

This unit was created as part of the ALEX Interdisciplinary Resource Development Summit.

Subject: Mathematics (9 - 12)
Title: Triangle Congruence with Rigid Motions
Description:

This lesson will provide instruction on proving triangles to be congruent using rigid motions. Using the concept of transformations, the students will be able to manipulate the triangle on the coordinate plane. When using the coordinate plane to test congruence, the triangle or other object will slide, rotate, or flip to map onto the other object. Sometimes, the student will use a combination of the transformations.

This lesson results from the ALEX Resource Gap Project.

Subject: English Language Arts (4), Science (4)
Title: Fascinating Fossils
Description:

Students will explore how changes in rocks and land formations over time explain the large number of aquatic fossils that can be found across the state of Alabama. They will model volcanic eruptions and fossil formation through a hands-on activity using baking soda, vinegar, and play dough. Then they will read a news article to determine that Alabama was underwater at one time, which explains how aquatic fossils are found across the state. Finally, they will write and illustrate an explanation that shows how layers and fossils found in rock are evidence that these rocks changed over time.

This lesson results from the ALEX Resource Gap Project.

Subject: Mathematics (8)
Title: Square and Cube Root Salad
Description:

This lesson will develop the knowledge of squared and cubed numbers. The students will know when to use the square root and cube root to solve an equation. The students will memorize perfect squares and some cube roots. The answers will be left in radical form. Finally, the students will be able to identify the radicals as rational or irrational.

This lesson results from the ALEX Resource Gap Project.

Subject: Science (4)
Title: Collision Course with Energy
Description:

Students will observe how potential and kinetic energy relate to the transfer of energy from one marble to another when they collide. Students will introduce different variables (mass and height) and investigate the transfer of potential and kinetic energy in a sled collision online simulation. Students will build a ramp, test it, and measure the distance their cars travel caused by the collision. Students will create a presentation to share their findings with the class.

This lesson results from the ALEX Resource Gap Project

Subject: Mathematics (8)
Title: Angles, Angles, and More Angles
Description:

This lesson is designed to develop knowledge about the angles of a triangle. This lesson will prove that the interior angles of a triangle will have a sum of 180 degrees. This lesson will prove that an exterior angle is the sum of the remote interior angles. This lesson will show the relationships of the angles of parallel lines and transversals.

This lesson results from the ALEX Resource Gap Project.

Subject: Social Studies (4)
Title: Jim Peppler Southern Courier Photograph Collection-Richard C. Boone Asks a Question: Master May I?
Description:

When we hear the words Civil Rights Movement, we have visions of Dr. Martin Luther King and a few others. Through pictures, students will identify ordinary leaders in the crowd. Students will have the opportunity to analyze those pictures by doing a picture walk. Students will learn more about some of the people in the crowd, and how they made a difference in our beloved community.

This lesson was created in partnership with the Alabama Department of Archives and History.

Subject: Mathematics (9 - 12)
Title: Building Functions - Reverse to Inverse
Description:

This lesson will provide an introduction to finding the inverse of a function or a relation. Through a combination of teacher-led instruction and collaboration, students will discover a method for finding the inverse of a function or relation. The use of an online graphing calculator will aid students with their discovery.

This lesson results from the ALEX Resource Gap Project.

Subject: Mathematics (7)
Title: Writing and Solving Equations Using Angle Terminology
Description:

This lesson will enhance mathematical vocabulary knowledge and reinforce basic skills for solving equations. Mathematical vocabulary is a vital part of this lesson. The lesson will challenge the minds of seventh-grade students with the theory of angles. The student will use the information in the diagram to write an equation and solve for the variable. Terms that will be identified in the lesson are as follows: supplementary, complementary, adjacent, parallel lines and transversal, and vertical angles.

This lesson results from the ALEX Resource Gap Project.

View Standards

Standard(s): [MA2019] AL1-19 (9-12) 17 :

17. Combine different types of standard functions to write, evaluate, and interpret functions in context. Limit to linear, quadratic, exponential, and absolute value functions.

a. Use arithmetic operations to combine different types of standard functions to write and evaluate functions.

Example: Given two functions, one representing flow rate of water and the other representing evaporation of that water, combine the two functions to determine the amount of water in a container at a given time.

b. Use function composition to combine different types of standard functions to write and evaluate functions.

Example: Given the following relationships, determine what the expression S(T(t)) represents.

Function	Input	Output
G	Amount of studying: s	Grade in course: G(s)
S	Grade in course: g	Amount of screen time: S(g)
T	Amount of screen time: t	Number of follers: T(t)

Subject: Mathematics (9 - 12)
Title: Building Functions: Composition of Functions
Description:

This lesson provides a review of evaluating functions and finding function rules as well as an introduction to the composition of functions. The review is accomplished through the use of an online exploration using a function machine. The idea of a function machine is also used to explain the composition of functions. Instruction is provided in finding the composition using several different representations of functions (input/output tables, graphs, and function rules).

This lesson results from the ALEX Resource Gap Project.

Subject: Science (3), English Language Arts (3)
Title: Diverting Disaster With Lightning Rods
Description:

Students will use a Venn diagram to compare lightning and static electricity. Then, students will experiment with static electricity and read nonfiction passages about lightning and lightning rods. Finally, they will apply their learning to construct a model of a lightning rod system that protects a house from a lightning-induced fire.

This lesson results from the ALEX Resource Gap Project.

Subject: Social Studies (4), English Language Arts (4)
Title: The Great Depression
Description:

During this lesson, students will research the social, political, and economic impact of the Great Depression on the lives of Alabamians. Students will collaborate to create a presentation from the project-based learning activity and present it to the class.

This unit was created as part of the ALEX Interdisciplinary Resource Development Summit.

Subject: Science (3), English Language Arts (3)
Title: Can an Animal's Traits be Influenced by the Environment?
Description:

The lesson will begin with the teacher leading a discussion related to animal traits and the environment using a T-chart graphic organizer. The students will have the opportunity to discuss their ideas with a partner, and then the teacher will introduce the essential question of the lesson: “Can an animal's traits be influenced by the environment?” Next, the teacher will show students a video clip and nonfiction text related to the arctic fox, which is an animal that experiences a seasonal change in its fur color, and record information about the fox’s traits and habitat on a T-chart graphic organizer. Then, students will research a different animal to determine how its traits can be influenced by its environment using digital or print sources and take brief notes. Lastly, students will develop an explanatory text in a claim-evidence-reasoning format that includes an illustration to help convey their scientific ideas clearly.

This lesson results from the ALEX Resource Gap Project.

Subject: English Language Arts (4)
Title: Five Paragraph Expository Essay: What was the Social, Political, and Economic Impact of the Great Depression on the Lives of Alabamians?
Description:

Students will work in collaborative groups to analyze and interpret research information from their previous reading assignment on the social, political, and economic impact of the Great Depression on the lives of Alabamians. Next, students will use a graphic organizer to collect information needed to develop and write a five paragraph expository essay on the social, political, and economic impact of the Great Depression on the lives of Alabamians. Finally, students will present their expository essay to the class.

This unit was created as part of the ALEX Interdisciplinary Resource Development Summit.

Subject: English Language Arts (1), Mathematics (1), Science (1)
Title: Light and Sight – Why We Need Light to See
Description:

In this lesson, students will investigate objects’ appearances in varying levels of light to help them construct an explanation that objects can only be seen when light is available to illuminate them. Students will discuss why objects look different in a dark room and graph their preferences for sleeping with a light on or off. Then, they will investigate how an object’s appearance changes in different lighting conditions in small group centers. Finally, they will model the moon’s path around the sun to see how light from the sun causes the moon’s appearance to change as it orbits Earth. At the conclusion of the lesson, students will use their experiences as evidence to explain that light is essential for sight.

This lesson results from the ALEX Resource Gap Project.

Subject: English Language Arts (3), Science (3)
Title: Evaluating the Design of a Dam
Description:

Students will be given the task to build a dam that will stand against water. Students will design and build a scaled model of a dam and test the model for the ability to reduce the impact of a flood. Students will build a scaled model dam and test the dam’s effectiveness in preventing flood waters. Students will evaluate the efficacy of the dam they constructed and built. Students will contemplate what actions can be taken and materials that could be used in order to create a more effective dam in the future.

This unit was created as part of the ALEX Interdisciplinary Resource Development Summit.

Subject: English Language Arts (K), Science (K)
Title: Animal Habitats
Description:

In this lesson, students will research a variety of animals, plants, and habitats from Alabama. After researching animals, plants, and habitats from Alabama, small groups of students will be assigned a habitat to create. After creating the habitat in small groups, the small groups of students will share their habitat with their classmates.

This lesson results from the ALEX Resource Gap Project.

Subject: Science (7), English Language Arts (7)
Title: Pollution and the Peppered Moth
Description:

This lesson will begin with students reviewing the steps of the scientific method, then applying the steps of the scientific method using an online interactive game. Next, students will utilize the steps of the scientific method to explore factors that caused the population of the peppered moth to change over time. The students will conduct an experiment to gather data regarding the factors that led to a population shift in the peppered moth species. Then, students will read an article about the history of the peppered moth and play an online interactive game to further explore the factors that led to a change in this species's population. Lastly, students will develop a writing piece that includes a claim related to the change in the peppered moth's population and evidence that was gathered from the experiment, reading, and online activity.

This lesson results from the ALEX Resource Gap Project.

Subject: Mathematics (8)
Title: Distance "The Pythagoras Way"
Description:

In this lesson, the teacher will demonstrate how to use the Pythagorean Theorem to find distance between two points in the coordinate system. In the coordinate plane, the difference in the x- and y-values will determine the numbers to calculate the distance. This lesson will use online graphing tools as well as graph paper to plot the points. This lesson can also be used to show the relationship between the distance formula and the Pythagorean Theorem.

This lesson results from the ALEX Resource Gap Project.

Subject: English Language Arts (3), Mathematics (3)
Title: Dam Engineering
Description:

In math, students will draw a T-chart to represent dam and flood data obtained from their reading resource. Students will select the information they wish to use from the reading resource (their opinions). Students will then use rulers marked with halves and fourths of an inch to measure lengths and construct a scale model of their own dam, which they can later construct in science. Students will represent data in a graph and use measurement data by measuring lengths using rulers marked with halves and fourths of an inch. Students will test their scale dams and make changes as needed.

This unit was created as part of the ALEX Interdisciplinary Resource Development Summit.

Subject: Science (1)
Title: Phone-a-Friend
Description:

This lesson will begin with students brainstorming methods of communication using a web graphic organizer. Next, students will collaborate with a partner to create a basic cup phone set. Then, the teacher will lead students to develop a revised cup phone set using a variety of different materials. Lastly, the students will design and construct a revised version of the cup phone and test its effectiveness as compared to the first cup phone set.

This lesson results from the ALEX Resource Gap Project.

Subject: Science (4)
Title: Zoom Zoom!
Description:

In this lesson, students will explore how to increase the potential and kinetic energy of their toy cars by building ramps. Students will measure the distance the car travels and create a class line graph via the internet from the recorded data. Students will investigate potential and kinetic energy by introducing different variables such as mass, weight, and height during a ramp redesign, and measure the distance the cars travel using the variables. Students will create a presentation on Educreations to showcase their ramp redesign using their chosen variable.

This lesson results from the ALEX Resource Gap Project.

Subject: Science (6), English Language Arts (6)
Title: Investigating Heat Transfer within Earth's Atmosphere: Radiation and Convection
Description:

This lesson will begin with students discussing ways that we can feel the sun’s energy even though the sun is very far away from Earth. Then, the teacher will introduce the three methods of heat transfer (radiation, conduction, and convection) utilizing an online video clip, and the students will take jot notes while viewing the video clip. Next, the students will perform an experiment to investigate radiation as a form of heat transfer by recording how the temperature of ice changes when exposed to an energy source (solar energy or heat energy from a clamp lamp). Then, students will perform an experiment to investigate convection as a form of heat transfer using blue dyed ice cubes and warmed red food coloring, to create a convection cycle within a container filled with room-temperature water. Lastly, students will apply the data gathered from the experiments to write a response to the question: “How is heat energy from the sun distributed between Earth’s surface and the atmosphere?”

This lesson results from the ALEX Resource Gap Project.

Subject: Science (9 - 12)
Title: Discovering and Applying Ohm's Law
Description:

Students will design an experiment to relate the voltage difference and current in a circuit. They will collect data, then create and analyze a graph in order to arrive at Ohm's Law. They will create circuits and determine the voltage difference, current, and resistance in the circuit using Ohm's Law.

This lesson results from the ALEX Resource Gap Project.

Subject: Science (5), English Language Arts (5)
Title: Photosynthesis: Let's Talk About It
Description:

This lesson will utilize the talking drawings strategy, in which students will begin the lesson by drawing a picture of a plant to illustrate how they think plants make their own food. Then, the teacher will introduce the process of photosynthesis using an interactive presentation to explain photosynthesis in a pictorial format. As the teacher describes the process, the students will create a scientifically accurate drawing of a plant engaging in photosynthesis. Lastly, students will create a writing piece that will describe the process of photosynthesis and construct a scientifically accurate illustration of the process of photosynthesis.

This lesson results from the ALEX Resource Gap Project.

Subject: Science (2)
Title: Making Matter Change: Microwave Mug Cake
Description:

The lesson will begin with students comparing and contrasting the physical properties of ice and water using a Venn diagram graphic organizer. Next, the students will describe the physical properties of ingredients needed for a microwave mug cake. The students will bake a chocolate microwave mug cake to demonstrate that some changes in matter caused by heating and cooling are irreversible. Lastly, the students will create a written and pictorial response comparing the water and ice to the microwave mug cake to provide evidence that some changes in matter can be reversed, while others can not.

This lesson results from the ALEX Resource Gap Project.

Subject: Mathematics (9 - 12)
Title: "I Saw the Sine"
Description:

This lesson will provide information that will prove the concept of sine and cosine is equal to the complementary angles of a right triangle. The lesson will examine the proper techniques for writing trigonometric ratios. The lesson will enhance background knowledge of proportions as well as use the terminology of means and extremes.

This lesson results from the ALEX Resource Gap Project.

Subject: English Language Arts (3)
Title: Primary Sources: Making Meaning From Photographs
Description:

This lesson introduces students to the world of primary sources. Students will analyze two photographs concerning Alabama's second governor, Thomas Bibb, in order to construct meaning. Students will analyze a primary source from their past and present it to the class.

This lesson was created in partnership with the Alabama Department of Archives and History.

Subject: Social Studies (3)
Title: Can You Dig It?
Description:

In this lesson, students will define archaeology. Students will make inferences from observations by sorting through garbage to analyze clues about the people who left the garbage. Students will compare and contrast two artifacts looking for clues from the past. Students will write a narrative story of an artifact.

This lesson was created in partnership with the Alabama Department of Archives and History.

Subject: Social Studies (3 - 5)
Title: Alabama's Pine Barren
Description:

Students will read a description of the pine barrens by Basil Hall and analyze the text by using the 3-2-1 strategy. Students will discuss the life and work of Basil Hall, including his travels and journaling in North America. They will observe how a camera lucida functions and debate whether using a camera lucida is "cheating" in art. Next, students will venture outside to create a sketch of their environment while appropriately utilizing materials. They will compare and contrast their products to the sketches of Basil Hall and critique each other's work.

This lesson was created in partnership with the Alabama Department of Archives and History.

Subject: English Language Arts (4), Social Studies (4)
Title: What is the Price of Land?
Description:

In this lesson, students will define conflict as it relates to Native American land conflict during the early nineteenth century. Students will compare Native Americans' and settlers' perspectives on land. Students will write a narrative writing as a Creek Chief watching the settlers move into their territory, focusing on how this makes them feel and how these events will change the lives of his/her people.

This lesson was created in partnership with the Alabama Department of Archives and History.

Subject: English Language Arts (3)
Title: Can You Dig It?
Description:

This lesson was created in partnership with the Alabama Department of Archives and History.

Subject: Arts Education (3 - 5)
Title: Alabama's Pine Barren
Description:

This lesson was created in partnership with the Alabama Department of Archives and History.

Subject: Digital Literacy and Computer Science (4)
Title: What is the Price of Land?
Description:

This lesson was created in partnership with the Alabama Department of Archives and History.

Subject: Social Studies (4)
Title: Slavery: The Act of Buying, Selling, and Gifting Humans
Description:

Through this lesson, students will explore primary sources related to the buying and selling of human beings for the purpose of slavery. Students will analyze receipts from stores and discuss what they demonstrate about modern society. Students will then analyze the language and iconography used in bills of sale pertaining to the buying and selling of slaves in the 19th century. The students will write a paragraph to compare and contrast the items from both eras.

This lesson was created in partnership with the Alabama Department of Archives and History.

Subject: Social Studies (4)
Title: We, the People...
Description:

In 1819 the Constitutional Convention met in Huntsville, Alabama in order to write our state's constitution. In this lesson, students will learn what a preamble is, as well as, read both the United States Preamble to the Constitution and the preamble to Alabama's Constitution. Students will examine similarities between both preambles and discuss possible reasons for such similarities. Fifth-grade teachers could also utilize this lesson to examine and compare both preambles and their purposes.

This lesson was created in partnership with the Alabama Department of Archives and History.

Subject: English Language Arts (4)
Title: Slavery: The Act of Buying, Selling, and Gifting Humans
Description:

This lesson was created in partnership with the Alabama Department of Archives and History.

Subject: English Language Arts (4)
Title: A Natural Attraction: The Natural Resources of Alabama During the Early Nineteenth Century
Description:

This lesson looks at the natural resources that drew settlers to Alabama. Students will explore the 1818 letter from Joseph Noble to his friend, Samuel B. Bidgood, describing the town at Tuscaloosa Falls. Students will explain ideas within this historical text based on specific information presented in this primary source.

Follow-up lesson - Alabama: A Boundless Field of Speculation

This lesson was created in partnership with the Alabama Department of Archives and History.

