All Activities

Production (Student Reporting Labs)

Digital Media and Communications, Literacy

Grades 6 - 12

Production (Student Reporting Labs)

PBS

6 - 12

1 Hour

In this unique set of video tutorials produced by Gil Garcia of Austin High School, students learn about the different roles associated with video production, how to scout a location and set up, best practices for audio gathering, lighting basics, the importance of white-balancing, how to approach interview process, and how to gather different forms of b-roll.

This is activity 14 of 16 in the PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs Module. Visit the Module to learn more before getting started.

Discover Activity

Production (Student Reporting Labs)Digital Media and Communications, Literacy

1 Hour•Grades 6 - 12

Who Are You? (Grades 6-8)

Digital Media and Communications, STEM

Grades 6 - 8

Who Are You? (Grades 6-8)

Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45 Minutes

Students explore the idea that anyone can be anyone on the internet. They role-play various online interactions and try to determine which are truthful and which are fraudulent.

Discover Activity

Who Are You? (Grades 6-8)Digital Media and Communications, STEM

45 Minutes•Grades 6 - 8

Careers in the Armed Forces

Career and Future Readiness, History and Society

Grades 9 - 12

Careers in the Armed Forces

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45 Minutes

Students listen and speak to a local recruiter for the armed forces about careers in the military, including options, requirements, and benefits.

Discover Activity

Careers in the Armed ForcesCareer and Future Readiness, History and Society

45 Minutes•Grades 9 - 12

Broadcast News (Student Reporting Labs)

Digital Media and Communications, History and Society

Grades 6 - 12

Broadcast News (Student Reporting Labs)

PBS

6 - 12

50 Minutes

How does news get from the front lines to your feed? Let’s take a look behind the curtain...

Students will gain an understanding of what constitutes broadcast news and how it’s produced. They will use this knowledge to work backwards, investigating and critically analyzing news stories they’ve recently encountered.

This is activity 6 of 16 in the PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs Module. Visit the Module to learn more before getting started.

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Broadcast News (Student Reporting Labs)Digital Media and Communications, History and Society

50 Minutes•Grades 6 - 12

How Can My College Major Lead to a Dream Job?

Career and Future Readiness, History and Society

Grades 3 - 5

How Can My College Major Lead to a Dream Job?

Mizzen Education, Inc.

3 - 5

45 Minutes

Students identify their dream job, investigate a college major that could prepare them for this career, and learn what courses they need to take to earn their degree.

Discover Activity

How Can My College Major Lead to a Dream Job?Career and Future Readiness, History and Society

45 Minutes•Grades 3 - 5

Definitely Different

Social and Emotional Awareness, Literacy, Health and Wellness

Grades 3 - 5

Definitely Different

kid-grit

3 - 5

15 Minutes

This is a closing activity to help students think about differences intentionally. These skills help them in school and real-life situations, like resolving conflicts with friends. Developing critical thinking early builds confidence, encourages curiosity, and prepares kids to face challenges more thoughtfully.

Discover Activity

Definitely DifferentSocial and Emotional Awareness, Literacy, Health and Wellness

15 Minutes•Grades 3 - 5

Debate It!

Literacy, Social and Emotional Awareness

Grades 3 - 5

Debate It!

Mizzen Education, Inc.

3 - 5

45 Minutes

Debating is a great way for students to work on their speaking, listening, and team-building skills. In this activity, students debate a topic that they can relate to and work in teams to develop arguments that support their side of the debate.

Discover Activity

Debate It!Literacy, Social and Emotional Awareness

45 Minutes•Grades 3 - 5

Slot Construction Sculptures

Arts, Literacy

Grades K - 8

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

Slot Construction SculpturesArts, Literacy

45 Minutes•Grades K - 8

Does That Fit?

STEM, Nature and Wildlife

Grades K - 2

Does That Fit?

Mizzen Education, Inc.

K - 2

45 Minutes

Children practice spatial reasoning skills as they predict which objects will fit through various holes. They test their predictions and reach conclusions about 2-dimensional shapes and 3-dimensional spaces.

Discover Activity

Does That Fit?STEM, Nature and Wildlife

45 Minutes•Grades K - 2

High Five!

Social and Emotional Awareness, Leadership and Teamwork

Grades K - 8

High Five!

After-School All-Stars

K - 8

5 Minutes

Build connection and energy by getting students to affirm and acknowledge each other's contributions.

