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Save the Oceans!

We The People, The Natural World

Save the Oceans!

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45 Minutes

Students learn about and discuss the importance of conserving and sustainably using the world's oceans and then create advertisements to persuade others of the importance of oceans.

Discover Activity

Say the Line Improv

Arts in Action, Stories and Perspectives

Say the Line Improv

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45 Minutes

Have fun with improv! In groups of 3, students are given a scenario, such as "customer at a shoe store" or "students in the cafeteria line." Two of the students are given a target line, such as "Do you sell clown shoes?" or "No, we don't have cheeseburgers today," which they must get the third student to say. Watch the creativity and laughter ensue as you build on students’ improvisation skills.

Discover Activity

Schedule an International Meeting

Future Ready: Learning and Earning, STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore

Schedule an International Meeting

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45 Minutes

Students explore the challenges and benefits of online meetings between participants located all over the world. In the process, they learn about time zones and practice applying them, and they explore translation software.

Discover Activity

School Start Time Debate

Belonging and Community, We The People

School Start Time Debate

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45 Minutes

Students debate whether their school starts too early, discussing research on the effects of school start times and articulating why school should begin earlier or later.

Discover Activity

School Time Debate

Belonging and Community, Stories and Perspectives

School Time Debate

Mizzen Education, Inc.

3 - 5

45 Minutes

Does your school start classes too early, too late, or at the ideal time? In this activity, students will participate in a debate of this question. They will identify facts in support of their arguments, respond to critiques and questions, and if possible, agree on a resolution.

Discover Activity

Science Notebooks Across Time

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, The Natural World

Science Notebooks Across Time

California Academy of Sciences

3 - 12

1 Hour

Students peruse sample pages from the notebooks of many different scientists, including scientists their own age, high school scientists, science teachers, and field scientists dating back to 1905. They consider how scientists have used notebooks over the last several hundred years, and start to think about how they'll use their own.

Discover Activity

Scientific Sketching Practice

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, Arts in Action

Scientific Sketching Practice

California Academy of Sciences

3 - 12

45 Minutes

Conducting science involves both careful observation and drawing what you see. Most students won’t know where to start if you ask them to sketch a crayfish, a beaker, or even a rock. Lay the foundation for sketching by explicitly teaching drawing techniques so students can build the confidence and skills they need to sketch during science investigations.

Discover Activity

Seascape

Arts in Action, The Natural World

Seascape

Mizzen Education, Inc.

K - 2

45 Minutes

First, children paint a seascape with water, waves, and a beach. Then, on separate paper, they draw sea animals: fish, crabs, dolphins, sharks, and so on. Next, children cut out the animals, arrange them on their background, and glue them down. They discuss the design element of balance.

Discover Activity

Seasonal Collages

Stories and Perspectives, Arts in Action

Seasonal Collages

Mizzen Education, Inc.

K - 2

45 Minutes

Children work in groups to create photo collages that represent a season. They discuss and compare their collages, and use them to describe seasonal changes.

Discover Activity

Secret Sentence

Stories and Perspectives, STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore

Secret Sentence

Mizzen Education, Inc.

K - 2

45 Minutes

Children must discern matching patterns to link together word cards and reveal a secret message. This activity builds spatial reasoning and cooperative learning skills.

Discover Activity

Sensational Seaweed

The Natural World, STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore

Sensational Seaweed

California Academy of Sciences

3 - 8

1 Hour

Students learn the parts of algae, compare them to land plants, and rotate through exploration stations to investigate seaweed close up with their different senses.

Discover Activity

Sentence Put Together and Break Apart

Stories and Perspectives, Digital Voices

Sentence Put Together and Break Apart

Mizzen Education, Inc.

K - 2

45 Minutes

Writing “super silly sentences” puts a fun twist on writing practice. In this activity, children become engaged in writing sentences, deconstructing sentences, and then reconstructing sentences that others have taken apart.

Discover Activity

Shadow Puppet Stage!

Arts in Action, Stories and Perspectives

Shadow Puppet Stage!

Rediscover Center

K - 8

1 Hour 30 Minutes

In this activity, students will build a stage and put on a puppet show! The stage may include props, curtains, and a light source for a shadow puppet show. There are a lot of options that students can use to build their stage!

This activity is part 2 of 2 in the Shadow Puppet Activities by reDiscover Center.

Discover Activity

Shadow Puppets

Arts in Action, Stories and Perspectives

Shadow Puppets

Rediscover Center

K - 8

45 Minutes

In this activity, students will make shadow puppets. They will make them out of recyclable materials like what they can find around their homes. Then they'll create or re-enact a short story for their puppets to act out!

This activity is part 1 of 2 in the Shadow Puppet Activities by reDiscover Center.

Discover Activity

Shakespeare Scene Work

Arts in Action, Stories and Perspectives

Shakespeare Scene Work

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45 Minutes

Students collaborate to plan and perform a short scene from Shakespeare. In order to decide how the scene will be played, students will briefly analyze and discuss the characters, motive, plot, setting, and how the language expresses the underlying meaning in the scene.

Discover Activity

Shakespeare Scenes and You

Arts in Action, Stories and Perspectives

Shakespeare Scenes and You

Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45 Minutes

The work of Shakespeare presents both a challenge and an opportunity to middle school student-actors. In this activity, students work in groups to practice and perform a short selection from a Shakespeare play. They recognize that the works of Shakespeare portray universal themes that apply to modern life.

Discover Activity

Shape Hunt

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, The Natural World

Shape Hunt

Mizzen Education, Inc.

K - 2

45 Minutes

Children in primary grades are familiar with basic geometric shapes, such as circles, squares, and rectangles. However, they may not recognize that these shapes are ideal constructions that may not be duplicated perfectly in the world around them. In this activity, children identify familiar shapes that are hiding in plain sight in the environment and accept that irregular shapes are generally more common.

Discover Activity

Shifting the Frame (Student Reporting Labs)

Digital Voices, Stories and Perspectives

Shifting the Frame (Student Reporting Labs)

PBS

6 - 12

50 Minutes

Students will visually map portrayals of their communities in the news media. The result will be a graphic organizer of unique perspectives and story ideas.

This is activity 1 of 16 in the PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs Module. Visit the Module to learn more before getting started.

Discover Activity

Ship to Shore (Team Building) Game

Belonging and Community, Leadership and Teamwork

Ship to Shore (Team Building) Game

!Mpact Players

K - 12

20 Minutes

To learn how to play "Ship to Shore," click the link below to watch an easy-to-learn tutorial video.

Discover Activity

Should Hate Speech Be Protected by the First Amendment?

We The People, Digital Voices

Should Hate Speech Be Protected by the First Amendment?

