All Activities

What’s That For?

STEM, Arts

Grades K - 2

What’s That For?

Mizzen Education, Inc.

K - 2

45 Minutes

In this activity, children observe and ask questions about unfamiliar objects that nevertheless serve a useful purpose in their lives. This activity helps provoke children’s curiosity in the world around them and shows them that the world can surprise them in many ways.

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What’s That For?STEM, Arts

45 Minutes•Grades K - 2

Multiplication Relay

STEM, Literacy

Grades 3 - 8

Multiplication Relay

PowerUp Fitness

3 - 8

15 Minutes

PowerUp Multiplication Relay - practice factor families and multiplication with this fun relay game!

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Multiplication RelaySTEM, Literacy

15 Minutes•Grades 3 - 8

What Should My College Major Be?

Career and Future Readiness, History and Society

Grades 6 - 8

What Should My College Major Be?

Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45 Minutes

In this activity, students research college majors based on likes and skills. First, they fill out the My Personal Inventory worksheet. Then, they work in small groups to try to connect each student's likes and skills with various college majors. Finally, students reconvene as a whole group for discussion.

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What Should My College Major Be?Career and Future Readiness, History and Society

45 Minutes•Grades 6 - 8

Minimize Your Footprint

Nature and Wildlife, STEM

Grades 3 - 8

Minimize Your Footprint

National Wildlife Federation

3 - 8

50 Minutes

A carbon footprint is the amount of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and other carbon compounds emitted due to the consumption of fossil fuels by a particular person, group, etc. Since the industrial revolution, more CO₂ is being emitted into the mix of heat-trapping gases (greenhouse gases) than can be absorbed by what is known as carbon sinks — places where carbon can be absorbed instead of trapped in the atmosphere. Carbon sinks include trees, the ocean, and soil. Every little action makes a change, and therefore, It is vital to reduce our carbon footprint to reduce the amount of CO₂ in the atmosphere. Focus on the positive. Do not use scare tactics (doom and gloom) to encourage behavior change. What children should know:

● Carbon dioxide is put into the atmosphere, mainly when we burn fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas), primarily the result of our transportation needs and energy use.

● Industry, agriculture, and tree burning also contribute to CO₂ in the atmosphere.

● Carbon that is not absorbed in sinks (oceans, trees, and soils) stays trapped in the atmosphere making the global temperature warmer.

● Each action we take has a positive or negative impact on the environment, think cause and effect.

● You can change your habits and behavior to reduce the amount of CO₂ you contribute to the atmosphere.

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Minimize Your FootprintNature and Wildlife, STEM

50 Minutes•Grades 3 - 8

Journey in Time: Searching World War II Primary Sources

History and Society, Literacy

Grades 3 - 5

Journey in Time: Searching World War II Primary Sources

Mizzen Education, Inc.

3 - 5

45 Minutes

Students search primary sources on a scavenger hunt for information on the 1930s and 1940s, the era of World War II.

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Journey in Time: Searching World War II Primary SourcesHistory and Society, Literacy

45 Minutes•Grades 3 - 5

Linda Brown Went to School . . . and Changed History: The Equal Protection Clause

History and Society, Social and Emotional Awareness

Grades 3 - 5

Linda Brown Went to School . . . and Changed History: The Equal Protection Clause

Mizzen Education, Inc.

3 - 5

45 Minutes

Young students may have never heard of the equal protection clause, yet they can identify with the act of going to school every day. In this activity, students discuss a landmark Supreme Court case involving grade-school student Linda Brown.

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Linda Brown Went to School . . . and Changed History: The Equal Protection ClauseHistory and Society, Social and Emotional Awareness

45 Minutes•Grades 3 - 5

Journey in Time: Campaigns

History and Society, Literacy

Grades 9 - 12

Journey in Time: Campaigns

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45 Minutes

Students read, analyze, and discuss news reports from the same event—the New Hampshire primary—for 4 different presidential campaigns.

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Journey in Time: CampaignsHistory and Society, Literacy

45 Minutes•Grades 9 - 12

Superhero Lair Part 1

Literacy, Arts

Grades K - 5

Superhero Lair Part 1

OregonASK

K - 5

45 Minutes

Students read books about superheroes and make superhero lair.

This activity is a part 3 of a 5 activity series: Creating a Superhero, Creating Superhero Suits, Superhero Lair Part 1, Superhero Lair Part 2, and Superhero Comics.

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Superhero Lair Part 1Literacy, Arts

45 Minutes•Grades K - 5

Modern Manufacturing Quiz

Career and Future Readiness, STEM

Grades 6 - 8

Modern Manufacturing Quiz

After-School All-Stars

6 - 8

5 Minutes

Take the Discovery Education: Modern Manufacturing online quiz to continue exploring Advanced Manufacturing and Automation and how it impacts daily life.