Discover Activity

High Five!Social and Emotional Awareness, Leadership and Teamwork

5 Minutes•Grades K - 8

Youth Climate Leaders

History and Society, Nature and Wildlife

Grades 6 - 12

Youth Climate Leaders

PBS

6 - 12

50 Minutes

Young people are changing the conversation around climate change. Over past few years, youth movements have made global headlines and gotten the attention of political leaders.

Scientists warn that without major, rapid reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, the world faces crises including food shortages, extreme weather, wildfires, and a mass die-off of coral reefs as early as 2040. While the effects of man-made warming are already being felt, the most serious impact would be experienced by today’s youth and future generations.

In August 2018, 15-year-old Swedish teen Greta Thunberg began striking from school. She sat outside her country’s parliament with a sign that read, “School strike for climate.”

The images went viral--sparking student strikes around the world, with many young people joining the #FridaysforFuture movement. Thunberg recently spent two weeks taking a sailboat from Europe to the U.S. to attend an upcoming United Nations climate summit in New York City. Her journey was meant to draw attention to the greenhouse gas impact of air travel. The UN hosted a Youth Climate Summit, calling it, “a platform for young leaders who are driving climate action to showcase their solutions at the United Nations, and to meaningfully engage with decision-makers on the defining issue of our time.”

Discover Activity

Youth Climate LeadersHistory and Society, Nature and Wildlife

50 Minutes•Grades 6 - 12

Measuring Earthquakes

STEM, Nature and Wildlife

Grades 3 - 8

Measuring Earthquakes

California Academy of Sciences

3 - 8

35 Minutes

Students make their own seismograph and learn how scientists measure earthquake intensity.

Discover Activity

Measuring EarthquakesSTEM, Nature and Wildlife

35 Minutes•Grades 3 - 8

Around the World in 45 Minutes

History and Society, Literacy

Grades 6 - 8

Around the World in 45 Minutes

Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45 Minutes

Each of the world’s continents has distinguishing features and landmarks. Students write clues and then play a game to practice identifying and locating the seven continents.

Discover Activity

Around the World in 45 MinutesHistory and Society, Literacy

45 Minutes•Grades 6 - 8

Schedule an International Meeting

Career and Future Readiness, STEM

Grades 9 - 12

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

Schedule an International MeetingCareer and Future Readiness, STEM

45 Minutes•Grades 9 - 12

Two Truths and a Lie

Social and Emotional Awareness, Leadership and Teamwork

Grades 6 - 12

Two Truths and a Lie

Foundations, Inc.

6 - 12

10 Minutes

Participants bring a wealth of experience and fun to the class in this fun icebreaker.

Discover Activity

Two Truths and a LieSocial and Emotional Awareness, Leadership and Teamwork

10 Minutes•Grades 6 - 12

My Favorite Number

STEM, Arts

Grades K - 2

My Favorite Number

Mizzen Education, Inc.

K - 2

45 Minutes

Almost every person has a favorite number. Maybe it is their birthday or their favorite sports player’s number, but either way it is a number that they use often in their life. Children will be creating posters that tell others about their favorite numbers in creative ways while also incorporating addition and subtraction facts.

Discover Activity

My Favorite NumberSTEM, Arts

45 Minutes•Grades K - 2

Current Issues Debate

History and Society, Literacy

Grades 9 - 12

Current Issues Debate

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45 Minutes

Teach research and debate skills with this activity where students debate topics that are appropriate for and of interest to high school students.

Discover Activity

Current Issues DebateHistory and Society, Literacy

45 Minutes•Grades 9 - 12

Paper Sculptures (Grades K-2)

Arts, Social and Emotional Awareness

Grades K - 2

Paper Sculptures (Grades K-2)

Mizzen Education, Inc.

K - 2

45 Minutes

Children create different shapes out of paper and glue or tape them together to make a sculpture. As they create, they learn different ways to manipulate paper and discuss how colors and shapes can affect feelings and even represent the people in their lives.

Discover Activity

Paper Sculptures (Grades K-2)Arts, Social and Emotional Awareness

45 Minutes•Grades K - 2

Paper Train

STEM, Arts

Grades K - 2

Paper Train

Mizzen Education, Inc.

K - 2

45 Minutes

Children cut simple geometric shapes from construction paper and join them together to represent the locomotive and other cars of a train. Then the teacher joins the cars together to make a train.

Discover Activity

Paper TrainSTEM, Arts

45 Minutes•Grades K - 2

Ecosystem Services

Nature and Wildlife, STEM

Grades 6 - 8

Ecosystem Services

City Parks Foundation

6 - 8

1 Hour

This activity will introduce students to the concept of ecosystem services. Students will discuss each of the four ecosystem services and spend time researching how each of these ecosystem services supports our wellbeing and the wellbeing of others. This activity will culminate with a poster design project where students will consider examples of ecosystem services within their communities.