Subject: English Language Arts (4)
Title: Alabama: A Boundless Field of Speculation
Description:

This lesson looks at the natural resources that drew businesses to Alabama. Students will explore the adapted 1820 letter from Mason and Dexter in Cahaba, Alabama to Richards and Simmons in Cumberland, Rhode Island. Students will explain ideas within this historical text based on specific information presented in this primary source.

This lesson can be used as a stand-alone or can follow A Natural Attraction: The Natural Resources of Alabama During the Early Nineteenth Century.

This lesson was created in partnership with the Alabama Department of Archives and History.

Subject: Social Studies (4)
Title: A Natural Attraction: The Natural Resources of Alabama During the Early Nineteenth Century
Description:

Follow-up lesson - Alabama: A Boundless Field of Speculation

This lesson was created in partnership with the Alabama Department of Archives and History.

Subject: Social Studies (3), English Language Arts (3)
Title: Mapping the Travels of Paul Bunyan Through Alabama, Too!
Description:

During this lesson, students will recount a Paul Bunyan tall tale, an entertaining way to identify bodies of water and landforms in the United States. Although Paul Bunyan's Tales did not focus on Alabama, students will create their own narratives after viewing photographs of major mountain ranges, rivers, and lakes throughout Alabama (ACOS 3.2). This lesson will utilize older maps of the United States and Alabama, which are used to remind us that this folk tale was handed down orally until the early 1900s when a newspaper printed several accounts of the tall tale.

This lesson was created in partnership with the Alabama Department of Archives and History.

Subject: English Language Arts (4), Social Studies (4)
Title: The Negotiators - Land Of No Return
Description:

The lesson content is connected to Alabama Course of Study SS2010 (4) which will explain why significant leaders of the Creek War disrupted the Alabama Creek Indian Headsmen and the government. The disruption would be solved through negotiation. The negotiating Creek Indians did not obtain full restoration of their land, however, they did accept a compromise.

This lesson was created in partnership with the Alabama Department of Archives and History.

Subject: Social Studies (4)
Title: Alabama: A Boundless Field of Speculation
Description:

This lesson can be used as a stand-alone or can follow A Natural Attraction: The Natural Resources of Alabama During the Early Nineteenth Century.

This lesson was created in partnership with the Alabama Department of Archives and History.

Subject: Social Studies (4), English Language Arts (4)
Title: School Days: Early 19th Century in Alabama
Description:

Students will explore an article about education in the early nineteenth century and a newspaper article from 1818 to determine what education was like in the early nineteenth century. Students will investigate the documents and find text evidence to find out what schools were like in the early nineteenth century. Students will use their findings to write a story.

This lesson was created in partnership with the Alabama Department of Archives and History.

Subject: Social Studies (4)
Title: Letting Off Some Steam
Description:

In this lesson, students will explore the invention of the steamboat and the role it played in the economy, transportation, and culture of the lifestyles of plantation owners, yeoman farmers, slaves, and townspeople of early nineteenth-century Alabama. Students will compare and contrast steamboats, wagons, and stagecoaches as different modes of transportation for goods as well as people. Students will create a steamboat advertisement to illustrate the importance of the invention of the steamboat in Alabama.

This lesson was created in partnership with the Alabama Department of Archives and History.

Subject: Social Studies (4)
Title: Hernando de Soto in Alabama
Description:

Students will use primary sources to gain information about Hernando de Soto, his route, and his interactions with Native Americans in Alabama. Students will read two articles in order to identify information about Hernando de Soto and his journey through Alabama. Students will also learn about the impact of European Exploration on the Native Americans who were in Alabama in the 1500s.

This lesson was created in partnership with the Alabama Department of Archives and History.

Subject: Social Studies (4), English Language Arts (4)
Title: Alabama's Early Governors
Description:

In this lesson, students will learn about the executive branch of government at the state level, especially related to the first governors of the state of Alabama. Their impact on the development of Alabama and Alabama's role in the United States will be discussed.

Students will use research and note taking skills to gather information on an early governor. Then students will participate in jigsaw groups to share their information, discuss the importance of each governor, similarities, and impact. Finally, students will discuss the role of governor and how governors have an impact on the state and the impact these men had in Alabama and in other states.

This lesson was created in partnership with the Alabama Department of Archives and History.

Subject: English Language Arts (4), Social Studies (4)
Title: School is in Session!
Description:

In this lesson, students will be able to describe cultural aspects of early nineteenth century townspeople by reading a newspaper article describing the opening of a new school. Students will also be able to discuss, infer, and write from a variety of perspectives when explaining the roles of various people mentioned in the article.

This lesson was created in partnership with the Alabama Department of Archives and History.

Subject: English Language Arts (4), Social Studies (4)
Title: The Slave Experience: A Look at a Slave's Life in the Nineteenth Century
Description:

Students will explore two NCSS Notable Trade Books and a newspaper advertisement to develop an understanding of what life was like for slaves in the nineteenth century. Students will use their understanding to write a narrative story about being a slave in the nineteenth century. Students will use the website MyStorybook to create and publish their stories.

This lesson was created in partnership with the Alabama Department of Archives and History.

Subject: Social Studies (4), English Language Arts (4)
Title: You Don't Have Mail!
Description:

This lesson will provide students with two primary documents, a drawing of a postal stagecoach and a newspaper article outlining the difficulties of mail delivery. Students will complete a graphic organizer to provide evidence that details a specific perspective described in the documents.

Students will examine the cultural and economic aspects of the early nineteenth century and will refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences. Students will be able to explain how an author uses reasons and evidence to support particular points of view.

This lesson was created in partnership with the Alabama Department of Archives and History.

Subject: Social Studies (4)
Title: Alabama Fever!
Description:

In this lesson, students will work in small groups to examine a letter describing the environment of Alabama and identify reasons which might have encouraged settlers to move to Alabama in the early nineteenth century. Students will choose an interesting attraction of Alabama mentioned in the letter and design a postage stamp around that attraction.

This lesson was created in partnership with the Alabama Department of Archives and History.

Subject: Social Studies (4), English Language Arts (4)
Title: Look Who's Coming to Dinner!
Description:

Students will read from an Alabama newspaper about President James Monroe's surprise visit to Huntsville. The article discusses the purposes of the visit, the locals who welcomed and entertained the President, and his discussion of current (1819) events.

This lesson was created in partnership with the Alabama Department of Archives and History.

Subject: Social Studies (4), English Language Arts (4)
Title: Lafayette's Grand Tour
Description:

Students will analyze a primary document and read a secondary source about the Marquis de Lafayette's Grand Tour of the United States in 1825. The Marquis and his entourage toured lower Alabama for a few days in April.

Students will create an annotated timeline detailing his days and the events that occurred in Alabama as the country prepared to celebrate America's 50th birthday. The timeline will include dates and descriptions of the people, places, and events in informative summaries as well as appropriate illustrations.

This lesson was created in partnership with the Alabama Department of Archives and History.

Subject: Social Studies (4), English Language Arts (4)
Title: You are Invited!
Description:

Students will analyze a primary document that details items purchased to celebrate the Marquis de Lafayette's tour of Alabama in April 1825. Students will create an invitation to the celebration, including the What, Where, When, Why, What to Bring, and R.S.V.P. Students will include details from the secondary source, as well as the primary document, to include on the invitation. The event will be explained utilizing the format of the invitation.

This lesson is part of the SSC3 A+ College Ready training.

This lesson was created in partnership with the Alabama Department of Archives and History.

Subject: English Language Arts (4)
Title: We, the People...
Description:

This lesson was created in partnership with the Alabama Department of Archives and History.

Subject: English Language Arts (4)
Title: Hernando de Soto in Alabama
Description:

This lesson was created in partnership with the Alabama Department of Archives and History.

Subject: English Language Arts (4)
Title: Alabama Fever!
Description:

This lesson was created in partnership with the Alabama Department of Archives and History.

Subject: English Language Arts (3)
Title: Engineered Solution Dam Evaluation Journal and Presentation
Description:

Students will create a Google Doc utilizing their school-based account or the class-created account provided by the teacher. Students will electronically journal their thinking throughout the process of the hands-on group science activity about designing and evaluating a dam to reduce the impact of a flood. Once the activity is complete, students will share their Google Docs with a peer or assigned group in order to discuss the findings of the experiment and clarify any unclear statements claimed in his/her journaling. Students will compile journal entries to create sequential writing appropriate to the task. Students will then create a presentation of their journaling with Google Slides, Prezi, Animoto, or a similar electronic presentation tool.

This unit was created as part of the ALEX Interdisciplinary Resource Development Summit.

Subject: Science (K), English Language Arts (K)
Title: Exploring and Constructing Forest Habitats
Description:

In this lesson, students will explore and construct forest habitats of plants and animals native to Alabama. In the beginning, students will activate their prior knowledge by reviewing the definition of a habitat and discussing what they know about forests to create a KWL chart. Next, the book A Forest Habitat by Bobbie Kalman is used to further the students learning of the components that comprise a forest habitat and how those components interact with one another. The students will demonstrate their learning through animal sorts, habitat construction, and informational writing using the conventions of Standard English such as capitalization and punctuation. For the conclusion, the students will peer edit their writing using the provided writing anchor chart before presenting their learning to others.

This lesson was created as part of the ALEX Gap Project.

Subject: English Language Arts (4)
Title: Letting Off Some Steam
Description:

This lesson was created in partnership with the Alabama Department of Archives and History.

Subject: Digital Literacy and Computer Science (4)
Title: The Slave Experience: A Look at a Slave's Life in the Nineteenth Century
Description:

This lesson was created in partnership with the Alabama Department of Archives and History.

Subject: Science (3), Digital Literacy and Computer Science (3)
Title: Engineered Solution Dam Evaluation Journal and Presentation
Description:

This unit was created as part of the ALEX Interdisciplinary Resource Development Summit.

Subject: Social Studies (3), English Language Arts (3)
Title: Reducing the Impact of a Flood
Description:

Students will interpret various primary sources for reconstructing the past, including documents and photographs about dam designs. Students will gain the skills necessary for researching by locating credible and original sources, and determining if the sources are primary or secondary. Students will use technology to create a presentation, highlighting primary and secondary sources.

This unit was created as part of the ALEX Interdisciplinary Resource Development Summit.

Subject: English Language Arts (3)
Title: Cause and Effect of Dams
Description:

Students will discuss the definition of cause and effect, and the teacher will explicitly explain the definition of cause and effect as well as introduce keywords used in determining cause and effect. Students will be introduced to an informational text about dams. The teacher will model determining a cause-and-effect relationship found in the text. Next, the students will practice determining cause and effect in the same text. Students will use a cause-and-effect graphic organizer to identify cause-and-effect relationships within the informational text.

This unit was created as part of the ALEX Interdisciplinary Resource Development Summit.

Subject: Social Studies (3 - 4)
Title: Pros and Cons - Picture Perfect Capitol for Alabama
Description:

Pictures of Alabama State Capitols are provided in this lesson to give students the opportunity to research information that could help them to give their point of view. It will be up to the students to provide further information about the pictures. This will start a conversation about the best location for a capital city and its capitol building.

This lesson was created as part of the Alabama Bicentennial Commission’s Curriculum Development Project.

Subject: English Language Arts (6)
Title: Tornadoes: Cause and Effect
Description:

The lesson will begin with a brief review of the previous lesson on how climates and geographic locations can affect weather patterns and produce natural disasters. Students will watch a short video during the before strategy to engage learners in the lesson on a particular natural disaster--tornadoes. Students will read various texts and charts in order to understand the causes and effects of tornadoes, putting the information in a T-chart to help organize their thoughts. Students will then discuss their findings with an elbow partner and then write a two-paragraph cause-and-effect essay which will serve as the summative assessment.

This unit was created as part of the ALEX Interdisciplinary Resource Development Summit.

Subject: English Language Arts (3)
Title: Exploring Nonfiction Texts to Determine How Climate Impacts Different Weather Phenomenon
Description:

The lesson will begin with students accessing their prior knowledge of weather and climates by completing a warm-up writing prompt. Students will then move to reading texts on the subjects of tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, and droughts to determine if and how climate affects these weather phenomena. In groups, students will create a half-poster that describes their findings in text and pictures. At the end of the lesson, students will view a graph to extend their learning about tornadoes and hint at a future lesson while also completing an "exit ticket" as a means of summative assessment.

This unit was created as part of the ALEX Interdisciplinary Resource Development Summit.

Subject: Science (6)
Title: Tornadoes: Cause and Effect
Description:

This unit was created as part of the ALEX Interdisciplinary Resource Development Summit.

Subject: Science (3)
Title: Exploring Nonfiction Texts to Determine How Climate Impacts Different Weather Phenomenon
Description:

This unit was created as part of the ALEX Interdisciplinary Resource Development Summit.

Subject: Social Studies (2)
Title: Time After Time: How Can We Use Timelines to Reconstruct the Past? Part 2
Description:

The lesson will focus on observing and creating timelines. The teacher will show students example timelines. Students will state things that they notice from the sample timelines. The teacher will read American Symbols: The Lincoln Memorial by Terri DeGezelle. The teacher and students will work together to create a timeline based on American Symbols: The Lincoln Memorial by Terri DeGezelle. Finally, students will break into groups and work to create a timeline with other American Symbols books.

This unit was created as part of the ALEX Interdisciplinary Resource Development Summit.

Subject: English Language Arts (2)
Title: Time After Time: How Can We Use Timelines to Reconstruct the Past? Part 3
Description:

The lesson will focus on creating a timeline. The teacher and students will work together to collect data from teachers around the school. Using this data, students will work to complete a class timeline and formulate questions to ask others about their completed timeline. This lesson will require four 30-45 minute sessions to complete.

This unit was created as part of the ALEX Interdisciplinary Resource Development Summit.

Subject: Mathematics (2)
Title: Time After Time: How Can We Use Timelines to Reconstruct the Past? Part 2
Description:

This unit was created as part of the ALEX Interdisciplinary Resource Development Summit.

Subject: Social Studies (2), Mathematics (2)
Title: Time After Time: How Can We Use Timelines to Reconstruct the Past? Part 4
Description:

This lesson will focus on creating timelines. Students will use important dates from their lives to create a personal 5 event timeline. Students will use rulers to measure equal spaces for their timelines. This lesson will require two one-hour sessions. The first lesson will include the lesson introduction, work on timelines, and time for formative assessments as students work. The second session will be used to complete timelines, share projects, and complete exit tickets.

This unit was created as part of the ALEX Interdisciplinary Resource Development Summit.

Subject: Mathematics (2)
Title: Time After Time: How Can We Use Timelines to Reconstruct the Past? Part 3
Description:

This unit was created as part of the ALEX Interdisciplinary Resource Development Summit.

Subject: English Language Arts (2)
Title: Time After Time: How Can We Use Timelines to Reconstruct the Past? Part 4
Description:

This unit was created as part of the ALEX Interdisciplinary Resource Development Summit.

Subject: Social Studies (2)
Title: Time After Time: How Can We Use Timelines to Reconstruct the Past? Part 3
Description:

This unit was created as part of the ALEX Interdisciplinary Resource Development Summit.

Subject: English Language Arts (2)
Title: Time After Time: How Can We Use Timelines to Reconstruct the Past? Part 2
Description:

This unit was created as part of the ALEX Interdisciplinary Resource Development Summit.

Subject: Social Studies (2), English Language Arts (2)
Title: Time After Time: How Can We Use Timelines to Reconstruct the Past? Part 1
Description:

The lesson will focus on ordering common events by times, days, months, steps, or events. Students will work collaboratively in groups to organize five child-focused events, steps, or times. These titles, events, steps, days, and times will be cut apart so that students need to organize them into a logical sequence. Groups will rotate through the five events to practice daily schedules, holidays, school schedules, weekly events, and procedural texts. Groups may take a picture of completed events as a digital copy or the teacher may check each group for formative assessment.

This unit was created as part of the ALEX Interdisciplinary Resource Development Summit.

Subject: Science (K), English Language Arts (K)
Title: Lesson 2: Informational Writing: How to Lessen Human Impact on the Environment
Description:

This lesson may be taught as part of the Unit Plan - Solutions to Lessen Human Impact on the Environment. In this lesson, the solutions to lessen the human impact on the environment will be explored. Students will communicate their plan during journal writing by producing an informational writing piece that uses the conventions of Standard English such as capitalization and punctuation. At the end of the lesson, the students will peer edit their writing using the provided writing anchor chart.

This unit was created as part of the ALEX Interdisciplinary Resource Development Summit.

Subject: Science (K), English Language Arts (K)
Title: Lesson 1: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Description:

This lesson may be taught as part of the Unit Plan - Solutions to Lessen Human Impact on the Environment. In this lesson, students will explore solutions that would lessen the human impact on the environment. After reading, The Lorax by Dr. Suess, students will discuss ways they can help their environment through the 3R's (reduce, reuse, recycle). Students will create a reduce, reuse, recycle chart from their discussion.

This unit was created as part of the ALEX Interdisciplinary Resource Development.

Subject: Science (K), English Language Arts (K), Mathematics (K)
Title: Lesson 3: Recycle, Recycle, Recycle
Description:

This lesson may be taught as part of the Unit Plan - Solutions to Lessen Human Impact on the Environment. In this lesson, students will participate in creating a recycle drive for a classroom project. Students will create the notification for parents for the recycle drive to help collect items to be recycled. Students will decide by voting on which items they will recycle. Students will bring recyclable items to the classroom for the project. Recyclable materials will be sorted, weighed, and graphed to compare the different items.

This unit was created as part of the ALEX Interdisciplinary Resource Development Summit.

Subject: Science (K), English Language Arts (K)
Title: Lesson 4: Recycling Product Lesson
Description:

This lesson may be taught as part of the Unit Plan - Solutions to Lessen Human Impact on the Environment. This lesson will culminate the lessons on recycling that have been previously taught. Students will work collaboratively in groups to discuss texts and factual information they have learned from previous lessons taught on recycling. The students will make a poster or brochure to share with the class. The shared portion of the lesson will be videoed so that the students can share with parents, other family members, and the local city council members.

This unit was created as part of the ALEX Interdisciplinary Resource Development.