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Modern Manufacturing QuizCareer and Future Readiness, STEM

5 Minutes•Grades 6 - 8

What Is Opportunity Cost?

Career and Future Readiness, History and Society

Grades 9 - 12

What Is Opportunity Cost?

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45 Minutes

This activity explores the concept of opportunity cost in the context of choosing a summer job. Students discuss the opportunity costs of making a decision in a fictional scenario and watch a video that explains the basic concepts of opportunity costs. They then break into small groups and identify the opportunity costs of different summer job opportunities. They wrap up the activity with a group discussion about opportunity costs.

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What Is Opportunity Cost?Career and Future Readiness, History and Society

45 Minutes•Grades 9 - 12

Create Your Life Vision

Social and Emotional Awareness, Literacy

Grades 9 - 12

Create Your Life Vision

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45 Minutes

A vision board or poster can help people visualize what their ideal life would look like, which is considered an essential goal-setting step in finding true success. Students form a deeper understanding of their needs for a balanced, happy, and healthy life.

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Create Your Life VisionSocial and Emotional Awareness, Literacy

45 Minutes•Grades 9 - 12

Public Speaking: Wrap it Up

Literacy, Digital Media and Communications

Grades 6 - 8

Public Speaking: Wrap it Up

Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45 Minutes

Students compete to make the most engaging summary, or wrap-up, for a presentation.

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Public Speaking: Wrap it UpLiteracy, Digital Media and Communications

45 Minutes•Grades 6 - 8

Checking out Nutrition Labels

Health and Wellness, STEM

Grades 3 - 5

Checking out Nutrition Labels

Mizzen Education, Inc.

3 - 5

45 Minutes

The government regulates nutrition labels to inform consumers about the content of processed foods. This activity helps students analyze the information in these labels. Students work in small groups to calculate and visualize the amount of sugar in common processed foods and beverages.

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Checking out Nutrition LabelsHealth and Wellness, STEM

45 Minutes•Grades 3 - 5

Engineering an Upgrade (Grades 6-8)

STEM, Career and Future Readiness

Grades 6 - 8

Engineering an Upgrade (Grades 6-8)

Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45 Minutes

Student teams work together to improve an existing product and then present their ideas to the group. This activity builds analytical thinking and cooperative learning skills while developing speaking and listening skills.

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Engineering an Upgrade (Grades 6-8)STEM, Career and Future Readiness

45 Minutes•Grades 6 - 8

Visualizing the Legacy of Slavery: Gallery Walk and Quote Museum

History and Society, Literacy

Grades 6 - 12

Visualizing the Legacy of Slavery: Gallery Walk and Quote Museum

Pulitzer Center

6 - 12

45 Minutes

Students will learn about the ways in which slavery’s legacy persists in U.S. systems and society by examining images and text in an engaging gallery walk activity. They will also practice visually communicating tone and information to others by creating a group “quote museum.”

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Visualizing the Legacy of Slavery: Gallery Walk and Quote MuseumHistory and Society, Literacy

45 Minutes•Grades 6 - 12

Banner Design

Arts, History and Society

Grades 3 - 5

Banner Design

Mizzen Education, Inc.

3 - 5

45 Minutes

Students use design elements and principles to create a banner that celebrates an invention or displays a well-liked quotation or saying.

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Banner DesignArts, History and Society

45 Minutes•Grades 3 - 5

Persistence Stories

Career and Future Readiness, Literacy

Grades 9 - 12

Persistence Stories

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45 Minutes

Students read and report on stories of persistence paying off in business and discuss characteristics of and similarities across the stories and how they might use them in their own lives.

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Persistence StoriesCareer and Future Readiness, Literacy

45 Minutes•Grades 9 - 12

Be a Sales Representative (Grades 3-5)

Career and Future Readiness, Literacy

Grades 3 - 5

Be a Sales Representative (Grades 3-5)

Mizzen Education, Inc.

3 - 5

45 Minutes

Successful sales representatives know all of the advantages and disadvantages of their products and how their product compares with the competition. In this activity, students act as sales representatives for brands of sneakers. They deliver sales pitches that portray their products as attractively as possible to potential customers.

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Be a Sales Representative (Grades 3-5)Career and Future Readiness, Literacy

45 Minutes•Grades 3 - 5

Evaluate a Business Idea (Grades 6-8)

Career and Future Readiness, STEM

Grades 6 - 8

Evaluate a Business Idea (Grades 6-8)

Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45 Minutes

Entrepreneurs evaluate their business plans to make sure that they are devoting their time wisely and investing their money wisely as well. In many cases, seeking other people's opinions about their plans is a smart decision. These opinions might identify opportunities or drawbacks the entrepreneur had not considered. In today's activity, students will learn about several start-up ideas from their peers. Finally, they will conduct SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analyses about the business ideas and then apply the technique to evaluate their ideas.