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

55 Minutes

Many scholars cite the First Amendment of the United States Constitution as the most important set of rights in any functioning democracy. Students should understand these basic rights and how they have been challenged, and continue to be, throughout our history. The censorship of hate speech is 1 example of how the First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of speech, relates and helps inform the debates in which Americans engage today. This activity will help students consider some of the arguments both in favor of and against the censorship of hate speech.

Discover Activity

Should You Always Tell the Truth? (Grades 6-8)

Belonging and Community, Stories and Perspectives

Should You Always Tell the Truth? (Grades 6-8)

Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45 Minutes

Students discuss examples of lying in the course of daily life, and whether the lie was ultimately the best choice.

Discover Activity

Should You Always Tell the Truth? (Grades 9-12)

Belonging and Community, Stories and Perspectives

Should You Always Tell the Truth? (Grades 9-12)

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45 Minutes

In this activity, students work in groups to discuss examples of lying in daily life. They decide whether or not each lie was the right choice. Then they tally their results and compare them with the results of the other groups.

Discover Activity

Should the Electoral College Be Reformed? (Grades 6-8)

We The People, Stories and Perspectives

Should the Electoral College Be Reformed? (Grades 6-8)

Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45 Minutes

The electoral college has served the United States since the beginning of the nation. Is now the time to reform this method of electing the president? In this activity, students present arguments for or against this question based on the perspective of citizens from various states. They may reach the conclusion that replacing the electoral college may address only some of the complaints that people have leveled at it.

Discover Activity

Should the Electoral College Be Reformed? (Grades 9-12)

We The People, Stories and Perspectives

Should the Electoral College Be Reformed? (Grades 9-12)

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

55 Minutes

The Founding Fathers established the electoral college in the Constitution, in part, as a compromise between the election of the president by a vote in Congress and the election of the president by a popular vote of qualified citizens. Every state gets at least 3 electoral votes because a state's number of electors is identical to the total number of its senators and representatives in Congress. Seven states have the minimum 3 electors. Washington, D.C., also has 3 electoral votes because of the 23rd Amendment, which gave the nation's capital as many electors as the state with the fewest electoral votes. California has the most electoral votes with 55. Texas is next with 38. New York and Florida have 29 apiece. The founders were concerned that average Americans would lack enough information about the candidates to make intelligent choices. So informed "electors" would stand in for them. Has the electoral college become obsolete in the age of mass communication and a more educated citizenry? We will look at that question in this lesson.

Discover Activity

Show Me How

Stories and Perspectives, Belonging and Community

Show Me How

Mizzen Education, Inc.

3 - 5

45 Minutes

Public speaking can be challenging and overwhelming at first, but the more you practice, the easier it gets. Students get a taste of public speaking as they present a how-to project.

Discover Activity

Show Me the Money! Financing a Small Business

Future Ready: Learning and Earning, STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore

Show Me the Money! Financing a Small Business

Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45 Minutes

Students explore how startups and other businesses obtain funding through loans. They begin by brainstorming what resources they would need to start a business and how they would obtain those resources. They then identify potential sources of funding before breaking into teams to learn about small business loans. Students watch a video about a small business owner and answer questions about the lending process. They identify factors that lenders consider and define key terms that borrowers need to know. Teams practice calculating interest, total repayment amounts, and monthly installments on different loan amounts. Finally they match loans to business needs.

Discover Activity

Sign Language Bingo!

Belonging and Community, Stories and Perspectives

Sign Language Bingo!

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45 Minutes

Students learn American Sign Language (ASL) signs for common snacks. They practice the signs in small groups, and then use the signs to play a game of bingo.

Discover Activity

Signs of Winter

The Natural World, STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore

Signs of Winter

National Wildlife Federation

K - 5

50 Minutes

Seasons change throughout the year because of the Earth’s tilt. Earth sits on an invisible access, and as it revolves around the sun, the amount of sunlight we receive in the United States changes. In winter, the U.S. gets less sunlight, and therefore we see cooler temperatures and changes in precipitation, animal behavior, and plants, shrubs, and trees. Signs of winter include:

● most grasses are brown—lying dormant for the winter to conserve water and nutrients
● frozen ponds/streams
● cozy squirrel nests
● trees with no leaves
● buds on trees/shrubs that will become
● new leaves or flowers in the spring
● temperatures are cooler/colder; people may be wearing hats and coats
● birds with fluffed up feathers
● dogs with thicker layers of fur
● snow
● holly bush with red berries

Discover Activity

Simon Says Move!

Leadership and Teamwork, Arts in Action

Simon Says Move!

Mizzen Education, Inc.

K - 2

45 Minutes

Children move to music while the leader designates certain kinds of movements (rather than poses) such as "Simon says take two steps forward," "Hop on your right foot and turn around," and "Simon says swing around in a circle low to the ground."

Discover Activity

Simon Says Variation

Stories and Perspectives, Belonging and Community

Simon Says Variation

Mizzen Education, Inc.

K - 2

45 Minutes

Young children are still developing listening skills and their ability to follow complex instructions. In this activity, children will play a game of Simon Says but with 2-step and 3-step instructions. This will help build confidence in listening and following instructions.

Discover Activity

Simon Says…Exercise!

Leadership and Teamwork, Whole Body, Whole Self

Simon Says…Exercise!

Mizzen Education, Inc.

K - 2

45 Minutes

In this activity, students discuss why exercise is important, how often they should exercise, and identify examples of exercises. Then, they brainstorm examples of exercise movements that will be used in a game of Simon Says.

Discover Activity

Simple Clay Animal Figures

Arts in Action, Belonging and Community

Simple Clay Animal Figures

OregonASK

3 - 12

30 Minutes

Students create animal figures by using clay and their hands. Also, students learn about the symbolic meanings that animals bring to all cultures, especially the Mayans.

Discover Activity

Simple Clay Human Figures Full Body

Arts in Action, Stories and Perspectives

Simple Clay Human Figures Full Body

OregonASK

K - 8

1 Hour

Students learn one technique for sculpting human bodies. Students will also learn important clay making skills.

Discover Activity

Simple Signs

Belonging and Community, Stories and Perspectives

Simple Signs

Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45 Minutes

In this activity, students learn about American Sign Language (ASL) and practice some of the simpler signs. They use their new signing ability to communicate messages to each other.

Discover Activity

Simultaneous Chess

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, Leadership and Teamwork

Simultaneous Chess

Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45 Minutes

One highly skilled chess player plays simultaneously against two or more opponents. This activity builds planning, logic, strategy, and cooperative learning skills.

Discover Activity

Singing and Rhythm

Arts in Action, Stories and Perspectives

Singing and Rhythm

Mizzen Education, Inc.