Subject: Mathematics (3)
Title: Is My State at Risk for a Tornado?
Description:

This is a third-grade math lesson on the topic of tornadoes and natural disasters. Students will enter data from an internet search on the number of tornadoes occurring in each state into a spreadsheet. Students will analyze and determine which states are the most active in tornado occurrences and create bar graphs and a scaled picture graph from the data collected.

This unit was created as part of the ALEX Interdisciplinary Resource Development Summit.

Subject: English Language Arts (3)
Title: Preparing for Natural Disasters: Tornado
Description:

The lesson will begin by students performing a think-aloud as they consider the similarities of five words: tornado, shelter, basement, underground, and safe room. Students will use a pros and cons graphic organizer as they read articles on three different types of tornado shelters: underground shelters, part of the house shelters, and prebuilt shelters. The students will find the advantages and disadvantages of each type of structure. At the end of the lesson, the teacher will create a table that lists all the shelters and the pros and cons of each. Students will then determine which shelter they feel is most efficient in an "exit slip" response.

This unit was created as part of the ALEX Interdisciplinary Resource Development Summit.

Subject: Science (3), Digital Literacy and Computer Science (3)
Title: Is My State at Risk for a Tornado?
Description:

This unit was created as part of the ALEX Interdisciplinary Resource Development Summit.

Subject: Social Studies (3), Digital Literacy and Computer Science (3)
Title: Preparing for Natural Disasters: Tornado
Description:

This unit was created as part of the ALEX Interdisciplinary Resource Development Summit.

Subject: Science (4)
Title: How Grand is the Grand Canyon?
Description:

In this lesson, students will conduct an experiment to compare similarities and differences with wind and water erosion. Students will create a narrative story describing a particular rock formation based on evidence in the rock patterns, including an estimated time frame, plants and animals that may have been living in the environment, and the type of erosion that formed their rock formation.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (4)
Title: A Dolphin's Tale
Description:

In this lesson, students will demonstrate echolocation using only their sense of hearing to locate sounds in their environment by playing a game of Marco Polo. Students will create their own method of echlocation to communicate with each other. Students will write a narrative, from the viewpoint of a dolphin, describing how a dolphin uses echolocation to communicate and to locate things in their environment to aid in their survival.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (9 - 12)
Title: Modeling Earth's Layers: How Can Thermal Convection Cause Earth's Materials to Move?
Description:

Students will create a labeled sketch of Earth's interior, read a variety of informational texts and complete a jot chart that will utilize available evidence to describe the Earth's interior layers and explain the role of thermal convection in the movement of Earth's materials.

Students will create a model of the Earth's layers and present this model to their classmates, explaining the role of thermal convection in the movement of Earth's materials.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: English Language Arts (4)
Title: A Dolphin's Tale
Description:

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: English Language Arts (4)
Title: How Grand is the Grand Canyon?
Description:

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Literacy Standards (6-12) (6 - 8), Science (7)
Title: The Tasty T-Rex: How can cladograms provide evidence about the anatomical similarities and differences among modern and ancient organisms?
Description:

The lesson will begin by students accessing their prior knowledge of the anatomical similarities and differences among modern and fossil organisms by creating a Venn diagram with a partner, which will compare and contrast two organisms. Next, students will complete the online modules found at "What did T. rex Taste Like?" from the University of California Museum of Paleontology, which will explain how a cladogram diagram can be used to show lines of lineage and evolutionary relationships. Students will use a cladogram to infer how a T. rex is related to modern organisms. Lastly, students will construct a written explanation to describe the anatomical similarities and differences between the T. rex and modern organisms based on evidence from the cladograms in a claim-evidence-reasoning format.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Literacy Standards (6-12) (6 - 8), Science (7)
Title: Stories From Past Lives: How Can the Fossil Record Provide Data About the Patterns of Change in Anatomical Structures of Organisms?
Description:

The lesson will begin by students accessing their prior knowledge of fossils and the fossil record by creating a "chain letter" with their classmates. Next, students will participate in an introductory WebQuest which will explain how the anatomical structure of the whale has changed over time. With a collaborative group, students will create a timeline of the Eocene epoch that will depict the chronological order of whale fossil appearance in rock layers. Using the jigsaw strategy, students will read an informational text pertaining to the change in the anatomical structures of the whale over time and complete a data table. Lastly, students will complete an exit slip, which will serve as the summative assessment for the lesson's objectives.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (1)
Title: Inherited Traits: How Are Parents and Their Offspring Alike and Different?
Description:

Students will begin the lesson by matching pictures of animal parents and offspring, then the teacher will allow students to describe how they were able to create matches. Next, the teacher will create a T-chart and allow students to share how dogs are similar in appearance in some ways but can also have different characteristics. Lastly, the students will create an illustration of a new animal using a "Trait Table" that includes characteristics of both parent animals. At the conclusion of the lesson, the students should be able to identify similarities and differences between offspring and their parents and other members of the same species.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (9 - 12)
Title: It's All Absolutely Relative: Creating a Geologic Time Scale
Description:

Students will begin this lesson by ordering the events of their morning using relative and absolute dating techniques. Students will also write a personal definition of the terms absolute age and relative age. Next, students will work with collaborative groups to order events in Earth's geologic history by relative age, then order those same events by absolute age in a scaled model timeline. Lastly, students will use the time-scale model created with their group members to analyze events in Earth's geologic history.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: English Language Arts (K)
Title: The Needs of Living Things: Constructing a Model Habitat
Description:

Students will begin by brainstorming a list of needs that must be met for an animal to survive in its habitat. Next, the students will observe an ant farm, created by the teacher prior to the lesson, and determine how the ants' needs are being met through their environment. Then, students will create a list of needs that must be met for a plant to survive in its habitat and compare this list to animals' survival needs. Lastly, the teacher will assist students in developing a plan to build a natural habitat conducive to meeting the needs of a plant. At the conclusion of the lesson, the students will construct a plant terrarium.

This lesson was created as part of the 2016 NASA STEM Standards of Practice Project, a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.

Subject: Science (7), Literacy Standards (6-12) (6 - 8)
Title: The Cell Theory: An Evidence-Based Argument
Description:

This lesson will require students to research the three tenets of cell theory and describe the scientific evidence that supports this theory. After students complete their research, they will engage in all steps of the writing process, including prewriting, outlining, revising, and editing. At the conclusion of the lesson, students will create a three-paragraph argumentative essay to examine the cell theory and the scientific evidence that supports this theory.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (7), Literacy Standards (6-12) (6 - 8)
Title: Supernatural Seeds: What Are the Positive and Negative Impacts of Genetically Modified Organisms?
Description:

Students will begin the lesson by viewing a video clip that will explain the difference between classical and transgenic breeding of plants. Next, students will work in groups to identify common foods that contain genetically-modified organisms (GMOs). Students will further explore this concept by gathering and synthesizing information regarding the impact of genetically modified organisms on the appearance of desired traits in organisms. Lastly, students will engage in the "RAFT" writing strategy, by taking on the role of a farmer persuading their employees to consider the positive or negative impacts of genetically-modified food crops.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (7), Literacy Standards (6-12) (6 - 8)
Title: Dressed for Success: How Do Specialized Plant Structures Increase the Probability of Successful Reproduction?
Description:

At the beginning of the lesson, students will view an engaging video of time-lapse photographs of flowers blooming, and students will create a T-chart listing the similarities and differences among the appearances of each flower. To formatively assess students' current knowledge of specialized plant structures, the students will sort key vocabulary words related to plants' structures into categories. Then, students will read an informational article on flowering plants and re-sort the key vocabulary words into the correct categories to demonstrate their knowledge of plants' specialized reproductive structures. Next, students will complete a lab activity in which they will carefully dissect a flower and observe the various specialized structures, collect specimens to view under the microscope and create and label scientific sketches of the flower's specialized structures. Lastly, students will design a unique flower that will have a high probability of reproductive success and provide a written response in a claim-evidence-reasoning format.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (K)
Title: The Needs of Living Things: Constructing a Model Habitat
Description:

This lesson was created as part of the 2016 NASA STEM Standards of Practice Project, a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.

Subject: Science (7)
Title: Patterns of Interactions: What Relationships Exist Between Organisms in an Ecosystem?
Description:

Students will begin by brainstorming a list of ways that organisms may interact within an ecosystem. Then students will have an opportunity to share their list with a peer and with the class. Next, students will create a jot chart that will detail the five relationships that may exist between organisms in an ecosystem: competition, predation, mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism. At the conclusion of the lesson, students will examine food webs and predict the patterns of interactions that may exist between and among organisms in an ecosystem.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (8)
Title: Can You Identify the Mystery Substance? An Inquiry-Based Lab Activity
Description:

Students will begin this inquiry-based lesson by accessing their prior knowledge about the distinguishing characteristics of different substances. Using ideas from the students, the teacher will create a list of physical and chemical properties that can be used to recognize different substances. Next, the teacher will assist the students in planning an investigation that will test methods to determine the identity of substances based on their characteristic properties. Lastly, students will carry out the investigation they planned with the aim of identifying "mystery" substances using their unique physical and chemical properties.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (K), Arts Education (K)
Title: Animal Alterations: How Do Animals Change Their Habitats?
Description:

Students will begin by describing how humans change their environment in order to provide for their needs. Students will watch a video clip that explains how several forest animals alter their habitats, and then explain how other animals might change their environment in order to survive. At the conclusion of the lesson, students will create a drawing that illustrates how an animal may alter their environment to provide for its needs.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (9 - 12)
Title: Mechanical and Chemical Impacts of the Hydrologic and Rock Cycles on Earth's Surface: A Geologic Field Study
Description:

This lesson will begin by introducing students to the impact of the interaction of the hydrologic and rock cycles on Earth's materials. Students will categorize the mechanical and chemical impacts of the hydrologic cycle on Earth's lithosphere using a jot chart. Students will participate in an outdoor geologic field study to locate examples of mechanical and chemical effects of the hydrologic cycle on their school's grounds. Lastly, students will analyze and interpret the data gathered during the geologic field study through the creation of a bar and circle graph.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (9 - 12), Literacy Standards (6-12) (9 - 10), English Language Arts (9 - 12)
Title: The Sinking State of Alabama
Description:

The lesson will begin by engaging students with a video of a natural landform in Alabama called Neversink Pit. Students will then research the natural and human-made causes and effects of sinkhole formation in Alabama. Lastly, students will create a video PSA to communicate information about sinkhole dangers and methods to protect people and property from sinkhole damage.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (9 - 12), Literacy Standards (6-12) (9 - 10)
Title: The Big Bang Theory: An Evidence-Based Argument
Description:

This lesson will require students to research the Big Bang Theory and the three main pieces of scientific evidence that support this theory. After students complete their research, they will engage in all steps of the writing process, including prewriting, outlining, revising, and editing. At the conclusion of the lesson, students will create a five paragraph argumentative essay to examine the Big Bang Theory and the scientific evidence that supports this theory.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (9 - 12)
Title: Energy and Work Amusement Park Style
Description:

This is a lesson presenting energy and work. It covers: types of energy, forms of energy, work, law of conservation of energy, and renewable and nonrenewable energy sources. In the activities section, one will find links to Internet sites that explore concepts of energy and work. Interactive labs are also included in this lesson. The lesson can serve as a student-led or teacher-led lesson. It gives a brief statement of facts; therefore, the teacher must provide expansions, if needed. The expansions could come from the Internet sites since many of them go into more detail about the concepts. The teacher will also be expected to supply some form of assessment for the lesson.

Subject: English Language Arts (5), Science (5)
Title: Is the Sun the Biggest Star?
Description:

Young students may think the sun is the biggest and brightest star in the universe since it appears to be the brightest star in the sky when viewed from Earth. In this lesson, students will use flashlights to construct a model of the difference in stars' appearances due to their distance from Earth. Then they will use the Internet to research the sun and stars to create a poster, picture book, or digital presentation to explain that the sun is not the biggest or brightest star--it only appears that way due to its proximity to Earth.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (6)
Title: Are We Our Own Worst Enemy? #3 (Air Pollution)
Description:

In this lesson children will investigate 6 major pollutants in our world and how they can be eliminated or limited.

This lesson is a continuation of the other Are We Our Own Worst Enemy? lesson plans. It can stand on its own but if you haven't taught the others you may want to show the World Population Over Time video before starting this lesson.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (5)
Title: Fascinating Photosynthesis
Description:

In this lesson, students investigate photosynthesis through hands-on experiments, videos, and discussion of text. They work in small groups with picture cards to create a chart showing how plants transform carbon dioxide, water, and light energy into carbohydrates and oxygen. After working collaboratively, students will create their own diagrams of photosynthesis. Because plant observations must occur over time, this lesson will take several days to complete.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (9 - 12)
Title: Tower of Terror: Creating a Free Fall Ride
Description:

In this activity, the students will be engineers who compete to create their own "safe" and fast free fall ride. Using graphing and calculations, the students will calculate the fastest ride and determine the minimum and maximum passenger sizes that their ride will hold. The team that designs the fastest ride that doesn't "hurt" the passenger(s) wins!

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (1)
Title: Light, Can't you See? Investigating Materials that Allow Light to Pass through Them
Description:

Students will work in small groups to conduct a hands-on investigation to see what materials allow light to pass through. They will label materials as opaque, translucent, and transparent. They will operate solar panels and place different materials between the sun and the panel. The panel is attached to a fan which will stop, continue spinning or slow down depending on the material. Learners will record their findings in chart form.

This lesson was created as part of the 2016 NASA STEM Standards of Practice Project, a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.

Subject: Science (9 - 12)
Title: Photons In The Radiative Zone: Which Way Is Out?
Description:

In this activity, students try to work their way out of a circular maze, thereby modeling the movement of a photon as it travels through the radiative zone of the sun. Classroom discussion after they complete the activity is focused on the Standard Solar Model and its importance in further scientific studies of the sun.

This lesson was created as part of the 2016 NASA STEM Standards of Practice Project, a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.

Subject: Science (9 - 12)
Title: Using Heavy Lifting to Demonstrate How Conventional Thinking has Changed Over Time
Description:

In this lesson, students construct balloon-powered rockets to launch the greatest payload possible to the classroom ceiling. Student teams receive identical parts to build rockets. Then the teams compete to launch the greatest number of paper clips to space (the ceiling).

By utilizing this lesson, the students begin to understand that the scientific progress achieved is not a static process but a fluid one that has developed and changed overtime. They also begin to realize that scientific advancement has incorporated a variety of scientists throughout history and time periods.

This lesson was created as part of the 2016 NASA STEM Standards of Practice Project, a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.

Subject: Science (9 - 12)
Title: Gas Laws in the World of Aeronautics
Description:

Students investigate the properties of gasses using the gas laws and explore the application to aeronautics.

This lesson is adapted from the NASA Education Guide Pushing the Envelope: A NASA Guide to Engines. The activities used include the following: Gas Laws (pg 27-28); Gas Law Problems - Boyle's Law (pg 29-30); Gas Law Problems - Charles's Law (pg 31-32); Gas Law Problems - Gay Lussac's Law (pg 33-34); Air Density (pg 61-62).

This lesson was created as part of the 2016 NASA STEM Standards of Practice Project, a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.

Subject: Science (3)
Title: A Train That Floats!
Description:

The students will work together to design a magnetic system that can float from one point to another. The students will design a graphic organizer showing the sequence and steps needed to design a Maglev Train system by applying a scientific understanding of the forces between interacting magnets.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (8)
Title: Is Plastic Always Fantastic?: Exploring Plastics on the Nanoscale
Description:

This module was authored by the Auburn University NanoBio MSP Fellows Will Haynes, Hannah Taylor, and Catherine Wolfe under the review and guidance of Drs. Virginia Davis and Chris Schnittka. This lesson is about compounds, mixtures, and solutions and relating those to synthetics, with the focus being plastics. This lesson focuses on how plastics are made and the negative impacts of some plastics. It goes on to explain how the addition of nanoscale particles can be the solution for these problems. This lesson includes a lecture and a hands-on activity where the students are creating plastic from the milk protein casein.

