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Printable List
A Lunar Survival Mission
A favorite of mine! This task is delightfully complex and ambiguous, forcing students to make choices without enough information and with no right answer. How will they survive on the moon for three days?
Gr 2-8
Create A Creature
Create a new creature based on the adaptations of existing creatures from the same biome.
Gr 2-8
Not Like The Others: Planets
Which of these planets is not like others? Well, it sure looks simple at first. But each option
could
be the one that doesn’t fit in.
Gr 2-8
Notice Wonder: Blood Falls
A mysterious image. Reveal it slowly. Let your students
wonder!
Gr 2-8
Not Like The Others: Birds of the Tropical Rainforest
Which of these four birds is not like the others?
Gr 2-8
Notice, Wonder: Scales
A mysterious image. Reveal it slowly. Let your students
wonder!
Gr 2-8
Notice, Wonder: Plateau
A mysterious image. Reveal it slowly. Let your students
wonder!
Gr 2-8
Tournament: 8 Wonders of the Solar System
Which location is the most wondrous place in the solar system?
Gr 2-8
Notice, Wonder: Michael
A mysterious image. Reveal it slowly. Let your students
wonder!
Gr 2-8
Not Like The Others: Rivers
Four rivers. One doesn’t belong. But
which
one? That depends on your argument.
Gr 2-8
Notice, Wonder: Barringer
A mysterious image. Reveal it slowly. Let your students
wonder!
Gr 2-8
Concept Attainment: Hornet vs Tiger
Can your class spot the vertebrates vs invertebrates?
Gr 2-8
What’s In My Brain: Owl vs Eagle
Some of these animals are nocturnal and some are diurnal.
Gr 2-8
Notice Wonder: Turbine
Your students will be surprised by the size of this turbine… and by what’s hanging from it!
Gr 2-8
What’s In My Brain: Tree vs Tree
Let’s look at deciduous vs coniferous trees.
Gr 2-8
Notice, Wonder: Rosetta
A mysterious image. Reveal it slowly. Let your students
wonder!
Gr 2-8
Notice, Wonder: Akron
A mysterious image. Reveal it slowly. Let your students
wonder!
Gr 2-8
The Personalities of Rocks
What would an igneous rock
be like?
Would it get along with a sedimentary rock? Could they handle the
hot
personality of a metamorphic rock?
Gr 2-8
Not Like The Others: Natural Disasters
Four natural disasters. One doesn’t belong. But
which
one? That depends on your argument.
Gr 2-8
Two Animals Switch Biomes
What if a capybara and a kangaroo rat switched homes? Would their adaptations be helpful at all?
Gr 1-8
Notice, Wonder: A River
A mysterious image. Reveal it slowly. Let your students
wonder!
Gr 2-8
Not Like The Others: Types of Diseases
Four diseases. One doesn’t belong. But
which
one? That depends on your argument.
Gr 2-8
Not Like The Others: Penguins
Four penguins. One doesn’t belong. But
which
one? That depends on your argument.
Gr 2-8
Not Like The Others: Types of Rocks
Igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic — and one that doesn’t fit. But which one? Depends on your argument.
Gr 2-8
Precipitation Tournament
Eight types of precipitation battle it out in this tournament.
Gr 2-8
Not Like The Others: Microorganisms
Four microorganisms. One doesn’t belong. But
which
one? That depends on your argument.
Gr 2-8
Notice, Wonder: Burton Island
A mysterious image. Reveal it slowly. Let your students
wonder!
Gr 2-8
Creating A Realistic Flower and Pollinator
Your students will create a
new
flower, designed to attract a specific pollinator.
Gr 2-8
What’s In My Brain: Coral vs Water Lilies
Let’s look at saltwater vs freshwater organisms.
Gr 2-8
Not Like The Others: Ants of the World!
Four ants from around the world. One doesn’t belong. But
which
one? That depends on your argument.