K - 2

45 Minutes

Familiar and favorite songs, such as "Row Row Row Your Boat" and "Rain Rain Go Away," are turned into rhythm and movement activities. Children clap and count the rhythm of syllables, and then stomp and march to the music.

Discover Activity

Sink the Ping-Pong Ball

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, The Natural World

Sink the Ping-Pong Ball

Mizzen Education, Inc.

3 - 5

45 Minutes

Students work together to design and build a cage that will cause a Ping-Pong ball to sink in water, exploring the concept of density and how it explains whether objects float or sink.

Discover Activity

Sketching for Observation Exercises

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, The Natural World

Sketching for Observation Exercises

California Academy of Sciences

K - 12

3 Hours

Scientific sketching isn’t about making a pretty picture! It’s about looking at something so closely you notice something new. These exercises help students practice sketching for observation, data collection, and analysis during a science investigation.

Discover Activity

Skills for 21st-Century Workers

Future Ready: Learning and Earning, We The People

Skills for 21st-Century Workers

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45 Minutes

In this activity, students research the skills that 21st-century workers need. First, they pick 3 careers from the included handout—a liberal arts career, a STEM career, and a vo-tech career. Then, they research those careers and take notes on the necessary skills.

Discover Activity

Skills for Workers in the Twenty-First Century

Future Ready: Learning and Earning, We The People

Skills for Workers in the Twenty-First Century

Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45 Minutes

What skills do workers need to develop for success in the twenty-first century? Students research and synthesize ideas about the working conditions and environment in which they will work in the future.

Discover Activity

Skip Counting Hip Hops

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, Leadership and Teamwork

Skip Counting Hip Hops

PowerUp Fitness

K - 2

5 Minutes

PowerUp Skip Counting Hip Hops - increase knowledge of multiples through movement and math integration.

Discover Activity

Slide-Show Presentation

Digital Voices, Stories and Perspectives

Slide-Show Presentation

Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45 Minutes

Today, computer projectors and presentation software have replaced physical slides and projectors. Nevertheless, the concept of the slide show is still useful. In this activity, students use modern technology to prepare and deliver slide shows for one another.

Discover Activity

Slideshow

Digital Voices, Stories and Perspectives

Slideshow

Mizzen Education, Inc.

3 - 5

45 Minutes

Preparing a presentation with PowerPoint or similar software can help students feel confident and excited about a research project. With minimal effort, their presentations can be engaging and look professional. In this activity, students will prepare and present a slideshow on a topic of their choice.

Discover Activity

Slideshow: A Day at the Zoo

Stories and Perspectives, Digital Voices

Slideshow: A Day at the Zoo

Mizzen Education, Inc.

K - 2

45 Minutes

Making slide presentations can introduce children to the power of computers and their many uses. In this activity, children collaborate with the leader to make a presentation about zoo animals.

Discover Activity

Slot Construction Animals

Arts in Action, Stories and Perspectives

Slot Construction Animals

Rediscover Center

K - 8

1 Hour

In this activity, students will use a cardboard construction technique called Slot Construction to make model animals. This technique allows them to build almost instantly without any glue or adhesives so they can explore how to make fun sculptures without always using reinforcements.

This is part 2 of 2 in the Slot Construction Activities by reDiscover Center.

Discover Activity

Slot Construction Sculptures

Arts in Action, Stories and Perspectives

Slot Construction Sculptures

Rediscover Center

K - 8

45 Minutes

In this activity, students will learn a cardboard construction technique called Slot Construction. This technique allows students to build almost instantly without any glue or adhesives so they can explore how to make fun sculptures without always using reinforcements.

This is part 1 of 2 in the Slot Construction Activities by reDiscover Center.

Discover Activity

Smoothies and Startups: The Costs of Starting a Business

Future Ready: Learning and Earning, STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore

Smoothies and Startups: The Costs of Starting a Business

Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45 Minutes

There's a well-known saying: It takes money to make money. Spending money is one of the realities of starting a business. Students will think like new business owners and consider their start-up costs as they develop a business plan.

Discover Activity

Snail Mail: Handwriting Practice

Stories and Perspectives, Digital Voices

Snail Mail: Handwriting Practice

Mizzen Education, Inc.

3 - 5

45 Minutes

Students practice their handwriting by writing a letter to a friend or family member. They can then either mail these letters (“snail mail”) or hand them to a friend.

Discover Activity

Social Media and Big Data

Digital Voices, STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore

Social Media and Big Data

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45 Minutes

In this activity, groups of students discuss social media privacy issues. Then they conduct a privacy survey. They graph the results in their groups, and then compare their results with the whole groups’ results.

Discover Activity

Social Responsibility and Popular Brands

We The People, Future Ready: Learning and Earning

Social Responsibility and Popular Brands

Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45 Minutes

Companies are in business to make a profit, and they must continue to be profitable to stay viable. Nevertheless, many companies at least claim to act responsibly for the greater good of society. In this activity, students will evaluate claims of social responsibility from 3 companies. Are these claims accurate and reasonable, or are they attempts to distract consumers or the government from other agendas?

Discover Activity

Socratic Seminar

Stories and Perspectives, Belonging and Community

Socratic Seminar

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45 Minutes

Students will have the opportunity to read an article and discuss it with their peers in a Socratic Seminar. Then, they will evaluate the effectiveness of Socratic Seminars.

Discover Activity

Solar System Bead Activity

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, The Natural World

Solar System Bead Activity

NASA

K - 8

1 Hour

Students construct -- and where appropriate, calculate -- a scale model of the solar system using beads and string.

Discover Activity

Something-Is-Missing Stories

Stories and Perspectives, Arts in Action

Something-Is-Missing Stories

Mizzen Education, Inc.

3 - 5

45 Minutes

Based on the popular Mad Libs activities, students write a story with a partner, leaving out key words but replacing them with the part of speech or a similar description. They exchange their stories with another pair to fill in the missing words.

Discover Activity

Sound Effects

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, The Natural World

Sound Effects

NASA

6 - 8

1 Hour

Students will learn about the principles of sound, specifically how to amplify and reduce sound volume. Students will construct a speaker to amplify the sound and then will be challenged to find a solution to reduce the perceived sound volume.

Discover Activity

Sound on a String

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, The Natural World

Sound on a String

NASA

K - 2

1 Hour 30 Minutes

Students will rotate through a series of center activities to develop a hypothesis for how sound travels as they experiment with different types of string, sizes of string, types of cups and sizes of cups.

Discover Activity

South America Scavenger Hunt

We The People, The Natural World

South America Scavenger Hunt

Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45 Minutes

Students learn about the geography of South America by participating in 2 scavenger hunts. First, they work in teams to find and label countries, islands, and physical features on the continent. Then, they look up key facts about assigned locations and take a “tour” of South America, keeping track of their route on maps.