Subject: Science (3)
Title: Animal Survival
Description:

This is an inquiry-based lesson that allows the students to investigate how an animal's color affects its chances of survival in its environment. Students will explore evidence needed to explain the cause-and-effect relationship between an animal's coloring and its effect on the individual's ability to survive.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (1)
Title: Do You Hear What I Hear?
Description:

The students will create a communication device using everyday resources. The students will explain how vibration is used to create sound and sound waves.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (9 - 12)
Title: What Makes a Chemical Reaction Endothermic or Exothermic?
Description:

Students will analyze the bond energy of the reactants and products in a chemical reaction. Students will develop a model to illustrate how the changes in total bond energy determine whether the reaction is endothermic or exothermic.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (1)
Title: Solutions from Nature, Stability
Description:

This is one of three lessons that can be taught alone, or as the second part of a series, "Solutions from Nature." In this lesson, students explore the structure of plants, and the parts that provide stability. They choose from different materials to construct a house that is sturdy (like the stem) and has a foundation (like the roots). Students test the strength of their design to determine which elements/materials provide increased stability.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (3)
Title: What's the Weather?
Description:

Students will use weather data to construct charts and graphs of temperatures in their city in different seasons. Then they will use this data as evidence to determine which temperatures are typical for each season. Finally, they will research average seasonal temperatures for another U.S. city and compare the data to that of their own city in order to determine which city would be the best vacation spot on a given date. Students will justify their explanations based on temperature data and the desired vacation activities.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (4)
Title: Human Nervous System
Description:

This inquiry-based lesson allows students to explore how our bodies use our voluntary and involuntary nervous systems to make our bodies function.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (6)
Title: How Are Moon Phases and Tides Related?: A Graphical Model
Description:

Students will complete a data table using authentic tide predictions from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Next, students will use their data table to create a line graph that will show the relationship between the tidal range and moon phases. Lastly, students will analyze their graph to explain how the occurrence of ocean tides is related to the moon's phases.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (6)
Title: Rollin' Through the Solar System: Creating a Scaled Model
Description:

First, students will view an engaging video about the recent arrival of the New Horizons spacecraft at Pluto. Students will create a sketch of the solar system to show their current understanding of the relative sizes and distances of the objects in our solar system. Students will then scale the diameters of the Sun, eight main planets, and Pluto, as well as the planets' distances from the sun. Students will be required to utilize mathematical skills, such as division, rounding, and metric system conversions. After scaling the diameters and orbits of the objects in our solar system, students will create a scaled model of the solar system using a roll of toilet paper.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (4)
Title: Secret Messages
Description:

In this lesson, students will explore the practice of hiding secret messages within text or data known as steganography. Students will compare advantages and disadvantages of different techniques of steganography. Students will create their own secret code to communicate with each other. Students will create a digital form of steganography with their group.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (K)
Title: We're Weather Watchers!
Description:

The students will observe the weather over a five-day period. After observing the local weather, the students will record their observations. The students will use their five senses to observe and record the local weather.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (4)
Title: When Light Gets in Your Eyes
Description:

How does light affect sight? In this lesson, students will observe how light reflects off objects and into the eye so we can see. They will learn how the pupil controls the amount of light entering the eye, how we perceive color by sensing different wavelengths of light, and why objects look different in bright and dim light.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (5)
Title: Observing the Invisible
Description:

Matter is made of particles too small to be seen. But if we can’t see these particles, how do we know they exist? In this lesson, students will plan and carry out investigations with air and simple solutions to provide evidence that all types of matter are made of tiny particles that are invisible to the human eye.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (2)
Title: Hitching a Ride
Description:

How can a tree grow in the middle of a field if no one planted it there? In this lesson, students will work to find out the answer to this question by learning how seeds are dispersed. Students will observe different types of seeds and see how they sometimes "hitch a ride" in or on animals to travel great distances. Finally, they will use the engineering design process to make models of animals that help disperse seeds.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (1)
Title: Solutions from Nature, Protection
Description:

This is one of three lessons that can be taught alone, or as the third part of a series, "Solutions from Nature." In this lesson, students examine outer parts of animals that provide protection (turtles, crabs, pill bugs, snails, etc.). They choose from different materials to construct a “helmet” that can protect an egg from breaking if it is dropped.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (6)
Title: Earth's Magnetic Shield: An Inquiry-Based Lesson
Description:

Students will begin this inquiry-based lesson by accessing their prior knowledge of the positive and negative effects of the sun's energy. Students will be introduced to the concept of space weather, including cosmic radiation and coronal mass ejections, by watching a video clip from the National Science Foundation. Students will use a dipole bar magnet and iron filings to develop a model of Earth's magnetic field. Students will apply their experience from this inquiry to explain how Earth's magnetic field can protect us from space weather.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (6)
Title: How could the continents move? A Lab Activity
Description:

Students will begin this inquiry-based activity by predicting how the continents of Earth could move over time. Next, students will complete a lab activity in collaborative groups, in which they will create a model showing how Earth's internal heat energy can create convection currents that result in plate movements. Lastly, students will use their model to explain how Earth's tectonic plates move over millions of years.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (6)
Title: The Distribution and Creation of Fossil Fuels: A Collaborative Jigsaw Research Project
Description:

Students will begin this lesson by accessing their prior knowledge on Earth's natural resources through a brainstorming activity. The teacher will introduce the topic of fossil fuels, which are non-renewable resources such as coal, oil, and natural gas. The teacher will lead students in utilizing the jigsaw literacy strategy, in which students will become members of a home group and an expert group as they research and discuss their assigned topic. This lesson will culminate with students creating a presentation in the form of a research paper, poster, or slideshow to demonstrate their knowledge of the distribution and creation of fossil fuels.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (1)
Title: Tuning Forks and Vibrations
Description:

This is an inquiry-based lesson that allows students to investigate how vibrations of matter can create sound and that sound can make matter vibrate.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (1)
Title: Sound through String Telephones
Description:

This is an inquiry-based lesson that allows the students to create a string telephone to investigate how sound can be used to communicate over a given distance.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: English Language Arts (6)
Title: The Distribution and Creation of Fossil Fuels: A Collaborative Jigsaw Research Project
Description:

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (9 - 12)
Title: ABO Blood Groups and How They Contribute to Blood Transfusions
Description:

This lesson will demonstrate why blood transfusions are possible between certain types of blood. ABO blood types will be reviewed and students will determine which blood types are the universal donor and recipient. This lesson was adapted from Blood Types activity, Discovery Science Center, 2500 N Main St Santa Ana, CA 92705.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA

Subject: Science (9 - 12)
Title: Bond Polarity and Determining Molecular Geometry
Description:

In this lesson, students will examine electronegativities of atoms relative to one another to determine if a covalent bond will be classified as polar or nonpolar. Students will use an online simulation to help them understand the importance of lone pairs of electrons as well as bonding pairs of electrons. Students will use ball-and-stick models to examine and identify the shapes of various molecules.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (9 - 12), Literacy Standards (6-12) (6 - 8)
Title: Science Rocks!
Description:

After researching the formation of each type of rock, students use the evidence from knowledge of the rock cycle to write a story about a pet rock. The story will include the rock changing from magma to each type of rock including igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic. Students will present their pet rock story to the class.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Digital Literacy and Computer Science (9 - 12)
Title: Bond Polarity and Determining Molecular Geometry
Description:

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (5)
Title: Changing Matter, Not Weight
Description:

Matter is not created nor destroyed; it simply changes from one form to another. This law of conservation of mass challenges elementary students’ ideas about matter, because many children may think that matter is created or destroyed in a chemical reaction. In this lesson, students will challenge their preconceptions about matter by experimenting with physical and chemical changes to determine that the total weight of the matter does not change. Students will use math to show that the total weight of matter is equal to the sum of the weight of its component parts, and they will graph this information to show that the weight of matter is conserved during physical and chemical changes.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (5)
Title: Where's the Water?
Description:

The majority of Earth's surface is covered by water, but only a small percentage of this water is freshwater. In this lesson, students will learn where saltwater and freshwater are found. Then they will use models to show the distribution of different types of water in different reservoirs and depict this information using bar graphs and pie charts. Finally, they will use their data as evidence to support the idea that freshwater should be conserved.

This lesson was created as part of the 2016 NASA STEM Standards of Practice Project, a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.

Subject: Science (4)
Title: Cracking the Code
Description:

Codes are used to transmit messages. We may use codes to keep our messages secret from people who do not know the code, or we may use them to change one type of information into another. The key to decoding a message is knowing the rule to crack the code. In this lesson, students will explore different types of codes, create coded messages, and apply rules to decode messages.

This lesson provides the background needed for students to then develop their own method for transferring information.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (7)
Title: Exponential Trash
Description:

Waste disposal is a problem for the entire Earth and must be dealt with in a responsible manner to maintain biodiversity in ecosystems. After investigating the amount of waste they produce as an individual, family, class, school, community, and society, students investigate how items decompose in a landfill and develop arguments to support a solution to the problem. Students engage in argument to defend the effectiveness of a design solution on a proposed method of disposing of waste in their school and community.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (3)
Title: Magnificent Magnets
Description:

Magnets are fun to play with, but how can we use magnets to improve our lives? In this lesson, students explore magnets to determine their strength, polarity, and how they attract and repel each other. Then they use the engineering design process to create inventions that use magnets to accomplish a task.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (5)
Title: Connect Four
Description:

During this lesson, the students will learn how the Earth's spheres interact with one another in order to support life on planet Earth.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

*This lesson can be taught over a two- to three-day period.

Subject: Science (9 - 12)
Title: Is Gatorade the Only Source of Electrolytes?
Description:

Students will consider the marketing campaigns of Gatorade to help identify what makes a substance an electrolyte. Students will plan and conduct an investigation to test common ionic and covalent substances to determine if the substance is an electrolyte or non-electrolyte when dissolved in solution.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (9 - 12), Literacy Standards (6-12) (9 - 10)
Title: Endangered Species!
Description:

Students research and create a brochure project on an endangered species of their choice integrating aspects of math, science, social studies, art, reading and writing. This project allows the students to make connections across the curriculum. Students present their ideas to a group of peers persuading the group to help save or become interested in helping the endangered species. Students are also encouraged to make connections between the activities of the human population and their effect on the natural world.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (2), Mathematics (K - 3)
Title: What do Plants Need?
Description:

In this lesson, students will understand that in order to grow healthy plants, soil, water, light, and air must be provided. Students will use math skills such as measurement and science process skills such as observation, comparing, and recording data.

Subject: Science (K), Digital Literacy and Computer Science (K)
Title: Weather Detectives
Description:

This is an introductory lesson to a second grade weather unit. The students will be observing the weather each day for one week and recording their observations in a chart. The students will be integrating information from the Internet as well as what they learn in English by using adjectives in their descriptions. After the students have collected data for a week, in cooperative groups, they will predict the weather for the next week. The teacher will show the students guides or weather reports from past years for that particular week in order to guide them in the direction of an accurate prediction. The students will go to a technology lab to look up and record the weather from a teacher-selected web site.

Subject: Science (6)
Title: Are We Our Own Worst Enemy? #1 (Land Usage)
Description:

This lesson deals with human growth and our consumption of land resources. This lesson can be used in conjunction with other Are We Our Own Worst Enemy? lessons, although this should be first since it has the video of population growth.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (1)
Title: Solutions from Nature, Insulation
Description:

This is one of three lessons that can be taught alone, or as the first part of a series, "Solutions from Nature." In this lesson, students explore characteristics of animals that provide insulation. They experiment with different materials to build a "glove" that can protect their hands from a cold ice bath. A YouTube link to a similar demonstration is provided below.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (7)
Title: What Do You Know? We've Got Clean H2O!: Nano Filtration
Description:

This lesson uses hands-on activities to discuss water filtration. Students will have the opportunity to explore water filtration by filtering water through a variety of materials and using potatoes to grow and test the bacteria levels of the water.

With a focus on nanotechnology, this lesson discusses the benefits of embedding silver ions in filters to kill harmful bacteria. At the end of this lesson students will have the opportunity to put their knowledge to the test in a written discussion by designing a solution to a mock water crisis.

This module was authored by the Auburn University NanoBio MSP Fellows Will Haynes, Chelsea Lindskog, Hannah Taylor, and Catherine Wolfe under the supervision and guidance of Drs. Virginia Davis and Chris Schnittka.

Subject: Science (4)
Title: Blow Me Away!
Description:

This inquiry-based lesson allows students to explore how energy is transferred through a wave.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (4)
Title: Mapping the Mountains
Description:

Students will describe features shown on topographic maps as they plan a route for a bicycle race around the school neighborhood. First, they will create clay mountains and learn how to make topographic maps of their landforms. Then they will interpret topographic maps made by other students in the class to match each mountain to its map. Finally, they will use topographic maps of the school campus to plan an exciting but safe bike race route.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (4)
Title: Waves in Slow Motion
Description:

This inquiry-based lesson provides an introduction to waves by using water waves to explore patterns of amplitude, wavelength, and frequency. Students will investigate water waves in slow motion.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (3)
Title: Super Swingers
Description:

Students will construct and test pendulums with varying weights, string types, release positions, and lengths. They will collect, graph, and analyze data to see which variables affect the speed of the pendulum in order to predict the movement of new pendulums. Then they will then use this data to solve a real-world problem and explain their thinking.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (5)
Title: How Does your Garden Grow?
Description:

In this lesson, the students will learn that plants need water, air, nutrients, and sunlight to grow.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

**This lesson can be taught over a three to five day period. Simply repeat the steps as the students will become more knowledgeable of the target.

Subject: Science (5), English Language Arts (5)
Title: The Circle of Life
Description:

During this lesson, the students will learn how matter transfers within an ecosystem and within the environment

*This lesson can be taught over a two-day period.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Mathematics (5), Mathematics (5)
Title: My Gummy Bear is Bigger than Your Gummy Bear!
Description:

Students will develop an understanding of volume and density by analyzing, calculating, and measuring a gummy bear. The students will determine the cause and effect of a water-soaked gummy bear. Students will measure water and gummy bear with accuracy, record data, and communicate their results.

This lesson results from collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (3)
Title: Is George Washington Living, Nonliving, or Dead?
Description:

In this simplistic, introductory lesson in Life Science, students will converse with peers to prepare a list of seven common characteristics in organisms after determining if pictured items are living or nonliving. Students will use background knowledge and pictures to identify patterns that represent all living organisms. After watching a short video, students will separate living and nonliving things by coloring or drawing an outdoor environment. Students will answer this question: Is George Washington Living, Nonliving, or Dead? as an Exit Ticket.

This lesson results from collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (5)
Title: My Gummy Bear is Bigger than Your Gummy Bear!
Description:

This lesson results from collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (4)
Title: Investigating Erosion
Description:

In this inquiry-based lesson, students will investigate how rainfall changes the land and causes runoff. The students will simulate a stream table to show how rainfall erodes the land.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (4)
Title: Riding the Waves!
Description:

During this lesson, students will learn the different aspects of a wave, including the crest, trough, wavelength, and amplitude. Additionally, they will learn that waves cause objects to move. At the end of the lesson, they will be able to develop a model of waves and describe patterns. This could be the first lesson into waves that can jump start other lessons on other types of waves.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (9 - 12)
Title: Hands-on Activity: Can You Locate the Sun on the H-R Diagram?
Description:

Students will be able to locate the sun by using the Hertzsprung-Russel diagram to plot the sun's location. This lesson can be an opening activity, review activity, or a quick lab.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (5)
Title: Gravity on Earth
Description:

In this lesson, students will share their background knowledge of gravity and how it affects skydivers. After a brief whole group discussion on gravity, students will work in small groups to explain why the International Space Station does not fall to Earth. Finally, students will create a model helicopter to provide evidence that the gravitational force of earth will cause the helicopter to fall downward toward the center of Earth.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (6)
Title: How do clouds form?
Description:

The lesson provides an overview of cloud formation. Cloud formation results when warm, humid air rises and cools, causing the water vapor in the air to condense and form clouds. In this lesson, students will conduct an activity that demonstrates how this occurs.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

This lesson was modified from NASA series “Investigating the Climate System. They can be freely downloaded at https://www.strategies.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Clouds_04.pdf

Subject: Science (K), English Language Arts (K)
Title: Forecasting Severe Weather
Description:

This lesson increases student knowledge of severe weather and weather forecasting. It emphasizes the importance of student questioning to obtain information. After the introduction to severe weather is made, students will create their own Tornado in a Bottle, and use this exploration to make further connections.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (4)
Title: Solar Ovens
Description:

This investigation allows students to explore the real-life meaning of solar energy. Students designing and engineering a solar oven using a pizza box. Completed projects will be tested and then evaluated for effectiveness.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (9 - 12)
Title: Density Independent and Dependent Factors Effects on Population
Description:

Students will compare and give examples of density-independent and density-dependent factors and how they have an effect on the changing conditions on a lake. After establishing the difference between them, students will play a game where they change several factors and assess the effects of their changes to the environment.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (4)
Title: Investigating Soil
Description:

This lesson provides an introductory-level experience with soil. During the experiment, students will combine soil with water and conduct observations. The observations made will lead to greater understanding of soil's basic properties.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (8)
Title: Newton's Laws of Motion Part 3: Newton's 2nd Law & Review
Description:

The third installment of a three-part lesson on Newton's Laws of Motion, this lesson focuses on Newton's 2nd Law and offers review of all three laws. Students will complete graphic organizers to demonstrate their understanding of the three laws of motion. Students will work in tiered groups to prepare a brief presentation to share with the class on a real-life scenario demonstrating Newton's 2nd Law.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (6)
Title: Exploring Planet Sizes and Distances
Description:

This lesson allows students to construct solar system models showing the comparative sizes of the planets to a scale. The students will also use their models to carry out an investigation to analyze and interpret the distances between planets in the Solar System. This lesson uses common objects easily obtained by teachers.

This lesson was created as part of the 2016 NASA STEM Standards of Practice Project, a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.

Subject: Science (5)
Title: The Transfer of Energy in Ecosystems
Description:

In this lesson, students will use technology to construct a model of a balanced ecosystem that shows how energy cycles from one organism to the next by completing research and writing short passages about their ecosystem. Students will then compare their balanced model ecosystem and describe a change or introduce an invasive species to show how the balance of their model ecosystem will change to adapt. As students are designing their model they will also describe the relationships of the components that make up an ecosystem and causes/effects of unbalanced ecosystems.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (5)
Title: Lights, Camera, Action: Creating Videos to Investigate Changes When Mixing Two or More Substances
Description:

Students will collect data on an investigation where two or more substances are mixed together. Students will analyze the investigation to decide the type of change, chemical or physical, that occurred during the investigation. Students will use their observations from the investigation to create a short movie where they will describe the data they used to determine the type of change that occurred during their investigation. This lesson will work best for classrooms equipped with classroom tablets or schools that allow students to bring their own device.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (9 - 12)
Title: Comparing Intermolecular Forces
Description:

Students will be conducting a series of investigations in order to compare and contrast the various intermolecular forces that exist between compounds. First, students will rank 4 substances according to their melting points. Second, students will work together using the jigsaw research approach to understand the 4 types of intermolecular forces. And lastly, students will use the information gained to go back to their data collected and compare their original compounds and type of intermolecular bond they exhibit.