This is activity 1 of 3 in the "Urban Forests" module from City Parks Foundation.

Discover Activity

Ecosystem ServicesNature and Wildlife, STEM

1 Hour•Grades 6 - 8

Super ME! Part 2

Arts, Social and Emotional Awareness

Grades K - 5

Super ME! Part 2

OregonASK

K - 5

1 Hour

Students continue to work on and complete their Super ME! pop-up books and share their hard work with each other.

This activity is part 5 of a 5 part activity series: A Hero Among Heroes, The Hero Inside, My Talents, Interests, and Strengths, Super ME Part 1, and Super ME Part 2

Discover Activity

Super ME! Part 2Arts, Social and Emotional Awareness

1 Hour•Grades K - 5

What is that Tone

Digital Media and Communications, Literacy

Grades 3 - 5

What is that Tone

PBS

3 - 5

45 Minutes

Uncover the Power of Vocal Tone! In this engaging lesson, students delve into the fascinating world of vocal communication. They learn to alter their vocal tone to convey a specific meaning.

This is lesson 15 in “Building a News Hour,” the second module from PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs’ module series.

Discover Activity

What is that ToneDigital Media and Communications, Literacy

45 Minutes•Grades 3 - 5

Weather and Climate

STEM, Nature and Wildlife

Grades K - 8

Weather and Climate

National Wildlife Federation

K - 8

50 Minutes

In this activity, we focus on weather and climate. Children commonly misinterpret these words as interchangeable terms. These terms, while related, are different.

Weather is what we experience on a daily basis. It helps us decide what we should wear the next day or bring on an upcoming getaway next week. Weather is a prediction based on various data collected in multiple ways, from ground stations to radars. Weather maps are created to help us understand what to expect based on meteorologists’ evidence (people who study weather).

On the other hand, the climate allows us to see long-term patterns in weather data collected over time — a long period of time. A long time concerning climate is a minimum of thirty years. Climate can tell us many things, from seasonal information and planting zones to increases in global temperatures or carbon dioxide.

Discover Activity

Weather and ClimateSTEM, Nature and Wildlife

50 Minutes•Grades K - 8

Let’s Plan a Presentation!

Literacy, Social and Emotional Awareness

Grades 3 - 5

Let’s Plan a Presentation!

Mizzen Education, Inc.

3 - 5

45 Minutes

Students learn steps to follow when planning a presentation, and then they practice those steps with partners. This activity builds organizational skills as well as skills in collaboration, speaking, and listening.

Discover Activity

Let’s Plan a Presentation!Literacy, Social and Emotional Awareness

45 Minutes•Grades 3 - 5

Chip Hunt (Team Building) Game

Leadership and Teamwork, Social and Emotional Awareness

Grades K - 12

Video

Chip Hunt (Team Building) Game

!Mpact Players

K - 12

15 Minutes

Hide and hunt colored poker chips in this highly active game as the clock ticks away!

Discover Activity

Video

Chip Hunt (Team Building) GameLeadership and Teamwork, Social and Emotional Awareness

15 Minutes•Grades K - 12

Building an Interview Set A

Digital Media and Communications, Literacy

Grades 3 - 5

Building an Interview Set A

PBS

3 - 5

45 Minutes

Students bring their interviews to life through puppets and miniature sets. They begin by building puppets to represent the interviewer and interviewee. This lesson, the first of three, provides time for students to build the sets designed in Lesson 20.

This is lesson 24 of PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs' second module, Building a News Hour.

Discover Activity

Building an Interview Set ADigital Media and Communications, Literacy

45 Minutes•Grades 3 - 5

S.INQ Sound Telephones Part 2

STEM, Nature and Wildlife

Grades K - 5

S.INQ Sound Telephones Part 2

OregonASK

K - 5

45 Minutes

Students investigate which simple telephone device makes our voices the loudest when they travel from one person to another. Students explore and test various materials to act as the earpiece of the phone, amplifying the vibration of sound.