Discover Activity

Southern States Pen Pals

We The People, Stories and Perspectives

Southern States Pen Pals

Mizzen Education, Inc.

3 - 5

45 Minutes

Students work in small groups to research the southern region of the United States and then write each other "pen pal" letters based on their research.

Discover Activity

Space and Time

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, Arts in Action

Space and Time

Jazz at Lincoln Center

3 - 8

1 Hour

Students practice moving through a subdivided space, a space which simultaneously represents fractions and musical notes. This practice allows students to witness firsthand both equivalent fractions and rhythm. Students then create their own unique rhythmic patterns.

Discover Activity

Speak and Listen (Grades 3-5)

Stories and Perspectives, Belonging and Community

Speak and Listen (Grades 3-5)

Mizzen Education, Inc.

3 - 5

45 Minutes

Students share details of their lives with one another, as well as stories, ideas, and plans for the future. Then they try to recall those details. This simple but effective activity builds speaking and listening skills while helping students learn more about their group.

Discover Activity

Speak and Listen (Grades 6-8)

Stories and Perspectives, Belonging and Community

Speak and Listen (Grades 6-8)

Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45 Minutes

Students share details of their lives with one another, as well as stories, ideas, and plans for the future. After listening to one another, they try to recall those details. This simple but effective activity builds speaking and listening skills while helping students learn more about their peers.

Discover Activity

Speak and Listen (Grades K-2)

Stories and Perspectives, Belonging and Community

Speak and Listen (Grades K-2)

Mizzen Education, Inc.

K - 2

45 Minutes

Children share details of their lives with one another and then try to recall those details. This simple but effective activity builds speaking and listening skills while helping children learn more about their group.

Discover Activity

Speed of the Human Nervous System

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, The Natural World

Speed of the Human Nervous System

Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45 Minutes

In this fun activity, students measure their reaction time to a stimulus. They determine whether reaction time improves with practice and whether it is affected by distractions. Students also learn that reacting to stimuli involves coordination and communication between the eyes and brain of the nervous system and the hand muscles of the muscular system.

Discover Activity

Spelling Bee (Grades K-2)

Stories and Perspectives, Arts in Action

Spelling Bee (Grades K-2)

Mizzen Education, Inc.

K - 2

45 Minutes

This activity provides a fun alternative to the traditional spelling bee. Children take turns spelling a word letter by letter, involving an element of chance. Play the game to build interest in spelling practice!

Discover Activity

Spelling Bee (Grades9-12)

Stories and Perspectives, Belonging and Community

Spelling Bee (Grades9-12)

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45 Minutes

In this activity, students are organized into small teams to play a game in which they must identify both correctly spelled words and incorrectly spelled words. The teams win points for corrections and lose points for incorrect answers. Teams are challenged to work together and strategize to score the most points to win.

Discover Activity

Spelling Survivor

Stories and Perspectives, Belonging and Community

Spelling Survivor

Mizzen Education, Inc.

3 - 5

45 Minutes

Spelling Survivor is a spelling bee with a twist. In this spelling bee students can use a lifeline to get a friend’s help and may be lucky and get a free pass on their round. Students will participate in a spelling bee to see who will be the last one standing, or the spelling survivor.

Discover Activity

Spill My Secret Word

Stories and Perspectives, Belonging and Community

Spill My Secret Word

Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45 Minutes

In this fun activity, students will apply language and communication skills to trick one another into saying their secret words. The activity builds language and vocabulary skills as students get to know one another.

Discover Activity

Sports Advertising

Digital Voices, Stories and Perspectives

Sports Advertising

Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45 Minutes

Youth discuss advertising and explore how ads are used in sports. They also examine the corporate sponsorship of sports teams as a form of advertising. Finally, youth predict how their own school or community sports teams might use ads by designing a uniform, field, or piece of sports equipment that features an advertisement.

Discover Activity

Sports Medicine

Leadership and Teamwork, Whole Body, Whole Self

Sports Medicine

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45 Minutes

In this activity, students learn about the field of sports medicine. They will discover several examples of sports medicine helping athletes prevent injuries or recover from them, as well as examples of the harm or damage that certain drugs have caused athletes.

Discover Activity

Startup Survival

Future Ready: Learning and Earning, Leadership and Teamwork

Startup Survival

Network For Teaching Entrepreneurship

6 - 12

1 Hour 40 Minutes

As an engaging way to introduce students to NFTE’s entrepreneurial mindset domains, students will either complete an interactive digital module or attempt to select the most important startup tools. Students finish the module by creating an EM Personal Growth Plan.

This lesson plan is written around the completion of a hands-on activity, but you can replace or supplement this activity with a couple of digital interactives. See the Modifications section at the end of this lesson plan for more details.

Discover Activity

State Capitals Freeze Tag

We The People, Leadership and Teamwork

State Capitals Freeze Tag

PowerUp Fitness

3 - 8

10 Minutes

PowerUp with Geography - practice state capital memorization with this fun freeze tag game.

Discover Activity

State Jumps

We The People, Leadership and Teamwork

State Jumps

PowerUp Fitness

3 - 8

10 Minutes

PowerUp with Geography - practice states and identify their geographic location with this unique state jump game!

Discover Activity

State Report

We The People, Stories and Perspectives

State Report

Mizzen Education, Inc.

3 - 5

45 Minutes

Students work in small groups to learn about a state and then create a presentation to give in front of the group.

Discover Activity

Stations of the Yamas and Niyamas of Yoga Philosophy

Whole Body, Whole Self, Belonging and Community

Stations of the Yamas and Niyamas of Yoga Philosophy

Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45 Minutes

Students learn about and discuss situations in which the first two limbs of yoga philosophy, the yamas and the niyamas (or restraints and observances), can be useful in daily life.

Discover Activity

Stats-Minded Scrabble® Tournament

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, We The People

Stats-Minded Scrabble® Tournament

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45 Minutes

In traditional games of Scrabble® or other word games, the player with the highest total score is declared the winner. Not so in today’s activity! Students will play a word game in which the winner achieves a certain statistical goal, such as a mean score closest to 12 points or a set of scores with the greatest standard deviation.

Discover Activity

Stomp Rockets

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, The Natural World

Stomp Rockets

NASA

3 - 12

1 Hour 30 Minutes

Work individually or in teams of two to construct and launch paper rockets using a teacher-built PVC-pipe launcher.
Following the flight of their rocket, calculate the altitude their rocket achieved. Based on the flight performance of their rockets, analyze their rocket designs, modify or rebuild them, launch again, and calculate the altitude achieved to determine if their changes affected the performance of the rocket. Conclude the activity by writing a post-flight mission report.

Discover Activity

Save the Oceans!

We The People, The Natural World

Save the Oceans!