This lesson plan results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (9 - 12)
Title: Which Beak is "On Fleek"?
Description:

In the urban dictionary, “on fleek” is currently a popular slang term that describes something that is “flawlessly styled or groomed.” In this lesson, the students will explore the concept of evolution by using their engineering skills to “build” various bird beaks that are “flawlessly styled,” or “on fleek,” for capturing different types of food. Finally, the students will use argument-driven inquiry to design an experiment and use claim, evidence, and reasoning to justify which “bird” is best adapted to survive during conditions of limited resources.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Literacy Standards (6-12) (9 - 10)
Title: Comparing Intermolecular Forces
Description:

This lesson plan results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (5)
Title: Density Sink or Float Lab
Description:

This lesson will allow students to experiment with different objects to predict and explain the results of their experiments on the objects as they relate to density. Through this experiment, students will be able to understand the cause and effect relationship to explain the objects sinking or floating.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (8)
Title: Newton's Laws Part 1 - Newton's 1st Law
Description:

This lesson is the first part of a series of lessons based on Newton's Three Laws of Motion. This lesson introduces the laws and specifically centers on developing a video as a model for students to demonstrate and explain Newton's First Law of Motion.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (4)
Title: Harnessing The Wind (Part One)
Description:

In this lesson, students will investigate materials to determine which materials would be best to harness the power of the wind. Students will design, construct, and race a puff mobile. Students will create a class chart to record data from the puff mobile race. Students will compare features from the puff mobiles with the best race times.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (6)
Title: Consequence of Burning Fossil Fuels
Description:

In this lesson, students will explore a consequence of burning fossil fuels: the greenhouse effect. By the end of the lesson, students will be able to interpret data to explain the greenhouse effect on temperature and how various human activities could cause changes in local and global temperature over time.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Lesson modified from Global Climate Change and Sea Level Rise plan from the California Academy of Science http://www.calacademy.org/educators/lesson-plans/global-climate-change-and-sea-level-rise.

Subject: Science (5)
Title: It's Crystal Clear! (Water Filtration to the Rescue)
Description:

The student engineers will design and build a new water filtration system for an overpopulated, poverty-stricken community that is drinking contaminated water from wells, rivers or springs not treated by municipal water systems.

Students will be involved in planning, designing, building, collaborating, calculating, budgeting, analyzing, and reflecting on a real-world design challenge.

This lesson was created as part of the 2016 NASA STEM Standards of Practice Project, a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.

Subject: Science (9 - 12)
Title: Predicting Periodic Trends
Description:

In this lesson, students will gather quantitative information to construct a graph to show the period trends in electronegativity, electron affinity, and ionization energy. Once, the trends are recognized they will construct a model of these periodic trends using the Alabama Science in Motion Lab (Periodic Trends: Graphs and Straws).

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (9 - 12)
Title: Rube Goldberg Machines & Energy
Description:

Students will create a Rube Goldberg Machine while working in a small group through this lesson. They will then explain the energy transformations present in their own machine and in those of their classmates. This will ensure their understanding of the law of conservation of energy as well as energy transformations.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (9 - 12)
Title: Chemical Reactions
Description:

This lesson is designed to supplement instruction of reaction types and balancing equations. This lesson should not be used as an introduction to these topics.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (8)
Title: Newton's Laws Part 2 - Newton's 3rd Law
Description:

As the second installment of a series of lessons on Newton's 3 Laws of Motion, this lesson focuses on Newton's Third Law. Students will take part in an activity exploring the motion of colliding objects. Students will photograph these collisions as a demonstration and explain how Newton's 3rd Law and balanced & unbalanced forces relate to their collision.

This lesson results from a collaboration of the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (7)
Title: Model Organisms in Medicine: Why Comparative Embryology Matters in the Real World
Description:

Under the Unity and Diversity DCI, students are asked to evaluate data comparing similarities in developing embryos across different organisms. While this is a classic component of understanding evolution, the modern, real-world reason to learn it is to understand the why and how of using model organisms like zebrafish. Students will learn about how model organisms have been used to find treatments to medical problems in the past, how they are used and selected now, and will be able to draw their own conclusions about the similarities among vertebrates vs. other types of animals. This is a stand-alone lesson/investigation but it would be a great bridge between genetics and evolution and could connect to 7th-grade content.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Digital Literacy and Computer Science (9 - 12)
Title: Predicting Periodic Trends
Description:

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (4)
Title: Light Up Your Drawing!
Description:

The students will make a drawing that lights up, while investigating circuits using copper tape, batteries and LEDs. They will use templates for the first circuit and then explore by adding more LEDs and copper tape traces.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (9 - 12)
Title: "Nailing" Down Classification
Description:

In this hands-on activity, the students will become Linnaeus by dividing into groups to create their own "Six Kingdom" classification system using various types of fasteners. They will group the fasteners based on similar characteristics and divide them into domains, kingdoms, phyla, classes, orders, families, genera, and species. They will also have to "name" each taxon for their classification system as well as give the scientific name for each "species" of a fastener.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (7)
Title: Naturally, I Select You: Tactile Modeling of Natural Selection in the Classroom
Description:

In terms of life science content, evolution is essentially where genetics meets ecology. In this introduction to evolution, students will take on the role of both research biologists and predators to simulate how environmental conditions affect and change a population of model frogs and traits. Students will encounter the impacts of mutations and changes to the environment affecting the survival as well.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (9 - 12), Digital Literacy and Computer Science (9 - 12)
Title: Obey The Law: Using Computer Coding to Create an Interactive Energy Pyramid
Description:

During this activity, the students will use drag and drop computer code to create an interactive ecological energy pyramid model that shows how the 10% law applies to the energy available at each trophic level. As part of the hour of code, students can use this activity to participate in the Hour of Code week during their biology class.

This lesson plan results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (6)
Title: Scaling the Sun-Earth-Moon System
Description:

Students will develop a scale model of the sun, Earth, and moon system based on a one-meter sun. Students will first interact with a technology-based scaled model and view a video clip on scaling the solar system. Students will then scale the diameter of the Earth and moon, as well as the distance from the Earth to the sun, and from the Earth to moon. Students will be required to utilize mathematical skills, such as division, rounding, and metric system conversions. After scaling the diameters and distances, students will create the scaled model.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (8)
Title: Molecules on the Move
Description:

Students will design and conduct an experiment to see how temperature can affect the particle motion of water. The students will test molecular motion in different temperatures of water by adding food coloring to the water and observing the motion of the water molecules. This investigation will allow the students to see the movement of food coloring in water and how an increase or decrease in temperature will affect that movement.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (4)
Title: Earthquakes in the Classroom
Description:

Students will learn how engineers construct buildings to withstand damage from earthquakes by building their own structures with toothpicks and marshmallows. Students test how earthquake-proof their buildings are through an earthquake simulation using a pan of Jell-O.

This lesson was adapted from Teach Engineering.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (8)
Title: Toy Cars and Newton's Second Law
Description:

Students will conduct an experiment to determine the effect of mass on the distance a toy car will roll. Students will calculate the effect that mass has on the acceleration of the car (the distance the car will roll). Students will also make a prediction of how far the car will roll if more mass is added.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (6)
Title: Water, Water Everywhere, but Not a Drop to Drink!
Description:

Students will examine how they use water daily and calculate their daily water consumption. In addition, students will analyze how the changing human population will affect water consumption globally. Lastly, students will develop methods to decrease their personal water consumption, and/or design a product or policy that could help citizens decrease their water consumption.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (4)
Title: Harnessing the Wind (Part Two)
Description:

In this lesson, students will investigate the design behind William Kamkwamba's windmill. Using his design ideas, students will design, construct, and test their own windmill.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (9 - 12)
Title: Biomes of the World
Description:

This is a technology-based Biology lesson on the Biomes of the world. Students will work in groups and research their designated terrestrial biome. Students will research abiotic and biotic factors in their biome. Students will create a digital presentation of their biome using the preferred presentation platform. The presentation will summarize how the abiotic and biotic factors interact in their biome. Students will then use the collected data from the presentations to create food chains and food webs for their designated biomes.

This lesson plan results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (5)
Title: I've Fallen.......
Description:

In this lesson, which was adapted from Gravity and Falling Objects, students predict what will happen when different objects are dropped at the same time from the same height, and then test their predictions. Next, they will observe objects of different masses being dropped and leaking cups being dropped into a bucket. The activities in this lesson will demonstrate that all objects fall at the same rate, regardless of their mass. Finally, students will 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 results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (4)
Title: Greeting Card Dissection
Description:

Engage students in testing their knowledge of circuits in this delightful dissection. Students will apply science practices and content knowledge while conducting hands-on and digital/print research and writing. The actual "dissection" does not take very long, but the writing components can be extended if desired.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (7)
Title: Field Trip to the Moon
Description:

Students will participate in a discussion of the Moon´s habitability. The students will create a plan for the design and creation of a self-sustaining ecosystem within a lunar station.

This lesson was created as part of the 2016 NASA STEM Standards of Practice Project, a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.

Subject: Science (4)
Title: What Do You Do With a Tail Like This?
Description:

In this lesson, students will explore animal adaptations for a variety of animals. Students will select one adaptation and create a wanted poster describing the specific adaptation for that animal and how it functions to help the animal survive, grow, behave, or reproduce.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (4)
Title: Camouflage, Countershading, & Adaptations
Description:

The students will investigate camouflage and countershading as an example of penguin adaptation. Then students engage in an experiment to demonstrate the effectiveness of blubber as an insulator against the cold temperatures penguins typically experience. Students will learn about a variety of external penguin structures and explore the insulating value of an internal structure, blubber.

This lesson was adapted from the NSTA at this link.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (K)
Title: Tug of War!
Description:

This lesson,"Tug of War!" is Day 3 in a series of lessons that help to explain how forces affect objects. In this lesson, students describe relative strengths and directions of the push or pull applied to a ball's movement. Students will work in a whole group and then with a partner, sitting in a circle, to push and then receive a ball, with a flattened palm, from another student. Students will observe the "collision" of the ball and hand. They will then go outdoors or in the gym to kick the ball with the side of the foot to direct the ball in different directions. The ball will be stopped or redirected in the same way. Students will then pull a ball toward themselves and describe the difference in the push and pull of the ball. Students could play a "Kickball Game" to watch the "collision" of the ball. In Day 1, “Move It! students identify objects that can be moved and demonstrate how movement puts objects in motion. In Day 2, “Push Me, Pull You” students demonstrate that objects can be moved by pushing or pulling them.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (6)
Title: Eclipses: Solar vs. Lunar
Description:

In this interdisciplinary lesson about solar and lunar eclipses, students will model and determine the difference between the two eclipses. It involves components of the Sun- Earth- Moon system with NASA resources, hands-on inquiry, and observational data.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Departments of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (9 - 12)
Title: Body Tissue Portfolio Virtual Lab
Description:

Students will complete a virtual lab on Human Body Tissues. This lab can be found by going to the Histology Virtual Lab. In this lab, students can be in pairs or individual in a computer lab or with tablets. Students will go to the website listed above to view and draw specific body tissues that are outlined in the student e-lab they will have to download. At the end of the assignment, students will make a portfolio of their tissues.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (2)
Title: What's the Matter? A Lesson on Physical Properties
Description:

This lesson will allow students to investigate matter and its states by describing and classifying substances according to their physical properties. Students will begin their journey with a song. Then identify their thinking with an idea chart. Finally, they will put their learning into practice in the real-world with an explorative scavenger hunt.

Subject: Science (K)
Title: Push Me, Pull You
Description:

This lesson, “Push Me, Pull You” is Day 2 in a series of lessons that help to explain how forces affect objects. In this lesson, students will work as a whole group and in pairs to investigate objects that push or pull other objects, or objects that must be pushed or pulled. As a group, the class will decide on a definition of "push" and "pull". They will then go outdoors to identify and explore objects that can be pushed or pulled. They will demonstrate pushing and pulling on the playground by doing "push-ups" and "pull-ups" using playground equipment. In Day 1, “Move It!”, students will identify objects that can be moved and demonstrate how movement puts objects in motion In Day 3, “Tug of War!” students describe relative strengths and directions of the push or pull applied to an object.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (K)
Title: Move It!
Description:

In this hands-on investigation, students will demonstrate how forces have an effect on objects. This lesson, “Move It!” is Day 1 in a series of lessons that help to explain how forces affect objects. Students will identify objects that can be moved and demonstrate how movement puts objects in motion. In Day 2, “Push Me, Pull You”, students demonstrate that objects can be moved by pushing or pulling them. On Day 3, “Tug of War!”, students describe relative strengths and directions of the push or pull applied to an object.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (8)
Title: Roller Coaster Design
Description:

Students will design a roller coaster using marbles and foam pipe insulation to observe the relationship between potential and kinetic energy. Students will calculate the average speed of the marble and relate that speed to the potential and kinetic energy of the marble. Students will use various angles and track designs to see the impact it has on marble speed.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (K)
Title: What Makes Things Stop and Move? A Lesson on Force and Motion
Description:

This lesson will engage students in the ways an object can move by applying the forces of push and pull. Students will investigate how to make an object move faster, slower, and stop.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (5)
Title: Diving into Density
Description:

This inquiry-based lesson provides an introduction to density allowing students to explore density and its relation to objects floating and sinking.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (7)
Title: Sickle Cell: The Sticky Cell Part III of III:Cellular Structure and Function
Description:

This 7^th grade life science educational module is designed to provide a hands-on approach to learning how genetics determine the fate of a cell. This is an interactive "student-centered" module that utilizes technology, manipulatives, and hands-on activities to provide exceptional resources for teachers and a dynamic learning experience for students with various learning styles.

Specifically, the lesson focuses on understanding how Sickle Cell Anemia is an inherited genetic disorder, illustrates how the structure of the red blood cells affect blood flow, and explains how possible gene combinations can be passed from parents to offspring. This lesson serves as lesson 3 of a 3 lesson plan module.

This lesson was created under Tuskegee University Math and Science Partnership Grant (MSP), NSF Funded.

Subject: Science (1)
Title: Peekaboo, I See You: A Lesson on How Light Passes Through an Object
Description:

Students will use transparent, translucent, opaque, and reflective items that they find around the classroom or school to investigate how light passes through an object. This activity will demonstrate how light behaves around objects. The first investigation will take students on a scavenger hunt to find objects that fit each type. Students will classify each object using a flashlight and analyzing how light passes through the object. Then the final investigation will allow students to experiment with how the amount of light that each type allow effects the rate at which ice will melt.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (5)
Title: Hydroponics: Can Plants Grow without Soil?
Description:

In this hands-on investigation, students will utilize the hydroponic method to grow a bean plant from a bean seed. Over the course of a 2 week time period, students will make detailed observations and sketches of the actual bean growth and make predictions about growth patterns over the weekend time periods.

Students will create a cartoon to defend the position that plants obtain materials needed for growth primarily from air and water.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (6)
Title: Pacific Problems: Tackling the Great Pacific Garbage Patch
Description:

In this interdisciplinary lesson, students will apply the Engineer Design Process to design a structure to remove waste from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. The lesson involves components of STEM and English Language Arts.

This lesson results from collaboration between the Alabama Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (6)
Title: Global Warming: Fact or Fiction?
Description:

During this lesson, students will create two line graphs: one that shows how carbon dioxide levels have changed over time, and one that shows how global temperatures have changed over time. Students will read current news article(s) detailing the human activities and natural processes that could change global temperatures. Students will interpret their graphical data, as well as information in the article, to determine if there is any relation between carbon dioxide levels and global temperatures.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (5)
Title: Why So Blue?
Description:

If water covers 70-75% of our planet, then why should we be concerned about water quality and conservation? This lesson helps students understand that 97% of our water is present on Earth in the form of salt water, and therefore, unavailable for helping support life on Earth. Another 2% of Earth's water is frozen, which leaves us approximately 1% in groundwater, lakes, streams, and water vapor.

This lesson was adapted from a lesson series from 4-H SET (California).

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (9 - 12)
Title: Dragon Genetics
Description:

Students will construct a model of a dragon based on traits inherited from the parent dragons. This activity demonstrates the inheritance of dominant and recessive traits, codominance, and incomplete dominance. Students will use Punnett Squares to predict genotypic and phenotypic ratios of the dragon population in the class. This project could serve as a culminating activity for Genetics and the Inheritance of traits.

This activity was adapted from Alabama Science in Motion.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (2)
Title: All About The Matter!!!
Description:

Students will discover and explore types of matter all around us. The lesson includes a hands-on walking field trip to allow students to explore and discover types of matter.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (6 - 7)
Title: Climate Change & The Carbon Cycle
Description:

Students will explore greenhouse gases, how they effect the carbon cycle and the human role in climate change.

This lesson was created as part of the 2016 NASA STEM Standards of Practice Project, a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.

Subject: Science (8)
Title: Your MA is a Force to be Reckoned With
Description:

In this lesson, students will investigate the relationship between mass, acceleration, and force as described in Newton’s Second Law of Motion.

Students will work in teams to use a wooden car and rubber bands to toss a small mass off of a car. The car, resting on rollers, will be propelled in opposite directions. Students will vary the mass that is being tossed by each car and change the number of rubber bands used to toss the mass. Students will then measure how far the car rolls in response to the action force generated.

This lesson was created as part of the 2016 NASA STEM Standards of Practice Project, a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.

Subject: Science (9 - 12)
Title: It's Elemental: 3-D Models of the Modern Periodic Table Elements
Description:

Students will construct 3-dimensional representations of each known element of the periodic table using cereal-sized boxes as their mediums. By creating these models, students will gain an in-depth understanding of their chosen element's discovery, history, unique properties, and place on the Modern Periodic Table. Students will also be able to identify and describe basic periodic trends.

This lesson was created as part of the 2016 NASA STEM Standards of Practice Project, a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.

Subject: Science (6)
Title: It's Getting Hot in Here!
Description:

In this interdisciplinary lesson about atmospheric heating, students investigate the three transfers of heat: radiation, conduction and convection.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Subject: Science (5)
Title: Filtered or Not Filtered That's the Question!
Description:

Students will collaborate, design, and construct a device that filters contaminated water.

This lesson was created as part of the 2016 NASA STEM Standards of Practice Project, a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.

Subject: Science (9 - 12)
Title: Rocket Activity: Heavy Lifting
Description:

Raising heavy payloads to orbit is challenging. Rockets require powerful engines and massive amounts of propellants. NASA is looking for creative ideas for launching heavy lift vehicles to deliver supplies to Mars. Student teams receive identical parts to build rockets. The team that is able to lift the greatest payload into space (the ceiling) is the winner.

This lesson was created as part of the 2016 NASA STEM Standards of Practice Project, a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.

Subject: Science (5)
Title: What Does Life Require?
Description:

By growing organisms in a variety of environments, students will explore different materials that living things need to survive.

This lesson was created as part of the 2016 NASA STEM Standards of Practice Project, a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.