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Evaluate a Business Idea (Grades 6-8)Career and Future Readiness, STEM

45 Minutes•Grades 6 - 8

Drawing a New Invention (Grades 6-8)

STEM, Arts

Grades 6 - 8

Drawing a New Invention (Grades 6-8)

Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45 Minutes

Students brainstorm an invention that can be used in everyday life. They make a detailed drawing of their invention, including labels and descriptions, and then share their invention idea with the group.

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Drawing a New Invention (Grades 6-8)STEM, Arts

45 Minutes•Grades 6 - 8

Your Career

Career and Future Readiness, Literacy

Grades 6 - 8

Your Career

Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45 Minutes

Today, career choices may be more diverse and numerous than ever before. Advances in technology are constantly making career options more complex, as they may lead to new careers while decreasing the demand for older careers. As a result, many adults will take on several careers during their lives—in some cases, simultaneously! In this activity, students research and report on various careers that they may find interesting, rewarding, and appealing.

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Your CareerCareer and Future Readiness, Literacy

45 Minutes•Grades 6 - 8

Planet Mooz Diner

Arts, Leadership and Teamwork

Grades K - 2

Planet Mooz Diner

VentureLab

K - 2

1 Hour

Students create a name and menu for a diner on a strange, newly discovered planet called Mooz. Watch out, though! Moozians eat very different things than we do on planet Earth, so students will need to use their creativity to put together a stellar menu. After creating the menu, students will create play food and try each other's "food" out as customers at their diners. This engaging activity allows students to explore their creativity in a meaningful way, as they get a chance to create new menu items, invent a diner name, and showcase their work to their peers while role-playing.

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Planet Mooz DinerArts, Leadership and Teamwork

1 Hour•Grades K - 2

Mixed-Up Sentences

Literacy, Digital Media and Communications

Grades 3 - 5

Mixed-Up Sentences

Mizzen Education, Inc.

3 - 5

45 Minutes

In this activity, students work in pairs to determine and construct sentences from a series of words. Then, students reconvene as a whole group for discussion.

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Mixed-Up SentencesLiteracy, Digital Media and Communications

45 Minutes•Grades 3 - 5

The Blues: Lyrics & Chords

Arts, Literacy

Grades 3 - 8

The Blues: Lyrics & Chords

Jazz at Lincoln Center

3 - 8

2 Hours

Students create lyrics and a blues-inspired comic strip by expressing the sounds and associated feelings of major, minor, and blues chords. Students learn that the blues not only have a characteristic lyrical style, but also use specific musical structures to convey meaning; the blended major and minor chord progressions used by blues musicians are recognizable to audiences and can be duplicated by other musicians.

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The Blues: Lyrics & ChordsArts, Literacy

2 Hours•Grades 3 - 8

What’s an Adaptation?

Nature and Wildlife, STEM

Grades K - 8

What’s an Adaptation?

National Wildlife Federation

K - 8

50 Minutes

An adaptation is any trait that helps an animal or plant survive in its habitat. Adaptations are helpful only in the habitat for which an animal is adapted. A freshwater newt, used to living in or near water, wouldn’t survive long in the desert.

Diet, behavior, physical anatomy, and even physiology (internal mechanisms), are ways animals adapt to their surroundings. Many living things have evolved unique ways of dealing with the problems of survival. An animal’s adaptations develop over a very long time and can pass to their children, such as an eagle’s keen sense of sight or a hummingbird’s long beak

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What’s an Adaptation?Nature and Wildlife, STEM

50 Minutes•Grades K - 8

Does the Current Climate Change Pose a Threat to Humans?

Nature and Wildlife, STEM

Grades 9 - 12

Does the Current Climate Change Pose a Threat to Humans?

The Nature Conservancy

9 - 12

1 Hour

Students research trends within a state’s climate and determine how those trends will impact humans.

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Does the Current Climate Change Pose a Threat to Humans?Nature and Wildlife, STEM

1 Hour•Grades 9 - 12

What Can You Hear?

STEM, Nature and Wildlife

Grades 9 - 12

What Can You Hear?

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45 Minutes

In this activity, students conduct tests of their hearing. First, groups conduct a simple test to check the upper range of their hearing. Then, individuals conduct a second test to identify their complete hearing range. Students then compare and graph the results for their group. Finally, they have the option to conduct additional tests to find out more about their hearing. This activity builds understanding of how the ear works and the frequencies at which humans can hear.