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45 Minutes

Students learn about and discuss the importance of conserving and sustainably using the world's oceans and then create advertisements to persuade others of the importance of oceans.

Discover Activity

Say the Line Improv

Arts in Action, Stories and Perspectives

Say the Line Improv

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45 Minutes

Have fun with improv! In groups of 3, students are given a scenario, such as "customer at a shoe store" or "students in the cafeteria line." Two of the students are given a target line, such as "Do you sell clown shoes?" or "No, we don't have cheeseburgers today," which they must get the third student to say. Watch the creativity and laughter ensue as you build on students’ improvisation skills.

Discover Activity

Schedule an International Meeting

Future Ready: Learning and Earning, STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore

Schedule an International Meeting

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45 Minutes

Students explore the challenges and benefits of online meetings between participants located all over the world. In the process, they learn about time zones and practice applying them, and they explore translation software.

Discover Activity

School Start Time Debate

Belonging and Community, We The People

School Start Time Debate

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45 Minutes

Students debate whether their school starts too early, discussing research on the effects of school start times and articulating why school should begin earlier or later.

Discover Activity

School Time Debate

Belonging and Community, Stories and Perspectives

School Time Debate

Mizzen Education, Inc.

3 - 5

45 Minutes

Does your school start classes too early, too late, or at the ideal time? In this activity, students will participate in a debate of this question. They will identify facts in support of their arguments, respond to critiques and questions, and if possible, agree on a resolution.

Discover Activity

Science Notebooks Across Time

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, The Natural World

Science Notebooks Across Time

California Academy of Sciences

3 - 12

1 Hour

Students peruse sample pages from the notebooks of many different scientists, including scientists their own age, high school scientists, science teachers, and field scientists dating back to 1905. They consider how scientists have used notebooks over the last several hundred years, and start to think about how they'll use their own.

Discover Activity

Scientific Sketching Practice

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, Arts in Action

Scientific Sketching Practice

California Academy of Sciences

3 - 12

45 Minutes

Conducting science involves both careful observation and drawing what you see. Most students won’t know where to start if you ask them to sketch a crayfish, a beaker, or even a rock. Lay the foundation for sketching by explicitly teaching drawing techniques so students can build the confidence and skills they need to sketch during science investigations.

Discover Activity

Seascape

Arts in Action, The Natural World

Seascape

Mizzen Education, Inc.

K - 2

45 Minutes

First, children paint a seascape with water, waves, and a beach. Then, on separate paper, they draw sea animals: fish, crabs, dolphins, sharks, and so on. Next, children cut out the animals, arrange them on their background, and glue them down. They discuss the design element of balance.

Discover Activity

Seasonal Collages

Stories and Perspectives, Arts in Action

Seasonal Collages

Mizzen Education, Inc.

K - 2

45 Minutes

Children work in groups to create photo collages that represent a season. They discuss and compare their collages, and use them to describe seasonal changes.

Discover Activity

Secret Sentence

Stories and Perspectives, STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore

Secret Sentence

Mizzen Education, Inc.

K - 2

45 Minutes

Children must discern matching patterns to link together word cards and reveal a secret message. This activity builds spatial reasoning and cooperative learning skills.

Discover Activity

Sensational Seaweed

The Natural World, STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore

Sensational Seaweed

California Academy of Sciences

3 - 8

1 Hour

Students learn the parts of algae, compare them to land plants, and rotate through exploration stations to investigate seaweed close up with their different senses.

Discover Activity

Sentence Put Together and Break Apart

Stories and Perspectives, Digital Voices

Sentence Put Together and Break Apart

Mizzen Education, Inc.

K - 2

45 Minutes

Writing “super silly sentences” puts a fun twist on writing practice. In this activity, children become engaged in writing sentences, deconstructing sentences, and then reconstructing sentences that others have taken apart.

Discover Activity

Shadow Puppet Stage!

Arts in Action, Stories and Perspectives

Shadow Puppet Stage!

Rediscover Center

K - 8

1 Hour 30 Minutes

In this activity, students will build a stage and put on a puppet show! The stage may include props, curtains, and a light source for a shadow puppet show. There are a lot of options that students can use to build their stage!

This activity is part 2 of 2 in the Shadow Puppet Activities by reDiscover Center.

Discover Activity

Shadow Puppets

Arts in Action, Stories and Perspectives

Shadow Puppets

Rediscover Center

K - 8

45 Minutes

In this activity, students will make shadow puppets. They will make them out of recyclable materials like what they can find around their homes. Then they'll create or re-enact a short story for their puppets to act out!

This activity is part 1 of 2 in the Shadow Puppet Activities by reDiscover Center.

Discover Activity

Shakespeare Scene Work

Arts in Action, Stories and Perspectives

Shakespeare Scene Work

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45 Minutes

Students collaborate to plan and perform a short scene from Shakespeare. In order to decide how the scene will be played, students will briefly analyze and discuss the characters, motive, plot, setting, and how the language expresses the underlying meaning in the scene.

Discover Activity

Shakespeare Scenes and You

Arts in Action, Stories and Perspectives

Shakespeare Scenes and You

Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45 Minutes

The work of Shakespeare presents both a challenge and an opportunity to middle school student-actors. In this activity, students work in groups to practice and perform a short selection from a Shakespeare play. They recognize that the works of Shakespeare portray universal themes that apply to modern life.

Discover Activity

Shape Hunt

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, The Natural World

Shape Hunt

Mizzen Education, Inc.

K - 2

45 Minutes

Children in primary grades are familiar with basic geometric shapes, such as circles, squares, and rectangles. However, they may not recognize that these shapes are ideal constructions that may not be duplicated perfectly in the world around them. In this activity, children identify familiar shapes that are hiding in plain sight in the environment and accept that irregular shapes are generally more common.

Discover Activity

Shifting the Frame (Student Reporting Labs)

Digital Voices, Stories and Perspectives

Shifting the Frame (Student Reporting Labs)

PBS

6 - 12

50 Minutes

Students will visually map portrayals of their communities in the news media. The result will be a graphic organizer of unique perspectives and story ideas.

This is activity 1 of 16 in the PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs Module. Visit the Module to learn more before getting started.

Discover Activity

Ship to Shore (Team Building) Game

Belonging and Community, Leadership and Teamwork

Ship to Shore (Team Building) Game

!Mpact Players

K - 12

20 Minutes

To learn how to play "Ship to Shore," click the link below to watch an easy-to-learn tutorial video.

Discover Activity

Should Hate Speech Be Protected by the First Amendment?

We The People, Digital Voices

Should Hate Speech Be Protected by the First Amendment?