Discover Activity

S.INQ Sound Telephones Part 2STEM, Nature and Wildlife

45 Minutes•Grades K - 5

Sensational Seaweed

Nature and Wildlife, STEM

Grades 3 - 8

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

Sensational SeaweedNature and Wildlife, STEM

1 Hour•Grades 3 - 8

Design Your Garden, Define Your Season: How to Draw Your Garden Layout

Nature and Wildlife, STEM

Grades 3 - 8

Design Your Garden, Define Your Season: How to Draw Your Garden Layout

Farm to Table Kids

3 - 8

1 Hour 25 Minutes

In this foundational garden planning lesson, students will explore the art and science of designing a functional and beautiful garden layout. First, they will create a “Garden Vision Board Classroom Collage” to spark their imagination. Then, they will draw their own garden layouts based on real dimensions and plant spacing. Students will begin their growing season with creativity, purpose, and intention.

This activity is 4 of 4 in the "Things to Know Before You Grow" module from Farm to Table Kids. Visit the module to view the full set of learning resource and learn more about Part 2 of the module series, "How to Grow Dahlias."

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Design Your Garden, Define Your Season: How to Draw Your Garden LayoutNature and Wildlife, STEM

1 Hour 25 Minutes•Grades 3 - 8

School Time Debate

Social and Emotional Awareness, Literacy

Grades 3 - 5

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

School Time DebateSocial and Emotional Awareness, Literacy

45 Minutes•Grades 3 - 5

Stop the Show (Grades 9-12)

Arts, Literacy

Grades 9 - 12

Stop the Show (Grades 9-12)

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45 Minutes

Small groups of actors plan scenarios that have concrete starting points and a conflict, obstacle, or problem the characters have to solve. At certain points, the teacher stops the scene and asks the audience to vote on the next thing that will happen or on a certain character's next response or action. The audience becomes a kind of writer’s room, in which actors are asked to try out different ideas as they perform.

Discover Activity

Stop the Show (Grades 9-12)Arts, Literacy

45 Minutes•Grades 9 - 12

This is Me: Online Profiles

Digital Media and Communications, Social and Emotional Awareness

Grades 3 - 5

This is Me: Online Profiles

Mizzen Education, Inc.

3 - 5

45 Minutes

Students in this age range may just be discovering social media websites, as well as both the benefits and drawbacks of social media. In this activity, done entirely offline, students complete a simple profile for themselves. The group tries to match the profile to its owner.

Discover Activity

This is Me: Online ProfilesDigital Media and Communications, Social and Emotional Awareness

45 Minutes•Grades 3 - 5

Quote Match (Grades 6-8)

Literacy, Digital Media and Communications

Grades 6 - 8

Quote Match (Grades 6-8)

Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45 Minutes

Students find quotes from popular middle school literature and then pool their quotes to play and compete in a quote matching game. This activity may inspire students to read new books.

Discover Activity

Quote Match (Grades 6-8)Literacy, Digital Media and Communications

45 Minutes•Grades 6 - 8

Two Truths and a Lie (Grades 9-12)

Social and Emotional Awareness, Leadership and Teamwork

Grades 9 - 12

Two Truths and a Lie (Grades 9-12)

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45 Minutes

In this game, called Two Truths and a Lie, students read statements about one another and then try to distinguish the facts from the falsehoods. This classic icebreaker game helps build a cohesive group.

Discover Activity

Two Truths and a Lie (Grades 9-12)Social and Emotional Awareness, Leadership and Teamwork

45 Minutes•Grades 9 - 12

Interview Skills

Career and Future Readiness, Literacy

Grades 9 - 12

Interview Skills

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45 Minutes

Students practice being interviewed for a job as well as evaluating job applicants. This activity builds interviewing skills and provides practice in speaking and listening.

Discover Activity

Interview SkillsCareer and Future Readiness, Literacy

45 Minutes•Grades 9 - 12

Idea Journals and the Entrepreneur Song

Literacy, Arts

Grades K - 2

Idea Journals and the Entrepreneur Song

VentureLab

K - 2

15 Minutes

Deepen students' understanding of themselves as entrepreneurs by creating Idea Journals, where they can freely express themselves and jot down thoughts, questions, and drawings as they collect ideas for changing the world. After exploring their Idea Journals, students will listen to and practice singing the Entrepreneur song, which reviews and emphasizes key points about the entrepreneurial mindset.

This activity was designed as Part 2 of 5 in a series created by VentureLab. Check out the "Intro to Entrepreneurship" lesson to see more.

Discover Activity

Idea Journals and the Entrepreneur SongLiteracy, Arts

15 Minutes•Grades K - 2

Networking on LinkedIn

Career and Future Readiness, History and Society

Grades 9 - 12

Networking on LinkedIn

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45 Minutes

Students discover the use of the website LinkedIn for career and business networking. As a group, they model the interactions on the website among employers and job-seekers.