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What Can You Hear?STEM, Nature and Wildlife

45 Minutes•Grades 9 - 12

Preparing for an Interview

Literacy, Digital Media and Communications

Grades 3 - 5

Preparing for an Interview

PBS

3 - 5

45 Minutes

Visualizing success! Discover the power of mental preparation for interviews. Learn how to align your questions with your story angle for interviews that shine.

This is lesson 9 in “Building a News Hour,” the second module from PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs’ module series.

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Preparing for an InterviewLiteracy, Digital Media and Communications

45 Minutes•Grades 3 - 5

What Is a Digital Footprint?

Digital Media and Communications, STEM

Grades 6 - 8

What Is a Digital Footprint?

Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45 Minutes

Students create a visual record of their recent online activity to help them see actions that are forming their permanent digital footprints.

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What Is a Digital Footprint?Digital Media and Communications, STEM

45 Minutes•Grades 6 - 8

Number Line Run

STEM, Leadership and Teamwork

Grades K - 5

Number Line Run

PowerUp Fitness

K - 5

10 Minutes

PowerUp Number Line Skills - problem solve across the number line with this math and movement game.

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Number Line RunSTEM, Leadership and Teamwork

10 Minutes•Grades K - 5

Can You Guess This Fictional Character?

Literacy, Digital Media and Communications

Grades K - 2

Can You Guess This Fictional Character?

Mizzen Education, Inc.

K - 2

45 Minutes

In this activity, children try to guess a fictional character by listening to a description by another child. One child randomly picks a slip with a character's name. That child then describes the character without using their name while the group tries to guess who it is. After everyone has a turn, the group reconvenes for discussion.

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Can You Guess This Fictional Character?Literacy, Digital Media and Communications

45 Minutes•Grades K - 2

How Well Can You See?

STEM, Nature and Wildlife

Grades 9 - 12

How Well Can You See?

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45 Minutes

In this activity, students conduct several eye tests. First, groups conduct a simple test to check their visual acuity. Then individuals conduct several online tests. Each person conducts the test twice under different conditions to compare the results. This activity builds understanding of how vision tests work and the differences in how people see.

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How Well Can You See?STEM, Nature and Wildlife

45 Minutes•Grades 9 - 12

What Is Media? (Grades 9-12)

Digital Media and Communications, Literacy

Grades 9 - 12

What Is Media? (Grades 9-12)

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45 Minutes

In this activity, students will explore the many different types of media. They will begin by defining media and identifying specific categories, including print, digital, broadcast, social, audio, and visual. Students will then break into teams and brainstorm examples of the media they use and observe in their daily lives. They will discuss how media influences them, their community, and society in general. Each team will then create a brief presentation to share their ideas and findings with the group.

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What Is Media? (Grades 9-12)Digital Media and Communications, Literacy

45 Minutes•Grades 9 - 12

Body Percussion

Leadership and Teamwork, Arts

Grades 9 - 12

Body Percussion

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45 Minutes

Students stand in a circle and practice making different percussive sounds, starting with hand-clapping and finger-snapping. Next, they move on to using combinations of multiple parts of the body. Then students work in small groups to prepare short percussive pieces to perform for the whole group.

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Body PercussionLeadership and Teamwork, Arts

45 Minutes•Grades 9 - 12

Stories of Resistance: Queen Njinga, Elizabeth Freeman, and Today

History and Society, Social and Emotional Awareness

Grades K - 8

Stories of Resistance: Queen Njinga, Elizabeth Freeman, and Today

Pulitzer Center

K - 8

1 Hour

In this activity, students explore different ways resistance can look through the stories of Queen Njinga and Elizabeth Freeman. Then, they will analyze text and multimedia to inform a written reflection and group discussion about the legacy of Black resistance and how we can resist injustice.

An optional extension activity guides students in completing a research project on Black leaders resisting injustice throughout history.

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Stories of Resistance: Queen Njinga, Elizabeth Freeman, and TodayHistory and Society, Social and Emotional Awareness

1 Hour•Grades K - 8

Blanket Toss (Team Building) Game

Leadership and Teamwork, Social and Emotional Awareness

Grades 3 - 12

Video

Blanket Toss (Team Building) Game

!Mpact Players

3 - 12

15 Minutes

Heave piles of stuffed animals across the room from one sheet to another!

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Video

Blanket Toss (Team Building) GameLeadership and Teamwork, Social and Emotional Awareness

15 Minutes•Grades 3 - 12

Teens Curate Teens: Opening the Exhibition

Arts, Literacy

Grades 9 - 12

Teens Curate Teens: Opening the Exhibition

ArtsConnection

9 - 12

1 Hour 30 Minutes

It's the exhibition opening! Teen curators work as a collective team to design, plan, install, and host an art event featuring artwork by teens open to the public. Students prepare for the opening and dates of the exhibition.