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

55 Minutes

Many scholars cite the First Amendment of the United States Constitution as the most important set of rights in any functioning democracy. Students should understand these basic rights and how they have been challenged, and continue to be, throughout our history. The censorship of hate speech is 1 example of how the First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of speech, relates and helps inform the debates in which Americans engage today. This activity will help students consider some of the arguments both in favor of and against the censorship of hate speech.

Discover Activity

Should You Always Tell the Truth? (Grades 6-8)

Belonging and Community, Stories and Perspectives

Should You Always Tell the Truth? (Grades 6-8)

Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45 Minutes

Students discuss examples of lying in the course of daily life, and whether the lie was ultimately the best choice.

Discover Activity

Should You Always Tell the Truth? (Grades 9-12)

Belonging and Community, Stories and Perspectives

Should You Always Tell the Truth? (Grades 9-12)

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45 Minutes

In this activity, students work in groups to discuss examples of lying in daily life. They decide whether or not each lie was the right choice. Then they tally their results and compare them with the results of the other groups.

Discover Activity

Should the Electoral College Be Reformed? (Grades 6-8)

We The People, Stories and Perspectives

Should the Electoral College Be Reformed? (Grades 6-8)

Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45 Minutes

The electoral college has served the United States since the beginning of the nation. Is now the time to reform this method of electing the president? In this activity, students present arguments for or against this question based on the perspective of citizens from various states. They may reach the conclusion that replacing the electoral college may address only some of the complaints that people have leveled at it.

Discover Activity

Should the Electoral College Be Reformed? (Grades 9-12)

We The People, Stories and Perspectives

Should the Electoral College Be Reformed? (Grades 9-12)

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

55 Minutes

The Founding Fathers established the electoral college in the Constitution, in part, as a compromise between the election of the president by a vote in Congress and the election of the president by a popular vote of qualified citizens. Every state gets at least 3 electoral votes because a state's number of electors is identical to the total number of its senators and representatives in Congress. Seven states have the minimum 3 electors. Washington, D.C., also has 3 electoral votes because of the 23rd Amendment, which gave the nation's capital as many electors as the state with the fewest electoral votes. California has the most electoral votes with 55. Texas is next with 38. New York and Florida have 29 apiece. The founders were concerned that average Americans would lack enough information about the candidates to make intelligent choices. So informed "electors" would stand in for them. Has the electoral college become obsolete in the age of mass communication and a more educated citizenry? We will look at that question in this lesson.

Discover Activity

Show Me How

Stories and Perspectives, Belonging and Community

Show Me How

Mizzen Education, Inc.

3 - 5

45 Minutes

Public speaking can be challenging and overwhelming at first, but the more you practice, the easier it gets. Students get a taste of public speaking as they present a how-to project.

Discover Activity

Show Me the Money! Financing a Small Business

Future Ready: Learning and Earning, STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore

Show Me the Money! Financing a Small Business

Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45 Minutes

Students explore how startups and other businesses obtain funding through loans. They begin by brainstorming what resources they would need to start a business and how they would obtain those resources. They then identify potential sources of funding before breaking into teams to learn about small business loans. Students watch a video about a small business owner and answer questions about the lending process. They identify factors that lenders consider and define key terms that borrowers need to know. Teams practice calculating interest, total repayment amounts, and monthly installments on different loan amounts. Finally they match loans to business needs.

Discover Activity

Sign Language Bingo!

Belonging and Community, Stories and Perspectives

Sign Language Bingo!

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45 Minutes

Students learn American Sign Language (ASL) signs for common snacks. They practice the signs in small groups, and then use the signs to play a game of bingo.

Discover Activity

Signs of Winter

The Natural World, STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore

Signs of Winter

National Wildlife Federation

K - 5

50 Minutes

Seasons change throughout the year because of the Earth’s tilt. Earth sits on an invisible access, and as it revolves around the sun, the amount of sunlight we receive in the United States changes. In winter, the U.S. gets less sunlight, and therefore we see cooler temperatures and changes in precipitation, animal behavior, and plants, shrubs, and trees. Signs of winter include:

● most grasses are brown—lying dormant for the winter to conserve water and nutrients
● frozen ponds/streams
● cozy squirrel nests
● trees with no leaves
● buds on trees/shrubs that will become
● new leaves or flowers in the spring
● temperatures are cooler/colder; people may be wearing hats and coats
● birds with fluffed up feathers
● dogs with thicker layers of fur
● snow
● holly bush with red berries

Discover Activity

Simon Says Move!

Leadership and Teamwork, Arts in Action

Simon Says Move!

Mizzen Education, Inc.

K - 2

45 Minutes

Children move to music while the leader designates certain kinds of movements (rather than poses) such as "Simon says take two steps forward," "Hop on your right foot and turn around," and "Simon says swing around in a circle low to the ground."

Discover Activity

Simon Says Variation

Stories and Perspectives, Belonging and Community

Simon Says Variation

Mizzen Education, Inc.

K - 2

45 Minutes

Young children are still developing listening skills and their ability to follow complex instructions. In this activity, children will play a game of Simon Says but with 2-step and 3-step instructions. This will help build confidence in listening and following instructions.

Discover Activity

Simon Says…Exercise!

Leadership and Teamwork, Whole Body, Whole Self

Simon Says…Exercise!

Mizzen Education, Inc.

K - 2

45 Minutes

In this activity, students discuss why exercise is important, how often they should exercise, and identify examples of exercises. Then, they brainstorm examples of exercise movements that will be used in a game of Simon Says.

Discover Activity

Simple Clay Animal Figures

Arts in Action, Belonging and Community

Simple Clay Animal Figures

OregonASK

3 - 12

30 Minutes

Students create animal figures by using clay and their hands. Also, students learn about the symbolic meanings that animals bring to all cultures, especially the Mayans.

Discover Activity

Simple Clay Human Figures Full Body

Arts in Action, Stories and Perspectives

Simple Clay Human Figures Full Body

OregonASK

K - 8

1 Hour

Students learn one technique for sculpting human bodies. Students will also learn important clay making skills.

Discover Activity

Simple Signs

Belonging and Community, Stories and Perspectives

Simple Signs

Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45 Minutes

In this activity, students learn about American Sign Language (ASL) and practice some of the simpler signs. They use their new signing ability to communicate messages to each other.

Discover Activity

Simultaneous Chess

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, Leadership and Teamwork

Simultaneous Chess

Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45 Minutes

One highly skilled chess player plays simultaneously against two or more opponents. This activity builds planning, logic, strategy, and cooperative learning skills.

Discover Activity

Singing and Rhythm

Arts in Action, Stories and Perspectives

Singing and Rhythm

Mizzen Education, Inc.

K - 2

45 Minutes

Familiar and favorite songs, such as "Row Row Row Your Boat" and "Rain Rain Go Away," are turned into rhythm and movement activities. Children clap and count the rhythm of syllables, and then stomp and march to the music.