Discover Activity

Networking on LinkedInCareer and Future Readiness, History and Society

45 Minutes•Grades 9 - 12

Bats

Nature and Wildlife, STEM

Grades 3 - 8

Bats

National Wildlife Federation

3 - 8

50 Minutes

Most of the world’s bats eat insects, and in areas with cold winters, that is all they eat. Many tropical bats eat fruit and nectar, and a few are carnivores that eat other animals, including rats and mice, small birds, frogs, lizards, or even fish. Only three out of more than 1,000 species drink blood.

Most experienced bat scientists can guess what a bat eats by looking closely at its adaptations. Each species of bat is adapted for the food it eats. Some bats specialize in eating just one or a few kinds of food, but others are generalists who eat various foods. Special adaptations, such as wings, feet, eyes, nose structure, and mouth structure, allow bats to find and eat certain kinds of food with little or no competition from other species. This is very successful as long as their unique food source is abundant, but such specialization is risky because the kinds of prey, fruit, flowers a bat eats might die out, leaving the bat to starve. Animals that eat various foods can switch types if one disappears, but they cannot compete well with specialized animals for any one food.

Discover Activity

BatsNature and Wildlife, STEM

50 Minutes•Grades 3 - 8

Leaf-Cutter Ant Scent Trail

STEM, Nature and Wildlife

Grades K - 5

Leaf-Cutter Ant Scent Trail

Go2Science

K - 5

50 Minutes

Some animals work together in incredible ways! Watch leaf-cutter ants as they travel to leaves, collect them, and bring them to the nest to grow fungus. Test the different ways insects gather information by acting as leaf-cutter ants and following a scent trail to guide the way to leaves and back to the nest.

Discover Activity

Leaf-Cutter Ant Scent TrailSTEM, Nature and Wildlife

50 Minutes•Grades K - 5

Word Hunt (Grades K-2)

Literacy, Digital Media and Communications

Grades K - 2

Word Hunt (Grades K-2)

Mizzen Education, Inc.

K - 2

45 Minutes

In this game, children search for words hidden around the schoolyard. When time is up, children work together to combine their words into meaningful sentences. This game builds collaborative learning and literacy skills.

Discover Activity

Word Hunt (Grades K-2)Literacy, Digital Media and Communications

45 Minutes•Grades K - 2

What Walked?

Literacy, STEM

Grades K - 12

What Walked?

Foundations, Inc.

K - 12

30 Minutes

Kids enjoy challenging themselves, and testing their memory is one way for them to do this. Build recall and observation abilities to help kids succeed in school and beyond! Connecting a memory activity to a new topic or skill is a great way to introduce a new subject area and make this area meaningful to the student experience.

Discover Activity

What Walked?Literacy, STEM

30 Minutes•Grades K - 12

Improvise, Write, and Perform Scenes

Arts, Literacy

Grades 9 - 12

Improvise, Write, and Perform Scenes

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

1 Hour

In small groups, students will plan, rehearse, and act out a story, using pantomime. Other students will guess where the performers are and what they are doing.

Discover Activity

Improvise, Write, and Perform ScenesArts, Literacy

1 Hour•Grades 9 - 12

Alphabet Book

Literacy, Social and Emotional Awareness

Grades K - 2

Alphabet Book

Mizzen Education, Inc.

K - 2

45 Minutes

Knowledge of the alphabet is the foundation for reading. In this literacy activity, children share their knowledge of the names of letters, the sounds letters make, and words that start with each letter as they work together to create a group alphabet book.

Discover Activity

Alphabet BookLiteracy, Social and Emotional Awareness

45 Minutes•Grades K - 2

The Bees Knees

Arts, Leadership and Teamwork

Grades 3 - 8

The Bees Knees

Jazz at Lincoln Center

3 - 8

1 Hour

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

Discover Activity

The Bees KneesArts, Leadership and Teamwork

1 Hour•Grades 3 - 8

Scientific Sketching Practice

STEM, Arts

Grades 3 - 12

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

Scientific Sketching PracticeSTEM, Arts

45 Minutes•Grades 3 - 12

Ready, Set, Goals! (Grades 3-5)

Social and Emotional Awareness, Leadership and Teamwork

Grades 3 - 5

Ready, Set, Goals! (Grades 3-5)

Mizzen Education, Inc.

3 - 5

45 Minutes

Setting goals is an important part of growing as a person. In today's activity, students set goals in 3 different areas of their lives: school, family, and self.

Discover Activity

Ready, Set, Goals! (Grades 3-5)Social and Emotional Awareness, Leadership and Teamwork

45 Minutes•Grades 3 - 5

Recycling

Nature and Wildlife, STEM

Grades 3 - 5

Recycling

Mizzen Education, Inc.