Subject: Mathematics (3), Science (3)
Title: Climate Trackers
Description:

In this lesson, the students will use the technology resource Mission:Biomes to research and gather data for precipitation and temperatures for assigned biomes. The students will use the data to create a bar graph to display climate data for each biome.

This lesson was created as part of the 2016 NASA STEM Standards of Practice Project, a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.

Subject: Science (3 - 5)
Title: Marble Coaster
Description:

This lesson is adapted from a lesson entitled, "Marble Run", from the NASA Education Guide Amusement Park Physics with a NASA Twist.

Students will explore the effects of force, speed, motion, and gravity in creating a roller coaster track for a marble.

This lesson was created as part of the 2016 NASA STEM Standards of Practice Project, a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.

Subject: Science (5)
Title: Shadow Plots: Length and Direction of Shadows
Description:

Students will create sun shadow plots to demonstrate how the position and motion of Earth with respect to the sun causes changes in the length and direction of shadows. Students will observe and record shadow data for an entire day.

After collecting the data, students will analyze the data and create a line graph to determine at which time of the day the longest shadows are created.

This lesson was created as part of the 2016 NASA STEM Standards of Practice Project, a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.

Subject: Science (3), Mathematics (3)
Title: The 4th Little Pig - Designing a Hurricane-Proof Roof
Description:

The goal of this lesson is for students to use their knowledge of hurricanes to design and build a hurricane-proof roof for Piggy Sue, The Three Little Pig's cousin. She has just moved to town and she needs a house that will withstand a hurricane.

Students will test various materials and designs to determine the best design for her roof. Students will work in groups and use the engineering design method to design and build their roofs. Each group will have a budget to purchase materials for their roofs.

This lesson was created as part of the 2016 NASA STEM Standards of Practice Project, a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.

Subject: Science (4)
Title: Investigating Properties of Soil
Description:

This is a 4th grade science lesson that requires students to investigate the capacity of different soils to retain water and to categorize the types of plants that will grow in different compositions of soil through the use of inquiry, technology, and reading skills.

This lesson was created as part of the 2016 NASA STEM Standards of Practice Project, a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.

Subject: Science (3)
Title: Imaginary Species Biome Activity
Description:

This lesson is meant to be used as a culminating project after students have learned about different biomes. Students will start out by separating different plants into their respective biomes based on their characteristics. Then students will create a species that is adapted to survive in an assigned biome.

This lesson was created as part of the 2016 NASA STEM Standards of Practice Project, a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.

Subject: Science (7)
Title: The Ins and Outs of Digestion
Description:

In this lesson which emphasizes hands-on, inquiry-based activities, students will create two models of the digestive system and determine the correct placement of various organs of the digestive system. Students will use the model to compare mechanical and chemical digestion. Students will use information provided by the model to explain why food spends various amounts of time in a particular organ. To extend the learning of this module, students will design an experiment to determine the effect of introducing new foods to a baby’s diet. The module also includes a presentation, a word search puzzle, and a bingo game emphasizing vocabulary words related to the digestive tract.

Subject: Science (8)
Title: Touchdown Challenge: A Physical Science Mission to Mars
Description:

This is a hands-on, cooperative learning activity where students are using items purchased from a grocery store to design a device and construct a shock-absorbing system out of paper, straws, and miniature marshmallows that will protect two astronauts when landing on Mars. Students are able to develop engineering skills to develop a spacecraft to land on Mars, a mission NASA is currently working on. Students propose a model of a spacecraft to land astronauts safely on the moon, test it, and then revise.

This lesson was created as part of the 2016 NASA STEM Standards of Practice Project, a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.

Subject: Science (6)
Title: Hello, Moon
Description:

In this interdisciplinary lesson about the moon phases, students track the phases of the moon across the sky. The lesson involves components of the Sun- Earth- Moon system, English Language Arts and Science. This lesson will involve NASA resources, hands-on inquiry and observational data.

This lesson was created as part of the 2016 NASA STEM Standards of Practice Project, a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.

Subject: Science (4)
Title: Lava Layering: Constructive Forces
Description:

The goal of this activity is for students to simulate the constructive forces of a volcanic eruption, observe how lava flows build up layers of a landform, study the stratigraphy of the new landform, and connect the simulation to events in the natural world.

This lesson was created as part of the 2016 NASA STEM Standards of Practice Project, a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.

Subject: Science (7)
Title: Wanted: Dead or Alive?
Description:

Humans heavily rely on a wide variety of living and non-living things. This 7^th grade life science education module is designed to provide a unique approach to learning what is actually considered dead or alive, and how we interact differently with living and non-living things. This lesson plan is designed with the “student in mind”, and our goal is to reach all the various learning styles. It will meet the students where they are and assist them in understanding a new scientific concept. Alexandria Bufford-Tuskegee University, helped with the experiment write-up and testing. Gerald Griffin-Hope College, and De'Shayla Chappell, Adrinece Beard, Angela Player-Tuskegee University produced the "bacteria vs viruses" powerpoint.

Subject: Science (2)
Title: Whoa! Where'd It Go? (States of Matter Data Collection)
Description:

This lesson allows students to use the properties and characteristics of solids, liquids, and gases to determine how different variables affect states of matter. Students predict what will happen and spend short amounts of time daily to observe and record data. Students will graph their data into charts to see patterns and solve math problems.

This lesson was created as a part of the 2016 NASA STEM Standards of Practice Project, a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.

Subject: Science (K)
Title: Sunlight, Shade, and Sand
Description:

How can we protect the Earths' surface from the sun's rays? Students will learn the nature of the sun and observe its effects on the Earth's surface. Students will engineer a covering to reduce exposure to the sun.

This lesson was created as part of the 2016 NASA STEM Standards of Practice Project, a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.

Subject: Mathematics (2)
Title: Whoa! Where'd It Go? (States of Matter Data Collection)
Description:

This lesson was created as a part of the 2016 NASA STEM Standards of Practice Project, a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.

Subject: Science (2)
Title: Edible Landform Creations
Description:

"Edible Landform Creations" is a hands-on lesson designed to allow the students to create models of Earth's physical features, including mountains, valleys, plains, deserts, lakes, rivers, oceans, canyons and plateaus.

This lesson was created as part of the 2016 NASA STEM Standards of Practice Project, a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.

Subject: Science (K)
Title: Want S'mores? Observing the Effects of a Solar Oven
Description:

In this inquiry-based lesson, students will describe the effects sunlight has on s'mores using a solar oven. Teacher will construct a solar oven for students to observe. Students will observe and describe what happens to the chocolate and marshmallow over time.

Subject: Science (2)
Title: Can You Form a Landform?
Description:

The students will create a landform using modeling clay in a small group setting.

This lesson was created as part of the 2016 NASA STEM Standards of Practice Project, a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.

Subject: Science (2)
Title: Who Can Stop the Rain?
Description:

The purpose of the lesson is to identify suitable porous materials for the sidewalk. The students should test and evaluate the material that best reduces erosion caused during excessive rainfall.

This lesson was created as part of the 2016 NASA STEM Standards of Practice Project, a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.

Subject: Mathematics (1), Science (1)
Title: The Changing Sun
Description:

Students will observe the changes of the sun over the course of a day and then over a 4 month period. Students will document these changes and then graph them. Finally, students will see the relationship between the patterns of the sun and the effect the pattern has on our daily lives.

This lesson was created as part of the 2016 NASA STEM Standards of Practice Project, a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.

Subject: Science (2)
Title: Storming The Earth With Tornadoes and Hurricanes
Description:

"Storming The Earth" is a hands on, technology based, inquiry lesson that is designed to help students obtain information about weather events that happen over a short period of time. It will provide information via media about tornadoes and hurricanes.

This lesson was created as part of the 2016 NASA STEM Standards of Practice Project, a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.

Subject: Science (1)
Title: Cookie Moon
Description:

As part of the study of space, the students will observe, describe and predict the patterns of the moon. Students will view a Nearpod presentation about the moon's phases to introduce the topic. The students will represent the moon's phases using black and white sandwich cookies and record the phases in their Science journals.

This lesson was created as part of the 2016 NASA STEM Standards of Practice Project, a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.

Subject: Science (2)
Title: Too Much Light, Too Little Growth
Description:

During this lesson, students will observe and record the various effects of different durations of light on plants. Students will additionally be able to understand the common misconception that constant light on plants will result in constant growth of the plant.

This lesson was created as part of the 2016 NASA STEM Standards of Practice Project, a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.

Subject: Science (1)
Title: Can you catch your shadow?
Description:

This is an interdisciplinary lesson about shadows and light where we track the motion of the sun across the sky. It involves components of sunrise, sunset, involving Mathematics, Science, and English Language Arts. This lesson will involve NASA resources, hands- on inquiry, and observational data.

This lesson was created as part of the 2016 NASA STEM Standards of Practice Project, a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.

Subject: Science (K)
Title: Dead or Alive?...Exploration of living and nonliving things
Description:

In this lesson, students will compare and contrast characteristics of living and nonliving things via pictures, class projects, videos and whole-group discourse. Students will record their findings in Science journals.

This lesson was created as part of the 2016 NASA STEM Standards of Practice Project, a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.

Subject: English Language Arts (2)
Title: Can You Form a Landform?
Description:

The students will create a landform using modeling clay in a small group setting.

This lesson was created as part of the 2016 NASA STEM Standards of Practice Project, a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.

Subject: Science (8)
Title: Big Science of the Small World of Atom
Description:

This module provides 8th grade middle school students a basic understanding of the atomic structure. With the knowledge evolution of the atom structure, modern sciences and technologies, particularly nanoscience and nanotechnology, have been revolutionarily advanced. In this module development the structure of an atom and its constituents will be demonstrated with the help of the 3D visualization and hands-on activities.

Subject: Science (7)
Title: The Barn Owl Pellet Lab
Description:

The Barn Owl Pellet Lab includes hands-on, inquiry-based activities. During this lab activity, students will dissect two Barn Owl pellets. The dissection allows students to compare the data collected from the two pellets. The student worksheets that accompany this lesson require students to: make predictions, perform mathematical calculations, construct a graph, classify bones into types, separate bones by prey type, and draw conclusions about the owl’s environment based on the dissection findings.

Subject: Digital Literacy and Computer Science (8)
Title: IPA is Cool![ai pi e ɪz kul]
Description:

Students will be introduced to the International Phonetic Alphabet and learn how to apply it to songs in foreign languages. In this particular lesson, they will learn the symbols for vowels used in Italian and apply them to a simple, seventeenth-century Italian art song, "Star Vicino". Students will be evaluated through individual podcasts created and edited using Audacity.

Subject: Science (6)
Title: Plate Tectonics: Slip, Slidin' Away
Description:

This lesson is the second of a three-part unit on plate tectonics, which includes hands-on, inquiry-based activities. Students will use a hard-boiled egg to model Earth’s tectonic plates and interior layers. In addition, students will various edible materials to model the movement of tectonic plates at the different types of plate boundaries.

Subject: Science (4 - 6)
Title: Weathering and Erosion
Description:

This module includes seven hands-on, inquiry-based activities that will model the effects of weathering and erosion on Earth’s surface. Students will investigate the effects of weathering, erosion, and deposition using various materials such as aquarium gravel, square pretzels, chalk, vinegar, modeling clay, sand, and a hairdryer. This module will provide instruction on the effects of water on land; the effects slope has on flooding; the effects of the wind on land; the effects of different wave actions on land; the effects of glaciers on land; and the effects of mechanical and chemical weathering. In addition, the students will create a model that will demonstrate how groundwater can cause a sinkhole.

Subject: Science (7)
Title: Modeling Mitosis
Description:

This module provides three different methods for learning about mitosis and includes hands-on, inquiry-based activities. Students will prepare and examine slides of their cheek cells and compare them to those of other students. This will demonstrate the relationship between the structure and function of cells and the similarity of the same types of cells within the same species. Using yarn and popsicle sticks, students will model and explain each of the stages of mitosis. The students will observe prepared slides of onion root tips and whitefish blastula to discover the differences in mitosis in plant and animal cells.

Subject: Science (7)
Title: Modeling Meiosis and Gamete Formation
Description:

This module includes hands-on and inquiry-based activities related to the processes of meiosis and gamete formation. Using yarn and pop beads, students will simulate the changes in chromosome pairs during the various stages of meiosis. The students will use Playdough to model the formation of the sperm and egg cells. Students will denote the differences in cytokinesis and explain the reasoning for the differences.

Subject: Science (6)
Title: Plate Tectonics: Convection Model- Plates Go With the Flow
Description:

This lesson is the third of a three-part unit on plate tectonics, which includes hands-on, inquiry-based activities. Students will learn about the relationship between temperature and density using lava lamps. The students will also model a theory for the mechanism that drives tectonic plate movement by using a hot plate and water to produce convection cells or currents, and food coloring gels to make the currents visible.

Subject: Social Studies (6 - 11)
Title: W.E.B. DuBois, Booker T. Washington, and Jim Crow
Description:

Students will use primary sources to compare and contrast the viewpoints of two notable persons (Booker T. Washington & W.E.B. Du Bois) of the early 1900s and identify the influence they had on the civil rights movement, especially the Jim Crow Laws.

This lesson was created as a part of the Alabama History Education Initiative, funded by a generous grant from the Malone Family Foundation in 2009.

Author Information: Tammy Brown (Cohort 1: 2009-2010)

Central Elementary School Madison County School System Huntsville, AL

Subject: Social Studies (4)
Title: Working in Birmingham’s Iron Industry
Description:

Students will use primary sources to gain a perspective of the living and working conditions in Birmingham in the late 1800s, especially as they relate to working in the iron industry. Students will explore the role of the iron industry with regard to the initial fast growth rate of Birmingham and how this growth was the result of location, transportation, and resources.

This lesson was created as a part of the Alabama History Education Initiative, funded by a generous grant from the Malone Family Foundation in 2009.

Author Information: Kris White (Cohort 2: 2010-2011) Bear Exploration Center Elementary School Montgomery County School System Montgomery, AL

Subject: Social Studies (11)
Title: Yellow Journalism
Description:

In this lesson, students will describe causes of involvement of the United States in Wold War I by defining yellow journalism, and its effect on the United States becoming involved in a war with Spain over its territories in the Caribbean Sea and the Philippine Islands. By viewing primary source documents of newspaper articles from Alabama, the students will make judgments as to the effectiveness of the newspaper articles.

This lesson was created as a part of the Alabama History Education Initiative, funded by a generous grant from the Malone Family Foundation in 2009.

AuthorInformation: Ronald Shephard (Cohort 2: 2010-2011)
Central High School Phenix City Schools Phenix City, AL

Subject: Science (6)
Title: Plate Tectonics: Pangaea- The Supercontinent
Description:

This lesson is the first of a three-part unit on plate tectonics, which includes hands-on, inquiry-based activities. In this lesson, students will construct a model of continental separation and the ancient supercontinent, Pangaea. After completing this module, students will be able to explain Alfred Wegener's theory of continental drift and the evidence used to support this theory.

This lesson presented as part of the Alabama State University, Math, Science Partnership.

Subject: Social Studies (1)
Title: Which Direction Should I Go?
Description:

In this lesson, students investigate cardinal directions and the compass rose through video and a directions game. Then, students will draw and label a map of the classroom using cardinal directions.

Subject: Science (7)
Title: Osmosis and Diffusion Lab
Description:

This lesson plan includes several hands-on, inquiry-based lab activities exploring the concepts of osmosis and diffusion. The lesson plan is divided into three modules. First, the teacher will demonstrate osmosis and diffusion using gummy bears, salt, celery, food coloring, and hot and cold water. Next, students will participate in a hands-on lab activity that will demonstrate diffusion using various concentrations of corn starch and Lugol’s solution. Lastly, students will demonstrate the process of osmosis using dialysis tubing, sucrose solution, cornstarch, phenolphthalein, ammonia, vinegar, and universal indicator solution.

Subject: Social Studies (4 - 6)
Title: Dear Father: A College Student’s Perspective on WWI
Description:

This lesson will introduce students to an Alabama connection to World War I. The primary document that will be used is a letter to a father from a University of Alabama student, written on March 2, 1917, exactly one month before the United States declared war on Germany. The student discusses typical family topics before ending with his concerns about the possibility of war.

This lesson was created as a part of the Alabama History Education Initiative, funded by a generous grant from the Malone Family Foundation in 2009.

Author Information:Dr. Lesa Roberts (Cohort 1: 2009-2010) Hampton Road Middle School; Huntsville City School System; Huntsville, AL

Subject: Mathematics (4)
Title: Creative Factor Trees
Description:

Students will explore and review prime and composite numbers. Students will also build a factor tree model by displaying how to write out a prime factorization of a number correctly, how to identify prime and composite numbers, and how to check their results. This hands-on approach allows students to use different mediums and practice their understanding of mathematics.

Subject: Social Studies (4)
Title: An African American Represents Alabama during Reconstruction
Description:

This lesson engages students in research on a prominent African American and his role in politics during Reconstruction in Alabama. Photographic primary sources are used in this lesson.

This lesson was created as a part of the Alabama History Education Initiative, funded by a generous grant from the Malone Family Foundation in 2009.

Author Information: Rebecca Campbell (Cohort 2: 2010-2011); Uniontown Elementary School; Perry County School System; Uniontown, AL

Subject: Social Studies (6), Literacy Standards (6-12) (6 - 8), English Language Arts (6)
Title: For the Love of Ruby
Description:

After viewing various videos and images, the students will deepen their understanding of the desegregation movement and its continuing influence on today's society. The students will defend their opinions using an open-mic forum and will creatively demonstrate their understanding through writing poetry.

Subject: Social Studies (5)
Title: No Taxation Without Representation
Description:

This lesson will help students determine the causes and events leading to the American Revolutionary War. Students will participate in a whole class "game" to understand taxes and the phrase "taxation without representation". Then students will illustrate their views of the causes of the Revolutionary War using comic strips.

Subject: Social Studies (4 - 6)
Title: Alabama Farm Life in the Great Depression
Description:

This lesson will include the use of a primary document and period photographs for a cross-curriculum lesson analyzing setting to identify some adverse effects of the Great Depression for farmers. The student will create a postcard which depicts an understanding of the impact of the Great Depression on farmers.