Discover Activity

Sink the Ping-Pong Ball

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, The Natural World

Sink the Ping-Pong Ball

Mizzen Education, Inc.

3 - 5

45 Minutes

Students work together to design and build a cage that will cause a Ping-Pong ball to sink in water, exploring the concept of density and how it explains whether objects float or sink.

Discover Activity

Sketching for Observation Exercises

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, The Natural World

Sketching for Observation Exercises

California Academy of Sciences

K - 12

3 Hours

Scientific sketching isn’t about making a pretty picture! It’s about looking at something so closely you notice something new. These exercises help students practice sketching for observation, data collection, and analysis during a science investigation.

Discover Activity

Skills for 21st-Century Workers

Future Ready: Learning and Earning, We The People

Skills for 21st-Century Workers

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45 Minutes

In this activity, students research the skills that 21st-century workers need. First, they pick 3 careers from the included handout—a liberal arts career, a STEM career, and a vo-tech career. Then, they research those careers and take notes on the necessary skills.

Discover Activity

Skills for Workers in the Twenty-First Century

Future Ready: Learning and Earning, We The People

Skills for Workers in the Twenty-First Century

Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45 Minutes

What skills do workers need to develop for success in the twenty-first century? Students research and synthesize ideas about the working conditions and environment in which they will work in the future.

Discover Activity

Skip Counting Hip Hops

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, Leadership and Teamwork

Skip Counting Hip Hops

PowerUp Fitness

K - 2

5 Minutes

PowerUp Skip Counting Hip Hops - increase knowledge of multiples through movement and math integration.

Discover Activity

Slide-Show Presentation

Digital Voices, Stories and Perspectives

Slide-Show Presentation

Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45 Minutes

Today, computer projectors and presentation software have replaced physical slides and projectors. Nevertheless, the concept of the slide show is still useful. In this activity, students use modern technology to prepare and deliver slide shows for one another.

Discover Activity

Slideshow

Digital Voices, Stories and Perspectives

Slideshow

Mizzen Education, Inc.

3 - 5

45 Minutes

Preparing a presentation with PowerPoint or similar software can help students feel confident and excited about a research project. With minimal effort, their presentations can be engaging and look professional. In this activity, students will prepare and present a slideshow on a topic of their choice.

Discover Activity

Slideshow: A Day at the Zoo

Stories and Perspectives, Digital Voices

Slideshow: A Day at the Zoo

Mizzen Education, Inc.

K - 2

45 Minutes

Making slide presentations can introduce children to the power of computers and their many uses. In this activity, children collaborate with the leader to make a presentation about zoo animals.

Discover Activity

Slot Construction Animals

Arts in Action, Stories and Perspectives

Slot Construction Animals

Rediscover Center

K - 8

1 Hour

In this activity, students will use a cardboard construction technique called Slot Construction to make model animals. This technique allows them to build almost instantly without any glue or adhesives so they can explore how to make fun sculptures without always using reinforcements.

This is part 2 of 2 in the Slot Construction Activities by reDiscover Center.

Discover Activity

Slot Construction Sculptures

Arts in Action, Stories and Perspectives

Slot Construction Sculptures

Rediscover Center

K - 8

45 Minutes

In this activity, students will learn a cardboard construction technique called Slot Construction. This technique allows students to build almost instantly without any glue or adhesives so they can explore how to make fun sculptures without always using reinforcements.

This is part 1 of 2 in the Slot Construction Activities by reDiscover Center.

Discover Activity

Smoothies and Startups: The Costs of Starting a Business

Future Ready: Learning and Earning, STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore

Smoothies and Startups: The Costs of Starting a Business

Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45 Minutes

There's a well-known saying: It takes money to make money. Spending money is one of the realities of starting a business. Students will think like new business owners and consider their start-up costs as they develop a business plan.

Discover Activity

Snail Mail: Handwriting Practice

Stories and Perspectives, Digital Voices

Snail Mail: Handwriting Practice

Mizzen Education, Inc.

3 - 5

45 Minutes

Students practice their handwriting by writing a letter to a friend or family member. They can then either mail these letters (“snail mail”) or hand them to a friend.

Discover Activity

Social Media and Big Data

Digital Voices, STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore

Social Media and Big Data

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45 Minutes

In this activity, groups of students discuss social media privacy issues. Then they conduct a privacy survey. They graph the results in their groups, and then compare their results with the whole groups’ results.

Discover Activity

Social Responsibility and Popular Brands

We The People, Future Ready: Learning and Earning

Social Responsibility and Popular Brands

Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45 Minutes

Companies are in business to make a profit, and they must continue to be profitable to stay viable. Nevertheless, many companies at least claim to act responsibly for the greater good of society. In this activity, students will evaluate claims of social responsibility from 3 companies. Are these claims accurate and reasonable, or are they attempts to distract consumers or the government from other agendas?

Discover Activity

Socratic Seminar

Stories and Perspectives, Belonging and Community

Socratic Seminar

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45 Minutes

Students will have the opportunity to read an article and discuss it with their peers in a Socratic Seminar. Then, they will evaluate the effectiveness of Socratic Seminars.

Discover Activity

Solar System Bead Activity

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, The Natural World

Solar System Bead Activity

NASA

K - 8

1 Hour

Students construct -- and where appropriate, calculate -- a scale model of the solar system using beads and string.

Discover Activity

Something-Is-Missing Stories

Stories and Perspectives, Arts in Action

Something-Is-Missing Stories

Mizzen Education, Inc.

3 - 5

45 Minutes

Based on the popular Mad Libs activities, students write a story with a partner, leaving out key words but replacing them with the part of speech or a similar description. They exchange their stories with another pair to fill in the missing words.

Discover Activity

Sound Effects

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, The Natural World

Sound Effects

NASA

6 - 8

1 Hour

Students will learn about the principles of sound, specifically how to amplify and reduce sound volume. Students will construct a speaker to amplify the sound and then will be challenged to find a solution to reduce the perceived sound volume.

Discover Activity

Sound on a String

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, The Natural World

Sound on a String

NASA

K - 2

1 Hour 30 Minutes

Students will rotate through a series of center activities to develop a hypothesis for how sound travels as they experiment with different types of string, sizes of string, types of cups and sizes of cups.

Discover Activity

South America Scavenger Hunt

We The People, The Natural World

South America Scavenger Hunt

Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45 Minutes

Students learn about the geography of South America by participating in 2 scavenger hunts. First, they work in teams to find and label countries, islands, and physical features on the continent. Then, they look up key facts about assigned locations and take a “tour” of South America, keeping track of their route on maps.

Discover Activity

Southern States Pen Pals

We The People, Stories and Perspectives

Southern States Pen Pals

Mizzen Education, Inc.

