TEKS ELA Standard: 7.12.A

Recursive Island

Vulcan Point Island is an island in a lake on an island in a lake on an island

A Full-Size Lego Car

It’s a car made out of Lego with a working engine.

Dinosaur Optical Illusion

Why does this dinosaur keep looking at me…

Notice, Wonder: Tenzing

A mysterious image. Reveal it slowly. Let your students wonder!

Gr 2-8

Order to Chaos: Dominoes or Dam?

Sometimes outside forces turn order into chaos. But sometimes chaos comes from within.

Gr 2-8

Order and Chaos Hide Inside Each Other

Chaos can contain order. Order can contain chaos! Is chaos ever truly random?

Gr 2-8

Indirect Power – Lighthouse vs Magnetism

Students explore the idea of indirect power – which can be both visible (a lighthouse) or invisible (magnetism).

Gr 2-8

Power – Blue Whale vs Krill

Sure, a Blue Whale is huge. But does a tiny krill have more power?

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

Characters’ Faults Can Also Be Strengths

Strength and weakness are often two sides of the same coin. Students will explore how a character’s flaw can be a benefit.

Gr 2-8

Lego Paper Shredder

Can you shred paper using just Lego?

Notice, Wonder: Brooklyn

A mysterious image. Reveal it slowly. Let your students wonder!

Gr 2-8

Tournament of Not-So-Famous Inventors

Which inventor and invention will win the tournament?

Gr 2-8

Not Like The Others: 19th Century Presidents

Four 19th century presidents. One doesn’t belong. But which one? That depends on your argument.

Gr 2-8

Not Like The Others: 20th Century Presidents – Group B

Four 20th century presidents. One doesn’t belong. But which one? That depends on your argument.

Gr 2-8

Not Like The Others: 20th Century Presidents – Group A

Four 20th century presidents. One doesn’t belong. But which one? That depends on your argument.

Gr 2-8

What’s In My Brain: Ball vs Book

Let’s look at Kinetic vs Potential Energy!

Gr 2-8

Van Gogh on Water

Oil paint floats on water and becomes a familiar scene.

Slow Motion Popcorn

What surprises can you spot when a kernel pops in super slow-mo?

Gr 2-8

Changing Baby Names

You won’t believe how fascinating it is to watch a map of the most popular baby names by US state.

Frozen Bubble

What happens when you blow a bubble in below-freezing temperatures?

Notice, Wonder: Sombrero

A mysterious image. Reveal it slowly. Let your students wonder!

Gr 2-8

Create A Civ: Capital City

Every great capital is part geography, part human design. Research real ones, then build your own from scratch.

Gr 2-8

Notice, Wonder: Silver Torch

A mysterious image. Reveal it slowly. Let your students wonder!

Gr 2-8

Notice, Wonder: Barringer

A mysterious image. Reveal it slowly. Let your students wonder!

Gr 2-8

Notice, Wonder: Rosetta

A mysterious image. Reveal it slowly. Let your students wonder!

Gr 2-8

Not Like The Others: African Nations

Four African nations. One doesn’t belong. But which one? That depends on your argument.

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

Famous Structures

The Eiffel Tower, the Colosseum, the Sydney Opera House — group them, pick the best from each group, then design your own.

Gr 2-8

Notice, Wonder: Critter

A mysterious image. Reveal it slowly. Let your students wonder!

Gr 2-8

Introducing Universal Theme of Systems

So what could you do with a Universal Theme of Systems? Well, here’s an introduction that will get your students’ brains sweating.

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: Microstates of Europe

Four of the tiniest countries in Europe. One doesn’t belong. But which one? That depends on your argument.

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: Craters

A mysterious image. Reveal it slowly. Let your students wonder!

Gr 2-8

Notice, Wonder: Bloom

A mysterious image. Reveal it slowly. Let your students wonder!

Gr 2-8

Microchess (Chess Variant)

What if we played chess on a board that’s only 4×5?

Gr 1-8

Tournament: 8 Wonders of the Solar System

Which location is the most wondrous place in the solar system?

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: Scales

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

The 8th Wonder of the World Tournament

Which of these eight wonders deserves to become the Eighth Wonder of the World!?

Gr 2-8

Notice, Wonder: Swirls

A mysterious image. Reveal it slowly. Let your students wonder!

Gr 2-8

Precipitation Tournament

Eight types of precipitation battle it out in this tournament.

Gr 2-8

Tournament of Ancient Inventions

Which of these inventions of the ancient world is most influential? Least useful today? Most taken-for-granted?

Gr 2-8

Habitable Planets and Moons Tournament

Which object in the solar system is most habitable?

Gr 2-8

Not Like The Others: Types of Volcanoes

Which of these types of volcanoes is not like the others?

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

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: Birds of the Tropical Rainforest

Which of these four birds is not like the others?

Gr 2-8

Not Like The Others: Branches of the US Government

How is each part of the United States Government not like the other parts?

Gr 2-8

Create A Civilization: Currency

What type of currency will your civilization use? What symbols will be on it? Why are they significant?

Gr 2-8

Create A Civilization: Design A Flag

What makes for a good flag? What makes a bad flag?