3 - 5

45 Minutes

In this activity, students discuss the 3R's: reducing, reusing, and recycling and evaluate the programs in their homes, school, and community.

Discover Activity

RecyclingNature and Wildlife, STEM

45 Minutes•Grades 3 - 5

Slot Construction Animals

Arts, Literacy

Grades K - 8

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 AnimalsArts, Literacy

1 Hour•Grades K - 8

Open Scenes (Grades 3-5)

Arts, Literacy

Grades 3 - 5

Open Scenes (Grades 3-5)

Mizzen Education, Inc.

3 - 5

45 Minutes

Students work in pairs on an open script, which has dialogue but no indication of characters, plot, or setting. Students write and perform scenes for the open scripts, and the audience guesses what is happening.

Discover Activity

Open Scenes (Grades 3-5)Arts, Literacy

45 Minutes•Grades 3 - 5

S.INQ Up Careers Engineering & Manufacturing Part 2

STEM, Career and Future Readiness

Grades 6 - 8

S.INQ Up Careers Engineering & Manufacturing Part 2

OregonASK

6 - 8

30 Minutes

Students think about skills that go into manufacturing. Students work in teams to design, construct, test, and redesign an assembly line to manufacture a product as quickly and efficiently as possible to meet the quality control criteria.

Discover Activity

S.INQ Up Careers Engineering & Manufacturing Part 2STEM, Career and Future Readiness

30 Minutes•Grades 6 - 8

Using the eBird App to Conduct a Bird Search

Nature and Wildlife, STEM

Grades 6 - 8

Using the eBird App to Conduct a Bird Search

California Academy of Sciences

6 - 8

20 Minutes

Community science, also called citizen science, is a global effort in which scientists and the public work together to help gather data on the earth’s biodiversity. In Bird Search, youth will search for birds, identify them, and contribute observations to eBird, the world’s largest nature-based citizen science project.

By sharing their observations with the global community, eBirders help scientists around the world track the movement and needs of birds on a global scale and contribute to important conservation efforts. Scientists use many tools and strategies to identify and study birds. In this activity, youth learn and practice different bird identification techniques.

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Using the eBird App to Conduct a Bird SearchNature and Wildlife, STEM

20 Minutes•Grades 6 - 8

Messages to the Future

Social and Emotional Awareness, Literacy

Grades 9 - 12

Messages to the Future

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

In this activity, students write letters to their own future child or another young relative, to be read by the child 30 years from now. Volunteers can share the content of the letters or their thoughts about their letters.

Discover Activity

Messages to the FutureSocial and Emotional Awareness, Literacy

Grades 9 - 12

Functional Fitness Week 1: Day 2

Health and Wellness, Leadership and Teamwork

Grades K - 8

Functional Fitness Week 1: Day 2

Active Kids and Minds

K - 8

40 Minutes

Continue building week 1 skill of the week: Planks. In this activity, students challenge their planking skills in a relay race and game of crab walk soccer. Then, they make inquiries about nutrition and healthy eating.

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 1: Day 2Health and Wellness, Leadership and Teamwork

40 Minutes•Grades K - 8

Card Tricks

STEM, Arts

Grades 6 - 8

Card Tricks

Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45 Minutes

Children, teens, and adults are familiar with card tricks as entertainment for parties or stage shows. For educators, however, card tricks offer a novel way to teach skills in logic, reasoning, and problem-solving. In this activity, students will witness 4 card tricks and then attempt to explain and recreate them. They may discover that a card trick, like other illusions, is successful only when all of its details are mastered.

Discover Activity

Card TricksSTEM, Arts

45 Minutes•Grades 6 - 8

Appeal to the Consumer

Career and Future Readiness, History and Society

Grades 9 - 12

Appeal to the Consumer

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45 Minutes

Students explore the role of consumers in the economy. They begin by discussing what consumers are and how entrepreneurs develop ideas for goods and services to meet consumer needs and wants. In teams, they brainstorm innovations to existing goods and services to appeal to specific consumers. They do so by querying their fellow consumers about the existing goods and services. They then use what they learn to write a proposal for their innovative good or service.

Discover Activity

Appeal to the ConsumerCareer and Future Readiness, History and Society

45 Minutes•Grades 9 - 12

What Could the Animals Be Saying?

Literacy, Arts

Grades 6 - 8

What Could the Animals Be Saying?

Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45 Minutes

Students write and rehearse their own narrations for video segments of interesting animal behavior. This enjoyable activity introduces students to an easy way of producing their own videos.

Discover Activity

What Could the Animals Be Saying?Literacy, Arts

45 Minutes•Grades 6 - 8

Question Slips

Literacy, Digital Media and Communications

Grades 3 - 5

Question Slips

Mizzen Education, Inc.

3 - 5

45 Minutes

Proficient readers often ask themselves questions to guide their comprehension. However, developing readers do not always pay attention to their internal thoughts as they read. In this activity, students jot down questions that come to mind about the vocabulary or ideas they encounter. This encourages authentic reader engagement with texts and helps students build comprehension at deeper levels.

Discover Activity

Question SlipsLiteracy, Digital Media and Communications

45 Minutes•Grades 3 - 5

Olympic Games (Grades K-2)

Leadership and Teamwork, Health and Wellness

Grades K - 2

Olympic Games (Grades K-2)

Mizzen Education, Inc.

K - 2

45 Minutes

Children learn and play a series of Olympic-style games and then vote on their favorite. This activity builds listening, cooperative learning, and reasoning skills and improves physical health.

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Olympic Games (Grades K-2)Leadership and Teamwork, Health and Wellness

45 Minutes•Grades K - 2

Match the Program with Its Purpose

STEM, History and Society

Grades 9 - 12

Match the Program with Its Purpose

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45 Minutes

Students analyze 1 or more computer programs in the BASIC language and then identify the statistics measurement it calculates. For students ready for a challenge, extend the activity by having them revise the programs to combine their functions effectively.

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Match the Program with Its PurposeSTEM, History and Society

45 Minutes•Grades 9 - 12

Design Floral Ceramic Tiles

Arts, Literacy

Grades 3 - 5

Design Floral Ceramic Tiles

Mizzen Education, Inc.

3 - 5

45 Minutes

Students sketch flowers and then turn those drawings into a painted square tile design. Students will learn that scientific illustration is a good career for those who love science and art.

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Design Floral Ceramic TilesArts, Literacy

45 Minutes•Grades 3 - 5

Factory Product and Promotional Material

Arts, Digital Media and Communications

Grades 9 - 12

Factory Product and Promotional Material

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45 Minutes

Students work in pairs and small groups to come up with an idea for a factory and a product the factory can make. Then they choose 1 visual item to design: a logo, a storyboard for a video ad, a poster announcing job openings, a drawing of their product, etc.

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Factory Product and Promotional MaterialArts, Digital Media and Communications

45 Minutes•Grades 9 - 12

Hands-on Games Exploring Senses

Leadership and Teamwork, STEM

Grades 3 - 8

Hands-on Games Exploring Senses

OregonASK

3 - 8

1 Hour

These mini-activities all help students explore their senses.

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Hands-on Games Exploring SensesLeadership and Teamwork, STEM

1 Hour•Grades 3 - 8

The Truman Doctrine

History and Society, Literacy

Grades 9 - 12

The Truman Doctrine

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45 Minutes

In a message to Congress in 1947, President Truman outlined a foreign policy designed to stop the spread of Communism. The policy became known as the Truman Doctrine. In this activity, students analyze the Truman Doctrine and the role this policy played in the Cold War. They practice critical thinking and collaboration skills as they explore the history of US foreign policy.

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The Truman DoctrineHistory and Society, Literacy

45 Minutes•Grades 9 - 12

The Big Easy: Day 6 Lesson

Arts, Literacy

Grades 3 - 8

The Big Easy: Day 6 Lesson

Jazz at Lincoln Center

3 - 8

1 Hour

Welcome to Lesson 6 of Jazz at Lincoln Center's module, "The Big Easy"! Harness creativity as students utilize dance notation to choreograph expressive dances imbued with symbolic meanings.

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The Big Easy: Day 6 LessonArts, Literacy

1 Hour•Grades 3 - 8

Plan A Community Dance

Leadership and Teamwork, Career and Future Readiness

Grades 6 - 8

Plan A Community Dance

Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45 Minutes

Students practice teamwork and collaboration as they work together to plan a mock event for the students in their school or community. This activity introduces students to an organizational model that is used in many businesses.

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Plan A Community DanceLeadership and Teamwork, Career and Future Readiness

45 Minutes•Grades 6 - 8

Human Rights: Meaning and Importance

History and Society, Social and Emotional Awareness

Grades 9 - 12

Human Rights: Meaning and Importance

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45 Minutes

Students learn what constitutes a human right and become familiar with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, published by the United Nations. Students work in small groups to demonstrate 1 of the rights in the document using a format of their choice.