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Teens Curate Teens: Opening the ExhibitionArts, Literacy

1 Hour 30 Minutes•Grades 9 - 12

Area Dice

STEM, Literacy

Grades 6 - 12

Area Dice

After-School All-Stars

6 - 12

15 Minutes

Students practice multiplication and visualizing area spaces with this fun math game.

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Area DiceSTEM, Literacy

15 Minutes•Grades 6 - 12

Farm to Table 3: Prototype Build

Arts, STEM

Grades 6 - 8

Farm to Table 3: Prototype Build

OregonASK

6 - 8

45 Minutes

In this activity, students build the kitchen/farm inventions they created.

This is part 3 of 6 in a series. Start this series with “Farm to Table 1: Prototype Brainstorm” and “Farm to Table 2: Prototype Selection.” To take learning further after this activity, proceed to “Farm to Table 4: Prototype Test & Modify,” “Farm to Table 5: Prototype Naming” and Farm to Table 6: Prototype Share”

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Farm to Table 3: Prototype BuildArts, STEM

45 Minutes•Grades 6 - 8

S.INQ Sound: Sound Travels

STEM, Nature and Wildlife

Grades K - 5

S.INQ Sound: Sound Travels

OregonASK

K - 5

30 Minutes

In this lesson, students will use a tuning fork and place it on different objects in order to find out through which material sound travels best, and through which material sound doesn’t travel well. These experiments in sound conductivity will help them visualize sound as a wave that travels through matter as a vibration.

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S.INQ Sound: Sound TravelsSTEM, Nature and Wildlife

30 Minutes•Grades K - 5

Interview Setup Evaluation Checklist

Digital Media and Communications, Literacy

Grades 3 - 5

Interview Setup Evaluation Checklist

PBS

3 - 5

45 Minutes

Picture this: You're setting up for an important interview. The ambiance, the lighting, the background - they all play pivotal roles. But how do you ensure your interview set is perfect for your journalistic masterpiece? That's where an Evaluation Checklist comes in! Students work in teams and as a class to craft an Evaluation Checklist.

This is lesson 23 of PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs' second module, Building a News Hour.

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Interview Setup Evaluation ChecklistDigital Media and Communications, Literacy

45 Minutes•Grades 3 - 5

A Logo for You

Arts, Career and Future Readiness

Grades 6 - 8

A Logo for You

Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45 Minutes

Today, logos help define all sorts of organizations, including commercial products, large businesses, schools, and government organizations. In this activity, students explore the kind of logo that they would present to the world, either to represent themselves as individuals or for a business they would run.

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A Logo for YouArts, Career and Future Readiness

45 Minutes•Grades 6 - 8

Acoustic Experiment

STEM, Arts

Grades 3 - 8

Acoustic Experiment

Jazz at Lincoln Center

3 - 8

2 Hours

Students learn the basic components of acoustics. They use this knowledge to build a model performance space.

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Acoustic ExperimentSTEM, Arts

2 Hours•Grades 3 - 8

Carbon Cycle Role-Play

Nature and Wildlife, STEM

Grades 3 - 12

Carbon Cycle Role-Play

California Academy of Sciences

3 - 12

45 Minutes

How does the finite amount of carbon on this planet move around in the environment, from one place to another? How do the geosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere interact? In this active demonstration, students model the carbon cycle, and consider ways in which human actions play a role.

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Carbon Cycle Role-PlayNature and Wildlife, STEM

45 Minutes•Grades 3 - 12

Cell Phone Policy: Keep or Change?

Social and Emotional Awareness, Literacy

Grades 3 - 5

Cell Phone Policy: Keep or Change?

Mizzen Education, Inc.

3 - 5

45 Minutes

Students debate whether their school’s cell phone policy is too strict or appropriate. After discussing the issue in groups, students write letters to their teachers or school administrators to communicate their recommendations.

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Cell Phone Policy: Keep or Change?Social and Emotional Awareness, Literacy

45 Minutes•Grades 3 - 5

Guess the Function

STEM, Nature and Wildlife

Grades 9 - 12

Guess the Function

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45 Minutes

Math students often struggle to understand the concept of a function and to use function notation. In this activity, students are introduced to functions by playing a simple guessing game, generating functions of their own, and interpreting the functions of others.

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Guess the FunctionSTEM, Nature and Wildlife

45 Minutes•Grades 9 - 12

What Is the North Atlantic Treaty Organization? (Grades 3-5)

History and Society, Literacy

Grades 3 - 5

What Is the North Atlantic Treaty Organization? (Grades 3-5)

Mizzen Education, Inc.

3 - 5

45 Minutes

Students explore how countries settle disputes and why they might form alliances. After learning some basic information about the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), students color a map of Europe to identify all the current NATO members. They wrap up the activity with a discussion about NATO members and the benefits of joining an alliance.