This lesson was created as a part of the Alabama History Education Initiative, funded by a generous grant from the Malone Family Foundation in 2009.

Author Information: April Mitchell (Cohort 2: 2010-2011); Greenwood Elementary; Bessemer City Schools; Bessemer, AL

Subject: Social Studies (10)
Title: Alabama Tenant Farmers and Sharecroppers, 1865 to Present
Description:

This lesson explores the reasons for the development of the tenant farming and sharecropping system in the post-Civil War era. Using primary sources (pictures and labor contracts), the lesson presents some of the situations that caused the system to develop. It covers the lifestyle of the farmers and investigates the reasons for the decrease in the system of tenant farming and sharecropping after the Depression and World War II.

This lesson was created as a part of the Alabama History Education Initiative, funded by a generous grant from the Malone Family Foundation in 2009.

Author Information: Vicki Looser (Cohort 1: 2009-2010); Lanett High School; Lanett City Schools Lanett, AL

Subject: Social Studies (8)
Title: "Pocket full of Posies"
Description:

The Black Death affected every member of society in the Middle Ages. In this lesson, students will watch a video about The Black Death and read an excerpt from Sarah Himes' diary to be able to understand how The Black Death brought about political and economic changes in the late Middle Ages. Students will discover the true meaning behind the children's song "Ring Around the Rosy". Finally, students will collaborate with a partner to compose their own song about the impact the Black Death had on either the family, the church, or the economy during the Middle Ages.

Subject: Social Studies (4)
Title: Change of View: George C. Wallace
Description:

This lesson will use primary sources to compare and contrast the perspectives of George C. Wallace at the beginning and in the latter part of his life as a political figure in Alabama. The students will develop a hypothesis about the effect that Wallace’s views and actions had on the image of Alabama and the changes in his character over time.

This lesson was created as a part of the Alabama History Education Initiative, funded by a generous grant from the Malone Family Foundation in 2009.

Author Information: Misty Freeman (Cohort 2: 2010-2011); Rehobeth Elementary; Houston County Schools; Dothan, AL

Subject: Social Studies (1)
Title: Do I Want It Or Need It?
Description:

In this lesson, students will listen as the teacher reads Something Good by Robert Munsch. In the story, the characters make choices about the foods they should purchase at the grocery store and learn a lesson about needs and wants. As a whole class, students classify needs and wants from the story. Then students will use local grocery store sales papers and create their own grocery list with needs and wants.

Subject: Social Studies (1)
Title: Does Time Really Stand in Line? Learning About a Timeline.
Description:

In this lesson, students will learn the purpose of a timeline and how to create one. Students will also be able to apply timeline skills to reading comprehension.

Subject: Social Studies (3)
Title: That's Not Fair! There Should Be a Law Against That! Discovering How a Bill Becomes a Law
Description:

Students will choose a topic that they think should be a law. As a class, they will re-enact the steps necessary to make a new law.

Subject: Social Studies (3)
Title: Be Prepared! You're the Teacher--How Will You Teach Others to be Prepared for an Emergency?
Description:

Students will create a commercial, song, poster or skit to inform others about what to do to prepare for a natural disaster. Students will complete an online activity about disaster preparedness.

Subject: Science (4), Social Studies (4)
Title: A Study of the Physical Regions of Alabama
Description:

In this lesson, students will learn the characteristics of the five geographic regions of Alabama by researching the regions using maps, the Internet, and books. The students will also make a salt dough map depicting Alabama’s land regions.

This lesson was created as a part of the Alabama History Education Initiative, funded by a generous grant from the Malone Family Foundation in 2009.

Author Information: Ivy Murry and DeShaundra Johnson (Cohort 1: 2009-2010); Holly Hill Elementary and Hall-Kent; Elementary Enterprise City Schools and Homewood City Schools; Enterprise, AL and Homewood, AL

Subject: Social Studies (5)
Title: Declaring Independence
Description:

Students will develop an understanding of the purpose of the Declaration of Independence by synthesizing the grievances listed by the founding fathers.

Subject: Social Studies (3)
Title: Let's Tour Lady Liberty!
Description:

In this lesson, students will embark on a virtual field trip to the Statue of Liberty. This exciting tour will enable students to make observations related to the statue's iconic history. These observations will allow students to gain an appreciation of the size of the statue, what the statue represents, and how it is an important symbol to our country.

Subject: Social Studies (11)
Title: "I Too, Sing America" - Harlem Renaissance Art and Poetry
Description:

In this lesson, students will analyze poetry and art from the Harlem Renaissance. Students will discuss major themes of the Harlem Renaissance. Then, students will write their own poems reflecting these themes through the website StoryJumper.

Subject: Social Studies (7)
Title: You Have the Right to Remain Silent!
Description:

In this lesson, students will watch a video on Miranda rights and the Bill of Rights. Students will discuss rights they think should have been included in the Miranda. Then students will rewrite the Miranda and create a presentation with VoiceThread.

Subject: Social Studies (3)
Title: Oh, The Geographic Features We Can Explore! Using QR Codes and Google Slides
Description:

In this lesson, students will work collaboratively to create a presentation showcasing the various geographic features around the world and use the appropriate academic vocabulary. Students will present their group slide to the class. Students will independently write a compare and contrast paragraph about two geographic features.

Subject: Social Studies (12)
Title: Country Investigations using the Human Development Index
Description:

Students will use the United Nations Human Development Index database to research a country's standard of living. Students will use research to explain the factors resulting in that country's social and economic development. Specifically, students will research for the "ingredients" of economic growth - human capital, physical capital, labor productivity, technology, infrastructure, natural resources, political stability, etc. Then, students will prepare a one-page Google Doc report on the country.

Subject: Digital Literacy and Computer Science (3)
Title: Oh, The Geographic Features We Can Explore! Using QR Codes and Google Slides
Description:

Subject: Digital Literacy and Computer Science (3)
Title: Let's Tour Lady Liberty!
Description:

Subject: Digital Literacy and Computer Science (5)
Title: Declaring Independence
Description:

Students will develop an understanding of the purpose of the Declaration of Independence by synthesizing the grievances listed by the founding fathers.

Subject: Social Studies (5), Digital Literacy and Computer Science (5)
Title: Technology Timeline! Major Events and Battles of the American Revolution
Description:

The students will be able to identify certain major events and battle of the American Revolutionary War. Creativity and collaboration are included when making timelines. The students should understand that events happen in chronological order and they can be represented using a timeline.

Subject: English Language Arts (7)
Title: Writing for Catharsis: How Do We Survive?
Description:

This lesson is an internet-based inquiry into the Virginia Tech Massacre and Nikki Giovanni’s poetic response. This lesson ties informative reading and inquiry with the craft of poetry and the role of poetry as catharsis. Students will also recognize the difference between reading a poem and experiencing it as a public performance.

Subject: English Language Arts (8)
Title: Guilty or Innocent?: A Case for Close Reading
Description:

Students will be drawn in by a classic story of guilt or innocence as they discover the Western town of Moon Dance, Montana, home of Al, a young man who begins to doubt the innocence of his mentor and father figure. Could Mr. Baumer be guilty of murder? In this lesson, students are introduced to all the elements of a short story and forget that they are learning how to write an argumentative essay in their zeal to defend their opinion with evidence from the text.

Subject: Digital Literacy and Computer Science (5), English Language Arts (5)
Title: Fun With Idioms
Description:

This lesson is designed to help students become comfortable with idioms. Students will work closely with idioms to discover meanings and present them to the class. Students will use technology to present the information.

Subject: Character Education (K - 12), Counseling and Guidance (K - 12), English Language Arts (2), Social Studies (2), Digital Literacy and Computer Science (2)
Title: What Makes a Leader?
Description:

In this lesson, students will learn about various leadership qualities and historical American leaders. Each student will research an American leader of their choice and create a presentation about their life and impact on our country using the iPad app Educreations. Students will then participate in a class discussion about their thoughts on the researched leaders and how they can show leadership in their everyday lives.

Subject: Digital Literacy and Computer Science (2)
Title: Going Batty
Description:

In this activity, students will learn the characteristics of bats. The students will be able to see that different texts can present points in different ways. The introduction to the lesson will begin with a video clip of bats. They will listen to two stories one fiction and the other nonfiction. They will listen to learn the characteristics of bats from both stories. Students will turn and talk with a partner after each book to discuss characteristics they learned about bats. Once they have heard both stories they will complete a Venn Diagram comparing and contrasting the two books. Students will use a digital learning management system to publish their writing and share it with their classmates. They will have the chance to read other students' posts and reply back with meaningful text connections. This lesson would work well around Halloween.

Subject: English Language Arts (3)
Title: People Things- The Power of Personification in Literature
Description:

This lesson teaches personification as a form of figurative language. Students will be introduced to characters and objects in stories, poems, and a movie clip that possess human characteristics. This topic can be used as a stand-alone lesson or with a unit on figurative language.

Subject: English Language Arts (3)
Title: What Is the View?
Description:

This lesson is a third-grade English Language Arts lesson that focuses on first, second, and third-person points of view. The students will watch a two-minute video describing the three points of view. During the video, the teacher will stop the video for students to take notes. Then, the teacher and students will use Shel Silverstein’s “Boa Constrictor," Maurice Sendak’s Where The Wild Things Are, and Adam Rubin’s Secret Pizza Party and determine the point of view of each. Next, students will partner up and create three separate comic strips on MakeBeliefsComix.com. The students will use one point of view per comic strip. Lastly, students will present their comic strips to the class.

Subject: English Language Arts (3)
Title: The Many People of Charlotte's Web
Description:

Students will work together in groups to discuss the different character traits their character displays. After developing many traits, students will collaborate to create a presentation of at least 4 slides with sentences that describe the character displaying these traits throughout the book. After completing the presentations, students will head back to their groups and create a timeline of their character's events throughout the story.

Subject: English Language Arts (2)
Title: Going Batty
Description:

Subject: English Language Arts (4)
Title: True Identity
Description:

After reading a chapter book together as a class, small groups will each be given a different story character to analyze in more detail. Student groups will choose from a given list of choices how they want to present their character to the rest of the class. The other groups must guess the character being presented and base their guess upon text evidence. The table group that everyone guesses accurately wins.

Subject: Digital Literacy and Computer Science (3)
Title: The Many People of Charlotte's Web
Description:

Subject: Digital Literacy and Computer Science (5)
Title: A Step Into the Boston Massacre
Description:

In this lesson, the students will learn about the Boston Massacre and how this event led to the American Revolution. The students will understand that when governments are unjust, sometimes people revolt. The students will compare and contrast the two sides of the American colonists in the 1770’s, “Colonists Should Fight the British for Independence” versus “Colonists Should Not Fight the British for Independence.” In addition, the students will create a web video on one event that led to the American Revolution. This lesson is designed to integrate technology, such as WeVideo, with social studies.

Subject: English Language Arts (2 - 3)
Title: Is the Big, Bad Wolf Really Big and Bad?
Description:

This lesson compares and contrasts the traditional Three Little Pigs, by Golden Books to The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith. Students will discover how an author’s point of view can influence how a reader feels.

Subject: English Language Arts (1 - 2)
Title: Long e With Sheep in a Jeep
Description:

This lesson is a small group phonics lesson. Using Sheep in a Jeep students will learn that ee says /e/. Students will read and write long e words and read the story Sheep in a Jeep.

Subject: English Language Arts (3)
Title: The Other Side of the Fence: Point of View at the Zoo
Description:

This third-grade English Language Arts project lesson is focused on point of view using the zoo as a theme. The lesson includes a zoo field trip or virtual zoo field trip, class discussions, a mini scrapbook point-of-view project, and a short presentation to the class. This lesson could be modified for upper or lower grade levels.

Subject: Social Studies (5)
Title: A Step Into the Boston Massacre
Description:

Subject: Digital Literacy and Computer Science (7)
Title: Read All About It! Supreme Court Case Makes Headlines!
Description:

This is a project to conclude the study of the Judicial Branch of our government. The students, working in pairs, will be assigned a landmark Supreme Court case to research in a computer lab setting. They will then construct a one-page newsletter on the case which will include a summary of the case, two pictures, a short biography on one of the justices on the Court at that time, and an editorial describing their reaction to the case.

Subject: Digital Literacy and Computer Science (7)
Title: Personal Economics
Description:

Students will be able to explain the various services available to protect consumer rights. They will develop a PowerPoint presentation in their student achievement teams which contains the required information along with a question section. This presentation will then be used in class for a review activity prior to testing.

Subject: Digital Literacy and Computer Science (7)
Title: Our World is Like a Rainbow
Description:

Americans continue to adapt to different ethnic and cultural groups who move into their communities. It is vital that children become aware of and appreciate cultural diversities in people. People move to different areas for reasons such as religion, climate, employment, economics, and for a better way of life.

Subject: Social Studies (7)
Title: Read All About It! Supreme Court Case Makes Headlines!
Description:

Subject: Social Studies (7)
Title: Our World is Like a Rainbow
Description:

Subject: Social Studies (7)
Title: Personal Economics
Description:

Subject: Social Studies (5)
Title: Learning About Our Government
Description:

This lesson is designed to inform students about the organization of our nation's government. Students will be introduced to the three branches of American government and the responsibilities of each. They will discuss the requirements for becoming President and take a "virtual tour" of the White House. All of this is done through the use of a digital slideshow, which includes a direct link to the Internet for further study.

Subject: Character Education (K - 12), Social Studies (K - 1)
Title: Martin Luther King, Jr. for Early Elementary
Description:

This lesson is an adaptation of a lesson in Character Education Made Easy. It helps early elementary students (especially kindergartners) learn about the influence of Martin Luther King, Jr., why he is remembered, and the problems he worked to change.

Subject: Social Studies (10)
Title: Learning About Colonial Life
Description:

This is a group activity that allows students to use predictions to learn about the lifestyle of American colonists.

Subject: English Language Arts (1 - 2)
Title: Let's Describe! (Adjectives Lesson)
Description:

Students will learn what an adjective is and how to categorize adjectives using an interactive sorting game. Students will compete with each other by categorizing adjectives by color, shape, size, and kind. Students will have to read and sort the adjective word cards. The student with no adjective word cards first, wins! Furthermore, students will use magazine photographs to describe nouns and write sentences.

This is a College- and Career-Ready Standards showcase lesson plan.

Subject: English Language Arts (7)
Title: Fakebook: Analyzing Point of View in Duck Dynasty
Description:

After reading the book Duck commander family: how faith, family, and ducks built a dynasty, students will analyze characters and their varying points of view by creating two social media pages to represent them. Students will use the digital format of a Fakebook page to represent two individual people from the book. Profiles for their characters should accurately represent the characters' likes and dislikes, interests, and perspectives.

This is a college-and career-ready standards showcase lesson plan.

Subject: Mathematics (6)
Title: Forecasting Statistics
Description:

Students will research the ten-day weather forecast. They will document the highs for ten days as well as the lows for ten days. Once students document this information, they will find the mean, median, mode, and range of the data collected.

This is a College- and Career-Ready Standards showcase lesson plan.

Subject: Digital Literacy and Computer Science (9 - 12), English Language Arts (12)
Title: Elephants, Tigers, and Gamecocks... Oh My! Where Will You Go to College?
Description:

Students will research various colleges of their choosing in order to best prepare for post-secondary endeavors. The research will be conducted using a handout with specific questions for students to answer about each college. Students will present findings in a brochure or slideshow presentation.

This is a College- and Career-Ready Standards showcase lesson plan.

Subject: English Language Arts (1 - 2)
Title: All-American Diva, Ruby Bridges
Description:

In this lesson, students will discover the impact Ruby Bridges made in history when she became the first black child to attend a white school. Your students will be sure to fall in love with the story Ruby has to tell and how this child's courage changed life in the United States.

This is a College- and Career-Ready Standards showcase lesson plan.

Subject: English Language Arts (11)
Title: Understanding You: Using Understood You in Fiction Writing
Description:

In this lesson, students will compose their own nonfiction essay using understood you as the narrative technique.

This is a College- and Career-Ready Standards showcase lesson plan.

Subject: Character Education (K - 12), English Language Arts (2)
Title: The Empty Pot
Description:

This lesson will help students identify the moral of the story The Empty Pot by Demi. During this lesson, students will have an opportunity to discuss and write about the character trait of honesty. Students will share about a time when they demonstrated this character trait.

This is a College- and Career-Ready Standards showcase lesson plan.

Subject: Mathematics (2)
Title: Who is the Greatest?
Description:

Students will gain more conceptual understanding of comparing 3-digit numbers. They will build numbers using base ten blocks and a hundreds chart and work with a partner to decide which number is greater. They will be making decisions about which place value to put the digits in to construct the greatest number.

This is a College- and Career-Ready Standards showcase lesson plan.

Subject: Mathematics (6)
Title: Wonder Number Line
Description:

This lesson allows students to become familiar with a number line. Students can explore a number line and develop knowledge of numerical concepts. While it covers a 6th grade standard, this lesson can be used as part of a 7th or 8th grade lesson on integers.

This is a College- and Career-Ready Standards showcase lesson plan.

Subject: English Language Arts (1), Character Education (K - 12), Arts Education (1)
Title: Are You Jumping for Joy or Pitching a Fit?
Description:

What makes you jump? When someone scares you? When you are fuming mad? When you are excited about scoring a goal? In this lesson, students will explore all the reasons that make us jump. The students will write a poem about a time they jumped and make a simple collage of themselves jumping.

This is a College- and Career-Ready Standards showcase lesson plan.

Subject: Mathematics (9 - 12)
Title: PER - PIN - TIC - YOU - LER!(Part 2 to Take the Stairs Lesson)
Description:

This lesson allows students to investigate the slope criteria and characteristics of perpendicular lines using graphing calculators and rectangle/square tiles. Students will also use equations and graphs. Students will work cooperatively to develop and justify ideas/conjectures.

This is a College- and Career-Ready Standards showcase lesson plan.

Subject: English Language Arts (9)
Title: Connotation and Denotation in 'My Papa's Waltz'
Description:

Students will review the meanings of connotation and denotation. Students will apply knowledge of connotation and denotation to "My Papa's Waltz" by Theodore Roethke.