Gr 2-8

Looping Grid Art

Pick a few numbers, draw some corresponding lines on grid paper, and you’ll end up with some interesting, looping math-y art!

Gr 1-8

Notice, Wonder: Green Circles

A mysterious image. Reveal it slowly. Let your students wonder!

Gr 2-8

Notice, Wonder: An Orange Thing

A mysterious image. Reveal it slowly. Let your students wonder!

Gr 2-8

Paradox: Rebuilding A Ship

What if we completely rebuild something slowly? What if we completely rebuild it all at once? Is it still the same thing?

Gr 1-8

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

Not Like The Others: Natural Disasters

Four natural disasters. One doesn’t belong. But which one? That depends on your argument.

Gr 2-8

Math Game: Heaps

Try this a simple (but surprisingly strategic) subtraction game!

Gr 1-8

Not Like The Others: Countries

How is each of these four countries not like the others?

Gr 2-8

Think Like A Philosopher

What would Socrates have thought if he watched Frozen?

Gr 2-8

Order Can Be Natural or Constructed

When is order natural and when is it designed by people?

Gr 2-8

Not Like The Others: US Presidents

Four US presidents. One doesn’t belong. But which one? That depends on your argument.

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: Forest

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 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: Climber

A mysterious image. Reveal it slowly. Let your students wonder!

Gr 2-8

Notice, Wonder: A River

A mysterious image. Reveal it slowly. Let your students wonder!

Gr 2-8

Notice, Wonder: Michael

A mysterious image. Reveal it slowly. Let your students wonder!

Gr 2-8

Notice, Wonder: Etna

A mysterious image. Reveal it slowly. Let your students wonder!

Gr 2-8

Game: Order and Chaos

Imagine Tic-Tac-Toe if both players could play as both Xs and Os!

Gr 1-8

Bulls and Cows

How quickly can you break the numeric code?

Gr 1-8

Upgrade Research Questions With Depth and Complexity

Ever ask students to create research questions? Were their ideas a bit… blah? My own students had a very hard time writing questions they didn’t already know the answer to! This video is how I solved that problem: upgrade research questions with depth and complexity.

Gr 2-8

What’s In My Brain – The Park vs The Museum

We’re looking at the past progressive tense and the simple past tense.

Gr 2-8

Student Introductions with Complexity and Frames

How have you changed over time? Students introduce themselves through the lens of change — and learn a Depth and Complexity tool in the process.

Gr 2-8

Paradox: Crocodile Dilemma

A crocodile makes a deal. But the deal creates a paradox. Can your students untangle a 2,000-year-old logic puzzle?

Gr 1-8

Paradox: The Liar’s Paradox

Nothing like a paradox to get your kids brains exploding 🤯! This one starts with five simple words: “This statement is a lie.”

Gr 3-8

Dots and Boxes

Who can make the most boxes from dots in this strategy game?

Gr 1-7

The Thinking Hats

So… do your students moan when forced to work in a group? Part of the problem is that lack the structure to work well with peers. Edward de Bono’s Thinking Hats are a perfect tool to help with this problem.

Gr 1-8

Create A Civilization: Calendars

Why 12 months? Why 30ish days? Why 7 days in a week? Your civilization could organize a year in any way you want!

Gr 2-8

Developing Extension Questions: Zooming In

Every topic has details that get glossed over in a sentence. Zoom in on one and you’ve got an entire unit hiding inside a paragraph.

Gr 1-8

Developing Extension Questions: Panning

Your textbook covers a topic in one paragraph. But what’s next door? Pan the camera and you’ve got a question worth exploring for weeks.

Gr 1-8

Create A Civilization: From Hunter Gatherers to Farmers

What happens when your civilization suddenly has a surplus of food? Think of the possibilities!

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

Content Imperatives: Contribuition

Pull on one thread and watch the whole topic move. Contribution asks: what single factor is quietly shaping everything else?

Gr 1-8

Content Imperatives: Origin

Take students back to the beginning by using the Content Imperative ⏺️ Origin.

Gr 1-8

Depth and Complexity: 📈 Trends

Has something been changing recently? What might be causing that? What are the effects?

Gr 2-8

Using Creativity Tools To Develop A Learning Exploration: Step Three

How do you turn “go research something” into a structured, creative learning exploration? Kathryn Haydon walks through it step by step.

Gr 1-8

Depth and Complexity: ❓ Unanswered Questions

This underutilized tool focuses students on what we don’t yet know and even what we can’t know.

Gr 1-8

Using Creativity Tools To Develop A Learning Exploration: Step Two

How do you turn “go research something” into a structured, creative learning exploration? Kathryn Haydon walks through it step by step.

Gr 1-8

Depth and Complexity: ⏳ Change Over Time

Want to get students thinking about how a topic has changed or might change in the future? The ⏳ Change Over Time thinking tool is just what you need!

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

Disneyland Parking Tram Math Project

A full parking structure. Thousands of people. Trams that hold a few dozen. How many trips? Real math with a place kids actually care about.

Gr 1-8

Engineering: Build A Bridge

Using real bridges as their starting point, students will construct bridges out of straws and paperclips.

Gr 1-8