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What Is the North Atlantic Treaty Organization? (Grades 3-5)History and Society, Literacy

45 Minutes•Grades 3 - 5

Finding the Fast Food Facts: Researching the Nutritional Value of Fast Food

Health and Wellness, Nature and Wildlife

Grades 9 - 12

Finding the Fast Food Facts: Researching the Nutritional Value of Fast Food

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45 Minutes

Fast food often provides a quick and inexpensive option for a meal, but may have detrimental health effects. In this activity students work in small groups to research the nutritional value of a meal from a fast food restaurant. They also explore the daily requirements for calories, total fat, saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, carbohydrates, sugar, and sodium and the risks associated with consuming too much of any one category. They wrap up the activity with a discussion on what they have learned and how it might influence their future fast food orders.

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Finding the Fast Food Facts: Researching the Nutritional Value of Fast FoodHealth and Wellness, Nature and Wildlife

45 Minutes•Grades 9 - 12

The Spelling Web (Grades 3-5)

Literacy

Grades 3 - 5

The Spelling Web (Grades 3-5)

Mizzen Education, Inc.

3 - 5

45 Minutes

Students compete to spell words by connecting the letters in a web and then create spelling webs of their own.

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The Spelling Web (Grades 3-5)Literacy

45 Minutes•Grades 3 - 5

Does Social Media Contribute to Stress? (Grades 6-8)

Digital Media and Communications, Social and Emotional Awareness

Grades 6 - 8

Does Social Media Contribute to Stress? (Grades 6-8)

Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45 Minutes

Students learn to recognize different ways that social media can be a stressful experience and discuss ways of handling or responding to that stress.

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Does Social Media Contribute to Stress? (Grades 6-8)Digital Media and Communications, Social and Emotional Awareness

45 Minutes•Grades 6 - 8

Be an Assignment Editor: Design Your News Hour Main Stage

Digital Media and Communications, Arts

Grades 3 - 5

Be an Assignment Editor: Design Your News Hour Main Stage

PBS

3 - 5

30 Minutes

Lights, camera, design! In this lesson, budding news show creators become stage designers. They craft the perfect main stage that looks amazing and reflects a show's theme and brand.

This is the culminating lesson in SRL’s module From Concept to Screen: Building Your News Hour. Students must complete the previous 20 lessons before attempting this activity. This module is followed by a second that deepens student knowledge and skills.

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Be an Assignment Editor: Design Your News Hour Main StageDigital Media and Communications, Arts

30 Minutes•Grades 3 - 5

Functional Fitness Week 9: Day 2

Health and Wellness, Leadership and Teamwork

Grades K - 8

Functional Fitness Week 9: Day 2

Active Kids and Minds

K - 8

40 Minutes

Continue building week 9 skill of the week: Walking Lunges. In this activity, students pair-up for exercise stations and a game of Down, Down, Down. Then, they learn evaluate which fats should be consumed often, sometimes, or once in a while.

This activity is part of the Active Kids and Minds Functional Fitness 12-week program. If you are new to the program, visit the Active Kids and Minds Functional Fitness: Weeks 1-4 Collection before getting started.

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Functional Fitness Week 9: Day 2Health and Wellness, Leadership and Teamwork

40 Minutes•Grades K - 8

Water Quality Testing

Nature and Wildlife, STEM

Grades 6 - 8

Water Quality Testing

City Parks Foundation

6 - 8

1 Hour 10 Minutes

Understanding whether water is clean or polluted requires more than just what the naked eye can see and therefore gives educators like you the opportunity to dive into chemistry with students!

In this lesson students will learn about the way pollutants are introduced into the water cycle and how these pollutants can impact ecosystems and human health. They will then learn how to perform water quality testing on several water samples, identifying the sources of contamination. Students will also learn how green space, specifically street trees in urban areas can be used to reduce contamination events in local ecosystems.

This is activity 2 of 3 in the "Sustainable Cities" module from City Parks Foundation.

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Water Quality TestingNature and Wildlife, STEM

1 Hour 10 Minutes•Grades 6 - 8

Gallery Walk (Grades 6-8)

Arts, Social and Emotional Awareness

Grades 6 - 8

Gallery Walk (Grades 6-8)

Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45 Minutes

Students look at a virtual art gallery from the Children’s Museum of Art called “Home Sweet Home” and describe what they see through sketching, writing, discussion, and art creation. These works are diverse, and each student can find something to talk about.

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Gallery Walk (Grades 6-8)Arts, Social and Emotional Awareness

45 Minutes•Grades 6 - 8

Planning a Studio Set

Digital Media and Communications, Literacy

Grades 3 - 5

Planning a Studio Set

PBS

3 - 5

45 Minutes

Welcome to the creative world of set design for news shows! Students design an engaging and relevant interview set.