3 - 5

45 Minutes

Students work in small groups to research the southern region of the United States and then write each other "pen pal" letters based on their research.

Discover Activity

Space and Time

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, Arts in Action

Space and Time

Jazz at Lincoln Center

3 - 8

1 Hour

Students practice moving through a subdivided space, a space which simultaneously represents fractions and musical notes. This practice allows students to witness firsthand both equivalent fractions and rhythm. Students then create their own unique rhythmic patterns.

Discover Activity

Speak and Listen (Grades 3-5)

Stories and Perspectives, Belonging and Community

Speak and Listen (Grades 3-5)

Mizzen Education, Inc.

3 - 5

45 Minutes

Students share details of their lives with one another, as well as stories, ideas, and plans for the future. Then they try to recall those details. This simple but effective activity builds speaking and listening skills while helping students learn more about their group.

Discover Activity

Speak and Listen (Grades 6-8)

Stories and Perspectives, Belonging and Community

Speak and Listen (Grades 6-8)

Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45 Minutes

Students share details of their lives with one another, as well as stories, ideas, and plans for the future. After listening to one another, they try to recall those details. This simple but effective activity builds speaking and listening skills while helping students learn more about their peers.

Discover Activity

Speak and Listen (Grades K-2)

Stories and Perspectives, Belonging and Community

Speak and Listen (Grades K-2)

Mizzen Education, Inc.

K - 2

45 Minutes

Children share details of their lives with one another and then try to recall those details. This simple but effective activity builds speaking and listening skills while helping children learn more about their group.

Discover Activity

Speed of the Human Nervous System

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, The Natural World

Speed of the Human Nervous System

Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45 Minutes

In this fun activity, students measure their reaction time to a stimulus. They determine whether reaction time improves with practice and whether it is affected by distractions. Students also learn that reacting to stimuli involves coordination and communication between the eyes and brain of the nervous system and the hand muscles of the muscular system.

Discover Activity

Spelling Bee (Grades K-2)

Stories and Perspectives, Arts in Action

Spelling Bee (Grades K-2)

Mizzen Education, Inc.

K - 2

45 Minutes

This activity provides a fun alternative to the traditional spelling bee. Children take turns spelling a word letter by letter, involving an element of chance. Play the game to build interest in spelling practice!

Discover Activity

Spelling Bee (Grades9-12)

Stories and Perspectives, Belonging and Community

Spelling Bee (Grades9-12)

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45 Minutes

In this activity, students are organized into small teams to play a game in which they must identify both correctly spelled words and incorrectly spelled words. The teams win points for corrections and lose points for incorrect answers. Teams are challenged to work together and strategize to score the most points to win.

Discover Activity

Spelling Survivor

Stories and Perspectives, Belonging and Community

Spelling Survivor

Mizzen Education, Inc.

3 - 5

45 Minutes

Spelling Survivor is a spelling bee with a twist. In this spelling bee students can use a lifeline to get a friend’s help and may be lucky and get a free pass on their round. Students will participate in a spelling bee to see who will be the last one standing, or the spelling survivor.

Discover Activity

Spill My Secret Word

Stories and Perspectives, Belonging and Community

Spill My Secret Word

Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45 Minutes

In this fun activity, students will apply language and communication skills to trick one another into saying their secret words. The activity builds language and vocabulary skills as students get to know one another.

Discover Activity

Sports Advertising

Digital Voices, Stories and Perspectives

Sports Advertising

Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45 Minutes

Youth discuss advertising and explore how ads are used in sports. They also examine the corporate sponsorship of sports teams as a form of advertising. Finally, youth predict how their own school or community sports teams might use ads by designing a uniform, field, or piece of sports equipment that features an advertisement.

Discover Activity

Sports Medicine

Leadership and Teamwork, Whole Body, Whole Self

Sports Medicine

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45 Minutes

In this activity, students learn about the field of sports medicine. They will discover several examples of sports medicine helping athletes prevent injuries or recover from them, as well as examples of the harm or damage that certain drugs have caused athletes.

Discover Activity

Startup Survival

Future Ready: Learning and Earning, Leadership and Teamwork

Startup Survival

Network For Teaching Entrepreneurship

6 - 12

1 Hour 40 Minutes

As an engaging way to introduce students to NFTE’s entrepreneurial mindset domains, students will either complete an interactive digital module or attempt to select the most important startup tools. Students finish the module by creating an EM Personal Growth Plan.

This lesson plan is written around the completion of a hands-on activity, but you can replace or supplement this activity with a couple of digital interactives. See the Modifications section at the end of this lesson plan for more details.

Discover Activity

State Capitals Freeze Tag

We The People, Leadership and Teamwork

State Capitals Freeze Tag

PowerUp Fitness

3 - 8

10 Minutes

PowerUp with Geography - practice state capital memorization with this fun freeze tag game.

Discover Activity

State Jumps

We The People, Leadership and Teamwork

State Jumps

PowerUp Fitness

3 - 8

10 Minutes

PowerUp with Geography - practice states and identify their geographic location with this unique state jump game!

Discover Activity

State Report

We The People, Stories and Perspectives

State Report

Mizzen Education, Inc.

3 - 5

45 Minutes

Students work in small groups to learn about a state and then create a presentation to give in front of the group.

Discover Activity

Stations of the Yamas and Niyamas of Yoga Philosophy

Whole Body, Whole Self, Belonging and Community

Stations of the Yamas and Niyamas of Yoga Philosophy

Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45 Minutes

Students learn about and discuss situations in which the first two limbs of yoga philosophy, the yamas and the niyamas (or restraints and observances), can be useful in daily life.

Discover Activity

Stats-Minded Scrabble® Tournament

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, We The People

Stats-Minded Scrabble® Tournament

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45 Minutes

In traditional games of Scrabble® or other word games, the player with the highest total score is declared the winner. Not so in today’s activity! Students will play a word game in which the winner achieves a certain statistical goal, such as a mean score closest to 12 points or a set of scores with the greatest standard deviation.

Discover Activity

Stomp Rockets

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, The Natural World

Stomp Rockets

NASA

3 - 12

1 Hour 30 Minutes

Work individually or in teams of two to construct and launch paper rockets using a teacher-built PVC-pipe launcher.
Following the flight of their rocket, calculate the altitude their rocket achieved. Based on the flight performance of their rockets, analyze their rocket designs, modify or rebuild them, launch again, and calculate the altitude achieved to determine if their changes affected the performance of the rocket. Conclude the activity by writing a post-flight mission report.

Discover Activity

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Copyright © 2025, Mizzen Education, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit on a mission to empower, uplift and support out-of-school time educators.

Copyright © 2025, Mizzen Education, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit on a mission to empower, uplift and support out-of-school time educators.