This is a College- and Career-Ready Standards showcase lesson plan.

Subject: English Language Arts (2)
Title: Giddy Up Cinderella
Description:

Students will read two different western versions of the story, "Cinderella." They will engage in activities where they will compare and contrast different versions of the story. Students will participate in listening, speaking, and writing activities that require them to reflect on the stories.

This is a College- and Career-Ready Standards showcase lesson plan.

Subject: Mathematics (9 - 12)
Title: Burst the Inverse!
Description:

This lesson allows students to investigate functions and their inverses by hand and using graphing calculators. Students will also use equations and graphs. Students will work cooperatively to develop and justify ideas/conjectures about functions and inverses.

This is a College- and Career-Ready Standards showcase lesson plan.

Subject: Mathematics (1)
Title: Let's Throw Paper!! Addition Game
Description:

Students will throw addition problems or answers (on paper) across the classroom and find the matching problem or answer! Students will use mental math to compute the matching answer. Students will quietly walk around the classroom to find the person with the matching paper. Let’s throw math around!

This is a College- and Career-Ready Standards showcase lesson plan.

Subject: Mathematics (9 - 12)
Title: Does Size Matter?
Description:

This lesson allows students to add and to subtract Matrices. Students can use graphing calculators to input Matrices. Students will work cooperatively to develop and justify ideas/conjectures.

This is a College- and Career-Ready Standards showcase lesson plan.

Subject: Social Studies (10)
Title: The Art of the Conquest of Mexico
Description:

Students will explore two different interpretations of the Conquest of Mexico by the Spanish, one in art and the other in literature. The perspectives of the same events as seen by the Spanish and the Aztecs will be explored. Students will highlight portions of both pieces of art to gain perspective of both sides.

This is a College- and Career-Ready Standards showcase lesson plan.

Subject: Social Studies (1 - 2)
Title: All-American Diva, Ruby Bridges
Description:

This is a College- and Career-Ready Standards showcase lesson plan.

Subject: English Language Arts (9 - 10)
Title: Beyond Plot Summary Part 2: Critical Thinking and Writing About Plot Development
Description:

In this second half of a two-part lesson, students will identify and explain the plot development of a class text, generate their reflections and original ideas, and participate in a discussion regarding how events interact and shape character, mood, tone, and conflict.

This is a College- and Career-Ready Standards showcase lesson plan.

Subject: English Language Arts (12)
Title: What Do Women Most Desire?
Description:

Students will conduct survey-based research and compile data that compares the responses that the knights from The Wife of Bath's Tale received to the response of persons in modern day society.

This is a College- and Career-Ready Standards showcase lesson plan.

View Standards

Standard(s): [MA2019] AL1-19 (9-12) 17 :

17. Combine different types of standard functions to write, evaluate, and interpret functions in context. Limit to linear, quadratic, exponential, and absolute value functions.

a. Use arithmetic operations to combine different types of standard functions to write and evaluate functions.

b. Use function composition to combine different types of standard functions to write and evaluate functions.

Example: Given the following relationships, determine what the expression S(T(t)) represents.

Function	Input	Output
G	Amount of studying: s	Grade in course: G(s)
S	Grade in course: g	Amount of screen time: S(g)
T	Amount of screen time: t	Number of follers: T(t)

Subject: Mathematics (9 - 12)
Title: It's All in the Family
Description:

Students will be motivated to learn how to build new linear functions from existing linear functions. Students will bring pictures of themselves and their parents from home to personally involve them in the lesson. Students will learn to use the patterns inherent in functions to quickly and accurately graph linear functions. This lesson will only deal with vertical shifts and the steepness of the line. Horizontal shifts will be dealt with in future lessons. In addtion, in future lessons students will transfer this knowledge to also graph exponential, quadratic, and absolute value functions.

This is a College- and Career-Ready Standards showcase lesson plan.

Subject: English Language Arts (1)
Title: Listening Comprehension Read Aloud-Who Was Ruby Bridges?
Description:

Listening to narrative text offers students a chance to go beyond decoding and word meaning. Listening as the teacher reads a story gives students an opportunity to appreciate, and draw significance, and meaning as well as informal practice using story elements. Listening to read-alouds gives the teacher the opportunity to model "close" reading skills as well as model thinking.

This is a College- and Career-Ready Standards showcase lesson plan.

Subject: Mathematics (6)
Title: Nets: Message in a Box
Description:

In cooperative/collaborative groups, students will compare and contrast a two-dimensional pattern and a three-dimensional shape. Students will use a net to label and then construct a rectangular prism. Students will find the surface area of a rectangular prism. As a final performance task, students will create a message box.

Subject: Mathematics (5), Mathematics (5)
Title: You Sank My Coordinate Plane! (an introductory lesson in coordinate planes)
Description:

If you grab a bunch of jump ropes and tell your kids you're going outside, you can trick them into thinking they are getting recess. Instead, you can surprise them with a math lesson about how to identify the points on the coordinate plane!

This is a College- and Career-Ready Standards showcase lesson plan.

Subject: Mathematics (6), Mathematics (6)
Title: Factorials: Let's have a Dinner Party!
Description:

In collaborative groups of four, students will act out a dinner party where four dinner guests will attend. The students must act out the different ways to arrange four dinner guests.

This is a College- and Career-Ready Standards showcase lesson plan.

Subject: Social Studies (1)
Title: Listening Comprehension Read Aloud-Who Was Ruby Bridges?
Description:

This is a College- and Career-Ready Standards showcase lesson plan.

Subject: Science (2)
Title: Spiders: Are They Scary or Nice?
Description:

Children often do not understand spiders because spiders look scary. In this lesson, students will graph spider preferences and record observations of spiders in a natural habitat. Students will research spider information using the Internet. Students will illustrate a vivarium for a spider habitat, including five environmental characteristics.

This is a College- and Career-Ready Standards showcase lesson plan.

Subject: Mathematics (3)
Title: Roll 'N Round to Win
Description:

This lesson is a hands-on, game-based lesson. It should be part of a larger unit of study on number sense, estimation, and/or place value. The lesson involves students in a game-based activity which gives them a concrete understanding of the relationship between number values, place value, and the accepted mathematical rule for rounding numbers.

This is a College- and Career-Ready Standards showcase lesson plan.

Subject: Mathematics (2)
Title: Roll an Array
Description:

This lesson presents a hands-on partner activity to introduce second graders to making rectangular arrays. Students will use number dice to roll numbers and then build the coordinating array. An equation will be written to show the sum of the equal addends.

This is a College- and Career-Ready Standards showcase lesson plan.

Subject: English Language Arts (11)
Title: Jump at 'de Sun! Let's become Zoraheads!
Description:

Students will learn about Zora Neale Hurston at the beginning of a unit on Their eyes were watching God. Using the essay "How it Feels to be Colored Me," students will discuss the use of metaphors in correlation to Hurston's life. Students will also construct a poem using metaphors pertaining to their own lives.

This is a College- and Career-Ready Standards showcase lesson plan.

Subject: Mathematics (9 - 12)
Title: Take the Stairs to Slope!
Description:

This lesson allows students to investigate the slope criteria and characteristics of parallel lines using graphing calculators and school staircases. Students will also use equations and graphs. Students will work cooperatively to develop and justify ideas/conjectures.

This is a College- and Career-Ready Standards showcase lesson plan.

Subject: English Language Arts (9 - 12)
Title: Understanding Poetry: Annotating Puritan Poetry
Description:

This lesson is part of a larger unit dealing with Early American Literature. In this lesson, students will become familiar with the figurative devices and strategies that 17th Century Puritan poets use when creating closed or fixed-form poetry.

This is a College- and Career-Ready Standards showcase lesson plan.

Subject: Mathematics (6 - 7)
Title: How Far Can You Leap?
Description:

This lesson will allow students to become familiar with the concept of unit rate. Through an open investigation students will develop methods to find unit rate with a table, equivalent ratios, or an equation. This is a lesson to be used as part of a unit with "Painter Problems" and "How Big Should It Be?"

This is a College- and Career-Ready Standards showcase lesson plan.

Subject: English Language Arts (4)
Title: Inferencing Detective
Description:

Students will learn to make inferences based on evidence and prior knowledge about their teacher (by looking at objects), classmates (by viewing drawings or PowerPoint), and a reading passage.

This is a College- and Career-Ready Standards showcase lesson plan.

Subject: Mathematics (1)
Title: Spiders: Are They Scary or Nice?
Description:

This is a College- and Career-Ready Standards showcase lesson plan.

Subject: Mathematics (6 - 7)
Title: How Big Should it Be?
Description:

This lesson will allow students to become familiar with the concept of equivalent ratios and similar objects. Through an open investigation, students will develop methods to find equivalent ratios. This is a lesson to be used as part of a unit with Painter Problems and How Far Can You Leap found in ALEX.

This is a College- and Career-Ready Standards showcase lesson plan.

Subject: English Language Arts (K - 2)
Title: Down With the Nouns
Description:

Students will learn nouns by using an interactive sorting game. Students will compete with each other by putting noun cards down on the floor categorized by person, place, animal, or thing. Students will have to read and sort the cards. The student with no noun cards first, wins!

This is a College- and Career-Ready Standards showcase lesson plan.

Subject: Mathematics (1)
Title: Where Oh Where Has My Addend Gone?
Description:

Students will use number bonds and counters as a strategy for finding the missing addend. Students will become aware of the relationship between addition and subtraction. They will also use counting as it is related to addition and subtraction.

This is a College- and Career-Ready Standards showcase lesson plan.

Subject: Mathematics (6)
Title: Michael Phelps.... or not?
Description:

This lesson is created to have students compare themselves to Michael Phelps and the features that make him such a good swimmer. Students will measure their height and arm span and graph them on a coordinate graph. Students will then compare their height and arm span to their classmates' to see who might be the best swimmer in the class!

This is a College- and Career-Ready Standards showcase lesson plan.

Subject: English Language Arts (9 - 10)
Title: Beyond Plot Summary Part 1: Critical Thinking and Writing About Plot Development
Description:

Students will delve into discussion and writing about plot development, including generating their own reflections, original ideas, and influences on how events interact and shape character, mood, tone, and conflict.

This is a College- and Career-Ready Standards showcase lesson plan.

Subject: Mathematics (4)
Title: Let's Go Shopping
Description:

Students will be given a task card stating how to spend a certain amount of money. Students must look through sale papers, find the items to purchase, add the totals, multiply quantities, subtract from the total, and write a check to purchase the items.

This is a College- and Career-Ready Standards showcase lesson plan.

Subject: Mathematics (6)
Title: Painter Problems
Description:

This lesson will allow students to become familiar with ratios. In this investigative lesson students will compare ratios and determine equivalent ratios. This is an introductory lesson to be used as part of a unit.

This is a College- and Career-Ready Standards showcase lesson plan.

Subject: Mathematics (6)
Title: Decimals: Carlos the Centipede goes shopping for Christmas gifts!
Description:

Carlos the Centipede and his friend are Christmas Shopping for friends and family. Carlos will add, subtract, multiply, and divide decimals. Carlos will change percents to decimals to get all the great discounts during this season of the year. In addition, he will calculate tax on his purchases.

Subject: English Language Arts (6)
Title: Socratic Seminar About Non-Conformity
Description:

Students will participate in a Socratic Seminar to discuss the idea of non-conformity as a relative theme in the novel Stargirl. Students will refer to text annotations and class discussions (completed TPFASTT optional) to make contributions to the student-led discussion.

This is a College- and Career-Ready Standards showcase lesson plan.

Subject: Digital Literacy and Computer Science (4), Mathematics (4)
Title: Wanted: Angles of all Sizes!
Description:

In this lesson, students will explore straight, right, acute and obtuse angles. Students will go to the playground to search for angles. The students will use digital cameras to record their findings. They will use their findings to create a PowerPoint to present to the class.

Subject: Mathematics (K)
Title: Heart Graphing
Description:

During this lesson students will complete hands-on activities.Technology will be incorporated with this lesson. Students will sort conversation heart candy by colors. Students will then use their data to complete picture graphs.

Subject: Mathematics (5)
Title: Gallon Man Meets Fraction Friend: An Introductory Lesson on Adding Fractions with Unlike Denominators
Description:

This hands-on, minds-on activity helps students use what they already know about customary measurement (CCRS 2010 #18 [5.MD.1]: Convert among different-sized standard measurement units within a given measurement system.) to help them add and subtract fractions with like and unlike denominators.

Subject: Mathematics (K)
Title: Twizzler Measurement
Description:

Students will use technology, hands-on interaction, and active participation to compare and measure different heights of objects.

Subject: Mathematics (1)
Title: Adding with the Associative Property
Description:

Students will learn ways to add using the associative property of addition. Students will view a PowerPoint presentation to introduce associative property of addition.

Subject: Digital Literacy and Computer Science (3), Social Studies (3)
Title: Master of Disaster (Elementary Grades)
Description:

Students will research natural disasters and their impact on people. They will work in teams to design a disaster preparedness guide to share with the community to reduce the impact of a natural disaster utilizing various creativity apps on the iPad.

Subject: Digital Literacy and Computer Science (9 - 12), Science (9 - 12)
Title: Masters of Disaster (High School)
Description:

Subject: Digital Literacy and Computer Science (6), Science (6)
Title: Masters of Disaster (Middle Grades)
Description:

Subject: English Language Arts (1), Digital Literacy and Computer Science (1)
Title: Getting to Know You
Description:

The students will go on an in-school scavenger hunt to get to know the many kinds of people that make up an elementary school community. They will work in small groups and use digital cameras to take pictures of the workers they find. By completing the scavenger hunt, the students will gain a better understanding of how we are all dependent on one another in a small community.

ALEX Lesson Plans: 430

ALEX Unit Plans

Subject: English Language Arts (2), Science (2)
Title: If We Ran the Zoo
Description:

Students will work in collaborative groups to research popular zoo animals to identify their habitat, diet, life span, predators, endangered status, adaptations, and physical characteristics. Students will determine if captivity is beneficial or harmful to their chosen animal. They will also investigate the impact the animal has on the environment. Both print and digital media will be utilized in the students' research. A culminating activity will allow students to create a slide show, board or video game, book, poster, or trifold display to place in an animal museum for parents and the school to view.

This unit was created as part of the ALEX Interdisciplinary Resource Development Summit.

Subject: English Language Arts (5), Social Studies (5), Mathematics (5), Science (5)
Title: Natural Resources Shared Naturally
Description:

Natural resources provides what living things need to survive and thrive. This unit explores the transfer of energy throughout the food chain, investigates the amounts of rainfall in a region, examines the patterns of Native Americans settling adjacent to water, and guides students as they design animals that would survive in a wet biome. The math, science, history, and language arts lessons included are strong enough to stand alone, but when taught simultaneously, strengthen each of the 5th grade standards.

This unit was created as part of the ALEX Interdisciplinary Resource Development Summit.

Subject: English Language Arts (4), Social Studies (4)
Title: The Impact of the Great Depression on the Lives of Alabamians
Description:

The unit will incorporate research and investigation into the impact the 1920s and the Great Depression had on different socioeconomic groups in Alabama. After exploring various texts related to the topic, students will determine the causes and effects of the Great Depression on the social, political, and economic impact on the lives of Alabamians. As a culminating activity, students will write a five-paragraph essay explaining their findings.

This unit was created as part of the ALEX Interdisciplinary Resource Development Summit.

Subject: Mathematics (3), Social Studies (3), English Language Arts (3), Science (3), Digital Literacy and Computer Science (3)
Title: Reducing the Impact of a Flood
Description:

In relation to science, students will evaluate a dam design that reduces the impacts of a flood. Students will describe the relationship between scientific ideas or concepts using language that pertains to cause and effect in reference to dam design. Using technology to produce and publish writing, students will interact and collaborate with others on their dam design. In math, students will draw a scaled bar graph to represent dam and flood data over time and then use rulers marked with halves and fourths of an inch to measure lengths and construct their own dam. Students will also interpret various primary sources for reconstructing the past, including documents and photographs about dam designs.

This unit was created as a part of the ALEX Interdisciplinary Resource Development Summit.

Subject: Mathematics (2), Social Studies (2), English Language Arts (2)
Title: Time After Time
Description:

The unit will focus on ordering common events by times, days, months, steps, or events. Students will utilize biographies and books on national symbols to read and interpret timelines. Groups will use historical text and primary sources to create timelines by using rulers to measure equal-spaced points. Students will also create a timeline to reconstruct the history of their school staff and create individual timelines to reconstruct a history of their own past.

This unit was created as part of the ALEX Interdisciplinary Resource Development Summit.

Subject: Science (3), Social Studies (3), Mathematics (3), English Language Arts (3), Digital Literacy and Computer Science (3)
Title: Increasing Public Safety During Tornadoes
Description:

After collecting information on climates in different geographic regions through digital sources, text, and illustrations, students will understand various natural disasters, as well as how and why they occur. Next, students will research the cause and effects of tornadoes and write a cause and effect two-paragraph essay. For the third lesson, students will research different designs of storm shelters and determine which storm shelter they feel has the best design. Students will research states with most occurrences of tornadoes and determine the ten states with the highest average of tornadoes over a certain time period and create bar and picture graphs of their findings. Students will research and use information from lesson three to sketch and create an engineering prototype of a structure which addresses a particular type of storm damage.

This unit was created as part of the ALEX Interdisciplinary Resource Development Summit.

Subject: Science (K), English Language Arts (K), Mathematics (K)
Title: Solutions to Lessen Human Impact on the Environment
Description:

The unit will investigate the human impact on the environment. During the investigation, the students will identify the possible solutions to lessen the human impact on the local environment, plan possible solutions to lessen the human impact on the local environment, and identify potential human impacts on the local environment. This will be implemented through an introduction lesson with a guest speaker, an informational writing piece, a classroom recycle project, and a summative group video where students present solutions to lessen human impact on the local environment.

This unit was created as part of the ALEX Interdisciplinary Resource Development Summit.

ALEX Unit Plans: 7