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Human Rights: Meaning and ImportanceHistory and Society, Social and Emotional Awareness

45 Minutes•Grades 9 - 12

Escape Room (Grades 9-12)

STEM, Leadership and Teamwork

Grades 9 - 12

Escape Room (Grades 9-12)

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45 Minutes

Teams work together to solve clues and puzzles to escape from a room. This activity builds collaboration, creative thinking, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.

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Escape Room (Grades 9-12)STEM, Leadership and Teamwork

45 Minutes•Grades 9 - 12

Our Tapestry of Belonging

Social and Emotional Awareness, Arts

Grades 6 - 8

Our Tapestry of Belonging

Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

1 Hour 15 Minutes

In this collaborative art experience, youth explore the relationship between identity and a sense of belonging. Each person receives a strip of canvas fabric and reflects on a word or short phrase that represents a part of their identity and what they bring to the community. After writing their identity word(s) and using paint to visually express their identity, all strips are tied to a large stick or branch to create a unified tapestry. The final artwork visually represents how each individual’s uniqueness strengthens the sense of belonging within the whole group.

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Our Tapestry of BelongingSocial and Emotional Awareness, Arts

1 Hour 15 Minutes•Grades 6 - 8

Job Interview Round Robin

Career and Future Readiness, Literacy

Grades 6 - 8

Job Interview Round Robin

Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

1 Hour

In this activity, students will prepare and conduct mock interviews for a business of their choice. They will practice speaking skills and thinking on their feet—both important skills in the business world.

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Job Interview Round RobinCareer and Future Readiness, Literacy

1 Hour•Grades 6 - 8

How Have Cell Phones Improved?

STEM, History and Society

Grades 9 - 12

How Have Cell Phones Improved?

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

50 Minutes

The first mobile phones were more like walky-talkies and were used for communications in the military and emergency services. Steady improvements led to the first cellular phone in 1973. Now, 1 study reports that 90% of all adults in the United States own a cell phone. In this activity, students will explore the history of cell phones and the improvements in communications technology.

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How Have Cell Phones Improved?STEM, History and Society

50 Minutes•Grades 9 - 12

Zoo Day

Nature and Wildlife, STEM

Grades 3 - 5

Zoo Day

Mizzen Education, Inc.

3 - 5

45 Minutes

Students work in pairs to research an animal found in zoos and then create information cards about that animal to display.

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Zoo DayNature and Wildlife, STEM

45 Minutes•Grades 3 - 5

Genetically Modified Food Crops

STEM, History and Society

Grades 9 - 12

Genetically Modified Food Crops

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45 Minutes

In this activity, students research various genetically modified (GM) food crops. Then they prepare and stage a debate about the values and ethics of using genetic technology for this purpose. Their research should show that there are both pros and cons to the issue and that not all GM crops should be evaluated equally.

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Genetically Modified Food CropsSTEM, History and Society

45 Minutes•Grades 9 - 12

What is a Pollinator?

Nature and Wildlife, STEM

Grades K - 8

What is a Pollinator?

National Wildlife Federation

K - 8

50 Minutes

A pollinator is anything that helps carry pollen from the male part of the flower (stamen) to the female part of the same or another flower (stigma). Over 100,000 invertebrates—including bees, butterflies, beetles, moths, wasps, and flies — and more than a thousand mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians take on the job of pollinating plants. This biodiverse group of wildlife buzzes, flutters, and creeps from plant to plant, dining on protein-rich pollen and high-energy nectar. As they move, they transport and deposit pollen, fertilizing plants and allowing those plants to reproduce.

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What is a Pollinator?Nature and Wildlife, STEM

50 Minutes•Grades K - 8

Benjamin Franklin

History and Society, Literacy

Grades K - 2

Benjamin Franklin

Mizzen Education, Inc.

K - 2

45 Minutes

Children learn about Benjamin Franklin by listening to the leader read a picture book. Then the work in small groups to create a poster about Franklin.

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Benjamin FranklinHistory and Society, Literacy

45 Minutes•Grades K - 2

Design an Ad

Digital Media and Communications, Literacy

Grades 3 - 5

Design an Ad

Mizzen Education, Inc.

3 - 5

45 Minutes

Advertisements are all around us and are a part of our everyday lives. Students will be looking at different advertisements to figure out their purpose, what message they send, and who the audience is. After analyzing different advertisements, students will design an advertisement for a product of their choice.

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Design an AdDigital Media and Communications, Literacy

45 Minutes•Grades 3 - 5