This is lesson 20 in “Building a News Hour,” the second module from PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs’ module series.

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Planning a Studio SetDigital Media and Communications, Literacy

45 Minutes•Grades 3 - 5

Rhyme in Super-Quick Time

Literacy, Arts

Grades K - 5

Rhyme in Super-Quick Time

Foundations, Inc.

K - 5

20 Minutes

This game practices rhyming and is excellent for pre-school and younger elementary age kids as well as English Language Learners (ELLs). Rhyming is a great way to help children and youth develop vocabulary, pronunciation, and listening skills.

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Rhyme in Super-Quick TimeLiteracy, Arts

20 Minutes•Grades K - 5

Respect and Learn from Others (Grades 9-12)

Social and Emotional Awareness, Literacy

Grades 9 - 12

Respect and Learn from Others (Grades 9-12)

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45 Minutes

Students learn about tolerance by learning about their peers and recognizing and appreciating their similarities and differences. This activity builds communication and listening skills and helps students learn to respect one another’s strengths, interests, and perspectives.

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Respect and Learn from Others (Grades 9-12)Social and Emotional Awareness, Literacy

45 Minutes•Grades 9 - 12

Hidden Costs of Consumer Goods

Career and Future Readiness, History and Society

Grades 9 - 12

Hidden Costs of Consumer Goods

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45 Minutes

When a gallon of gasoline is purchased at the pump, the price does not include the cost of the pollution that the gasoline will release or the pollution involved in its product. In this activity, students analyze the hidden costs of a wide variety of products.

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Hidden Costs of Consumer GoodsCareer and Future Readiness, History and Society

45 Minutes•Grades 9 - 12

Make an Eclipse Viewer

STEM, Nature and Wildlife

Grades 3 - 12

Make an Eclipse Viewer

NASA

3 - 12

45 Minutes

Students create a simple pinhole projector. Also, students have the opportunity to test their projectors and view the sun safely!

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Make an Eclipse ViewerSTEM, Nature and Wildlife

45 Minutes•Grades 3 - 12

Stories from Photos (Grades 6-8)

Literacy, Arts

Grades 6 - 8

Stories from Photos (Grades 6-8)

Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45 Minutes

Students use photos as prompts to create characters and write a story (or the beginning of a story). This engaging activity promotes creativity and teaches writing skills.

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Stories from Photos (Grades 6-8)Literacy, Arts

45 Minutes•Grades 6 - 8

Electric Cars

STEM, History and Society

Grades 6 - 8

Electric Cars

Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45 Minutes

Students read about the benefits and drawbacks of electric vehicles, and they consider ideas for developing these vehicles in the future. They discuss the facts and opinions about electric vehicles, and make recommendations for the future.

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Electric CarsSTEM, History and Society

45 Minutes•Grades 6 - 8

Modeling How the Heart Works

Nature and Wildlife, STEM

Grades 3 - 5

Modeling How the Heart Works

Mizzen Education, Inc.

3 - 5

45 Minutes

In this activity, students use paper cups and coffee stirrers to model a human heart. They use the models to examine how the heart pumps blood. This activity builds an understanding of the structure and function of the heart muscle.

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Modeling How the Heart WorksNature and Wildlife, STEM

45 Minutes•Grades 3 - 5

Free Speech and Social Media

Digital Media and Communications, History and Society

Grades 9 - 12

Free Speech and Social Media

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45 Minutes

Students explore how freedom of speech applies to the internet and online interaction on social media platforms. They work in teams to analyze the content policies of different social media platforms, and then discuss the types of online content (if any) that should be restricted or regulated.

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Free Speech and Social MediaDigital Media and Communications, History and Society

45 Minutes•Grades 9 - 12

Guess the Photo (Grades 9-12)

Digital Media and Communications, Arts

Grades 9 - 12

Guess the Photo (Grades 9-12)

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45 Minutes

Students take close-up photographs of familiar objects and then guess what each photo shows. This activity helps students develop new perspectives on the world around them.

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Guess the Photo (Grades 9-12)Digital Media and Communications, Arts

45 Minutes•Grades 9 - 12

A News Show Structure: Run-of-Shows

Digital Media and Communications, Literacy

Grades 3 - 5

A News Show Structure: Run-of-Shows

PBS

3 - 5

30 Minutes

Calling all future news show producers! Dive into our dynamic lesson, where students become the architects of a 60-minute news show. They'll learn the art of story organization and create their run-of-show.

This activity can be completed as a standalone lesson. It is, however, best completed as part of SRL’s The News Show Structure. This series is also the second section of SRL’s First Module From Concept to Screen: Building Your News Hour. The module is broken into three sections. The first two contain lessons that can be completed as standalone activities or as part of a series. All three sections converge to provide a powerful and fun introduction to producing and hosting news shows. The module is followed by a second that deepens student knowledge and skills.

