Does your sleep deficit impact your life?

In this problem-based learning module, students will explore the importance of sleep and the impact sleep has on their lives. During the launch phase students can choose to record sleep data via downloaded apps or in a sleep diary. Days 2 through 4 have students explore the concept and necessity of living organisms need to sleep. On day 2 the participants will take a series of cognitive test for baseline data. Through station rotation and a jigsaw activity learners will become familiar with circadian rhythm and sleeping disorders. Finally, days 5-7 have the students produce a video or infographic to communicate the importance of sleep and its relationship to performance both physically and academically.

Material Type: Lesson

Love it or Fix it: How can I design my dream bedroom?

During this problem-based blended learning module students will be designing their dream bedroom as well as creating a scale drawing of the items they chose to be in their bedroom. The launch activity introduces the students to Scale City, which is a video that explores scale models in the real world. Students are then given dimensions for a fictional bedroom to furnish with items of their choosing. Price is not considered in this module, but a budget could be introduced as an extension of the module. Students will then spend time researching items that they would want to place in their bedroom with the area constraints given. Students will have the opportunity to provide each other peer feedback on their bedroom designs. Once students have a rough idea of their bedroom design, they will spend some time creating a scale drawing of their bedroom on graph paper. This will give students the opportunity to use a scale factor to create a scale drawing. Students will again be provided feedback on their designs and be given time to reflect and redesign as needed. If students need extra time to practice using a scale factor and creating scale models, a station rotation lesson has been included as an optional resource.

Material Type: Lesson

Why is food in the cafeteria being thrown away?

In this problem-based learning module, students will raise awareness about the amount of excess food wasted each day in America's schools highlights the consumptive mindset that our county has. Each day in third world countries, as well as our own, children go without the proper nutrition needed to focus on other activities. This module will raise student awareness about the amount of food taken from the service line and then placed in waste receptacles. Students will gather and analyze data regarding wasted food in an attempt to design a solution to reduce food waste. Sation rotation will allow to conduct research into the global problems associated with the lack of food and malnutrition. Mathematical skills will be required to calculate rates and percentages of consumption which will be used for analysis.

Material Type: Lesson

Are we consuming more calories than we are putting out? How is our calorie intake affecting obesity and how do you maintain a healthy weight and lifestyle?

In this problem-based learning module, students will be asked to brainstorm ideas and think innovatively both independently and collaboratively in addressing a real-world problem that is relevant to their daily lives and health. Are students aware of their calorie intake and how it affects their overall health? Students will investigate the calories consumed in a typical day and how much physical activity is needed to stay healthy and fit. Students/teams will be encouraged to use the internet for research purposes in their design phase. Students will utilize various online platforms to design an infographic that can be shared with relevant individuals in the community and others in the school building

Material Type: Lesson

Why Do People Move?

In this problem-based learning module, students will investigate the following question: Does the state of Ohio suffer from "Brain Drain? " If so why is this, where are people going, & what can be done to stop it? If not, what is keeping/bringing people here? After researching and learning about some of the push-pull factors that drove 19th century European immigration to the United States, student groups will be formed in order research, create, and share their findings to determine whether or not Ohio is a "push " or "pull " state. After the launch activity, students will spend the first two days gaining background knowledge on the historical components and content related to the topic. Beginning on Day 4, students will be grouped into teams to begin research and development of the "BIG IDEA " question of: Does the state of Ohio suffer from "Brain Drain? " If so why is this, where are people going, & what can be done to stop it? If not, what is keeping/bringing people here? Once the groups have determined their position on the problem, they will begin researching information to be able to share out their findings.The final products will be presented to an authentic audience consisting of District Administration (i.e., media relations), Local Administration (elected officials), and possibly, local Chamber of Commerce members

Material Type: Lesson

Zapped!

In this lesson, students rotate to three learning stations that will give them opportunities to experiment with static electricity. An extension activity and family connection are included.

Material Type: Lesson Plan

Author: Utah Lesson Plans

Your world is erupting, how will it change?

After researching and learning about the possible devastation that would ensue if the Supervolcano at Yellowstone National Park were to erupt, students will work together in this problem-based learning module to use the information to create a news report to inform American citizens of the effects that would ensure in the event of an eruption. When creating the news report, students will be asked to think of a way to capture their audience attention about the topic while still explaining the science behind what is happening at this site. Students will also take the role of a number of different characters (i.e. experts in the field, scientists, concerned citizens, news caster etc.), and show at least one powerful image to aid in telling the story. After the Launch of the activity, students will take time to explore a variety of resources about this topic that will aid them in answering the "need to know " questions needed to create their News. These items should be shared with the students electronically in a collective folder, and students will be asked to gather the information at their own pace. Once students have completed their news story, students will present their final products to an authentic audience consisting of district Administration, and building staff members.

Material Type: Lesson

Plant and Animal Cells - Blended Learning Playlist Lesson

This lesson will take an average of  2 days for 30- 40 minutes.  Students will need at least 2 days to rotate through each station. This lesson will assist students learning on how to differentiate between a unicellular (plant) and a multicellular (animal) organism. Each activity will support the different learning styles of the students.

Material Type: Formative Assessment, Interactive, Lesson, Lesson Plan, Self Assessment, Teaching/Learning Strategy

Author: JOSEPH HAYES JR

May The Best Force Win

In this interactive lesson, students rotate to different sports activity stations to determine if a push or a pull or both are being used for that sport. Students record their observations by writing a simple phrase to explain the push or pull force they used. At the end of the rotations, students compile their data onto a class tally graph. Extension activities include involving the Olympics and Para-Olympics and their family members. Probing questions that include determining if the age of the thrower affects force and distance and assessment extend and complete the lesson.

Material Type: Lesson Plan

Author: Utah Lesson Plans

Glaciers, Water and Wind, Oh My!

This hands-on activity explores five different forms of erosion (chemical, water, wind, glacier and temperature). Students rotate through stations and model each type of erosion on rocks, soils and minerals. The students record their observations and discuss the effects of erosion on the Earth's landscape. Students learn about how engineers are involved in the protection of landscapes and structures from erosion. Math problems are included to help students think about the effects of erosion in real-world scenarios.

Material Type: Activity/Lab

Authors: Janet Yowell, Malinda Schaefer Zarske, Teresa Ellis

Properties of Fresh and Sea Water

This is a hands-on lab activity about the properties and states of water. Learners will complete activities using different liquids to understand the three states of matter, explain how the high heat capacity and abundance of liquid water makes life on Earth possible, and understand that water containing salts and minerals has different properties than fresh water. They will graph data to analyze and articulate results and conclusions. The lab is set up as three stations that small groups of students rotate through; it can also be done as demonstrations (e.g., for younger students). Background information, common preconceptions, a glossary and more is included. This activity is part of the Aquarius Hands-on Laboratory Activities.

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Lesson Plan