Gr 2-8
Notice, Wonder: Etna
A mysterious image. Reveal it slowly. Let your students
wonder!
Gr 2-8
What’s In My Brain: Crocodile vs Tree Frog
Is it a reptile or an amphibian?
Gr 2-8
What’s In My Brain!? Walnut vs Clouds
Let’s look at living vs non-living things.
Gr 2-8
Animal Adaptation Tournament
Which animal has the most interesting, most valuable, or strangest adaptations?
Gr 2-8
Notice, Wonder: Skylight
A mysterious image. Reveal it slowly. Let your students
wonder!
Gr 2-8
Notice, Wonder: Forest
A mysterious image. Reveal it slowly. Let your students
wonder!
Gr 2-8
What’s In My Brain: Ramp vs Bike
Two columns. One is an example, one isn’t. Can you figure out the hidden rule before the big reveal?
Gr 2-8
An Under-Appreciated Planet
Students write from the point of view of the most under-appreciated planet.
Gr 2-8
Notice Wonder: Z-Machine
A mysterious image. Reveal it slowly. Let your students
wonder!
Gr 2-8
Not Like The Others: States of Matter
How is each of the states of matter
not
like the others?
Gr 2-8
Types of Energy Tournament
Which type of energy will win the tournament!?
Gr 2-8
Notice, Wonder: Green Circles
A mysterious image. Reveal it slowly. Let your students
wonder!
Gr 2-8
How Renewable Is That Resource?
Which resource is
more
renewable? And which is easier to find?
Gr 2-8
Not Like The Others: Rainforests
Which of these rainforests is not like the others?
Gr 2-8
Not Like The Others: US National Parks
Four US national parks. One doesn’t belong. But
which
one? That depends on your argument.
Gr 2-8
Notice, Wonder: SLS Test
A mysterious image. Reveal it slowly. Let your students
wonder!
Gr 2-8
A System Similar to a Cell
Which parts of a cell serve a similar job to the parts of a cruise ship, human body, computer, or other system?
Gr 1-8
Notice, Wonder: Swirls
A mysterious image. Reveal it slowly. Let your students
wonder!
Gr 2-8
What’s In My Brain: Lion vs Bear
We’re looking at carnivores vs omnivores.
Gr 2-8
What’s In My Brain: Paperclip vs Straw
We’re looking at magnetic vs. non-magnetic materials.
Gr 2-8
Not Like The Others: Deserts
Which of these deserts is not like the others?
Gr 2-8
The Tournament of Biomes
Want to move beyond memorizing the characteristics of biomes? In this lesson, students work through a Tournament of Biomes, explaining which biome wins in each round (based on criteria you choose). In the end, they crown a 👑 Champion Biome!
Gr 2-8
Notice, Wonder: Witch’s Fingers
A mysterious image. Reveal it slowly. Let your students
wonder!
Gr 2-8
Not Like The Others: Birds of the Desert
Four desert birds. One doesn’t belong. But
which
one? That depends on your argument.
Gr 2-8
Notice, Wonder: A House
A mysterious image. Reveal it slowly. Let your students
wonder!
Gr 2-8
Notice, Wonder: The Cliff
A mysterious image. Reveal it slowly. Let your students
wonder!
Gr 2-8
Not Like The Others: Cephalopods
Four cephalopods. One doesn’t belong. But
which
one? That depends on your argument.
Gr 2-8
Tournament of Not-So-Famous Inventors
Which inventor and invention will win the tournament?
Gr 2-8
Notice, Wonder: Fountain
A mysterious image. Reveal it slowly. Let your students
wonder!
Gr 2-8
Habitable Planets and Moons Tournament
Which object in the solar system is most habitable?
Gr 2-8
What’s In My Brain!? Gold vs Wood
Some of these examples are conductors and some are insulators!
Gr 2-8
Notice, Wonder: An Orange Thing
A mysterious image. Reveal it slowly. Let your students
wonder!