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A News Show Structure: Run-of-ShowsDigital Media and Communications, Literacy

30 Minutes•Grades 3 - 5

The Marshmallow Challenge

Arts, STEM

Grades 6 - 12

The Marshmallow Challenge

VentureLab

6 - 12

45 Minutes

Students work in teams to complete a challenge to build the tallest free-standing structure out of dry spaghetti noodles that also supports the weight of a regular-sized marshmallow. Along the way, teams will be asked to reflect on what they've been doing and how they're feeling as they experience what it means to have an entrepreneurial mindset. It will also help students start building some key entrepreneurial skills including creativity, team work, and prototyping.

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The Marshmallow ChallengeArts, STEM

45 Minutes•Grades 6 - 12

Habitat Planning

STEM, Nature and Wildlife

Grades 3 - 8

Habitat Planning

NASA

3 - 8

45 Minutes

Students think about and discuss the basic needs and activities that astronauts might partake in while living on the moon, and draw a habitat that can accommodate those activities.

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Habitat PlanningSTEM, Nature and Wildlife

45 Minutes•Grades 3 - 8

Protest Songs: Sounds of Resistance

History and Society, Literacy

Grades K - 8

Protest Songs: Sounds of Resistance

Pulitzer Center

K - 8

2 Hours

In this two-part activity, students learn about the history of American protest songs and explore how Black Americans have utilized music to resist injustices and empower and uplift themselves.

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Protest Songs: Sounds of ResistanceHistory and Society, Literacy

2 Hours•Grades K - 8

The Lindy Hop

Arts, Leadership and Teamwork

Grades 3 - 8

The Lindy Hop

Jazz at Lincoln Center

3 - 8

1 Hour

Students learn four basic, Lindy Hop steps through an instructional video. Then as a group, students add their own twists on this classic dance.

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The Lindy HopArts, Leadership and Teamwork

1 Hour•Grades 3 - 8

Make It Move! 2: Transportation Prototype Selection

STEM, Arts

Grades 6 - 8

Make It Move! 2: Transportation Prototype Selection

OregonASK

6 - 8

1 Hour 20 Minutes

Students assess their ideas and select from their brainstorming session for a transportation invention.

This is Part 2 of 6 in the Make It Move! series, with activities designed to build upon each another:

Make It Move! 1: Transportation Prototype Brainstorm

Make It Move! 2: Transportation Prototype Selection

Make It Move! 3: Transportation Prototype Build

Make It Move! 4: Transportation Prototype Test & Modify

Make It Move! 5: Transportation Prototype Naming

Make It Move! 6: Transportation Prototype Presentations

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Make It Move! 2: Transportation Prototype SelectionSTEM, Arts

1 Hour 20 Minutes•Grades 6 - 8

Dreaming of Freedom

History and Society, Literacy

Grades K - 8

Dreaming of Freedom

Pulitzer Center

K - 8

1 Hour 15 Minutes

In this activity, students will explore The 1619 Project to understand its key message and important historical terms. Then, they will reflect on what freedom means to them and creatively express their vision of freedom through poetry or drawing.

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Dreaming of FreedomHistory and Society, Literacy

1 Hour 15 Minutes•Grades K - 8

Dress Code Debate

Social and Emotional Awareness, Literacy

Grades 9 - 12

Dress Code Debate

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45 Minutes

In this activity, students discuss the merits and disadvantages of a school dress code and debate whether or not it is too strict.

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Dress Code DebateSocial and Emotional Awareness, Literacy

45 Minutes•Grades 9 - 12

In the Shape of ...

Literacy, Social and Emotional Awareness

Grades K - 2

In the Shape of ...

kid-grit

K - 2

20 Minutes

In this closing, reflection activity, students will select an animal they relate to or feel connected with and then act out the animal to help calm their energy. This fun and engaging activity encourages students to connect with their emotions and recognize their positive qualities in a playful and meaningful way.

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In the Shape of ...Literacy, Social and Emotional Awareness

20 Minutes•Grades K - 2

Sound on a String

STEM, Nature and Wildlife

Grades K - 2

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.

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Sound on a StringSTEM, Nature and Wildlife

1 Hour 30 Minutes•Grades K - 2

Up Close and Personal

STEM, Arts

Grades K - 2

Up Close and Personal

Mizzen Education, Inc.

K - 2

45 Minutes

Learners explore how looking closely at parts of an object can make it harder to recognize the whole. Through observation and drawing, they build understanding of scale, structure, and how parts connect to a whole.

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Up Close and PersonalSTEM, Arts

45 Minutes•Grades K - 2