Gr 2-8
Create A Civilization: The River
The Nile, the Tigris, the Euphrates, the Seine, the Thames, and now… your river!
Gr 2-8
Not Like The Others: Types of Volcanoes
Which of these types of volcanoes is not like the others?
Gr 2-8
Notice, Wonder: Bloom
A mysterious image. Reveal it slowly. Let your students
wonder!
Gr 2-8
Notice, Wonder: Tenzing
A mysterious image. Reveal it slowly. Let your students
wonder!
Gr 2-8
Not Like The Others: Snakes of the Rainforest
Four rainforest snakes. One doesn’t belong. But
which
one? That depends on your argument.
Gr 2-8
Not Like The Others: Stars
How is each of these stars not like the others?
Gr 2-8
Engineering: Build A Bridge
Using real bridges as their starting point, students will construct bridges out of straws and paperclips.
Gr 1-8
What’s In My Brain: Narwhal vs Penguin
We’re looking at the arctic vs the antarctic.
Gr 2-8
Notice, Wonder: Silver Torch
A mysterious image. Reveal it slowly. Let your students
wonder!
Gr 2-8
What’s In My Brain!? Japan vs Jamaica
Is it an island or an archipelago?
Gr 2-8
Notice, Wonder: Craters
A mysterious image. Reveal it slowly. Let your students
wonder!
Gr 2-8
What’s In My Brain: Ball vs Book
Let’s look at Kinetic vs Potential Energy!
Gr 2-8
Earth’s Layers: Who Contributes The Most?
Earth’s layers will disagree about which one contributes the most to the planet’s success.
Gr 2-8
Not Like The Others: Flowers
Four flowers. One doesn’t belong. But
which
one? That depends on your argument.
Gr 2-8
What’s In My Brain: Grass vs Mold
Two columns. One is an example, one isn’t. Can you figure out the hidden rule before the big reveal?
Gr 2-8
Notice, Wonder: Sombrero
A mysterious image. Reveal it slowly. Let your students
wonder!
Gr 2-8
Notice, Wonder: Vortices
A mysterious image. Reveal it slowly. Let your students
wonder!
Gr 2-8
Notice Wonder: Electronics
A mysterious image. Reveal it slowly. Let your students
wonder!
Gr 2-8
Notice, Wonder: Butterball
A mysterious image. Reveal it slowly. Let your students
wonder!
Gr 2-8
Natural Disasters Tournament
Earthquake vs. hurricane. Tsunami vs. wildfire. Students set the criteria, argue their case, and crown a champion. Warning: it gets heated.
Gr 2-8
Notice, Wonder: Climber
A mysterious image. Reveal it slowly. Let your students
wonder!
Gr 2-8
Notice, Wonder: Kuiseb
A mysterious image. Reveal it slowly. Let your students
wonder!
Gr 2-8
Notice, Wonder: Critter
A mysterious image. Reveal it slowly. Let your students
wonder!
Gr 2-8
What’s In My Brain: Guinea Pig vs Potbelly
What do guinea pigs, shooting stars, and seahorses have in common? They’re all misnomers!
Gr 2-8
The Pros and Cons of Producers and Consumers
Sure, students might know the difference between a producer and a consumer… but have they considered how they feel about each other? What, in a producer’s opinion, are the pros and cons of a consumer?
Gr 2-8
Notice, Wonder: Krzywy Las
A mysterious image. Reveal it slowly. Let your students
wonder!
Gr 2-8
Not Like The Others: Creatures of the Tundra
Four tundra creatures. One doesn’t belong. But
which
one? That depends on your argument.
Gr 2-8
What’s In My Brain: Inventions vs Discovery
We’re looking at inventions vs discoveries.
Gr 2-8
Plant Adaptation Tournament
Who will win in a tournament of eight plants with
Interesting
adaptations!?
Gr 2-8