Hands-On Lessons
Reinforce the power of hands-on learning! In the below collection you will find four new lesson plans for grades K–6 that explore the subjects of science, technology, engineering, and math. Each contains a whiteboard-ready component and a fun hands-on craft. Plus, browse the remaining collection for lessons on earth-friendly crafts! Get started with your students today.
Lesson Plans
NEW! Ode to My Pet Reptile
Celebrate the wonders of reptiles as students practice basic research skills, write reptile-themed poems, and create sparkly new reptile pets to wear!
Celebrate the wonders of reptiles as students practice basic research skills, write reptile-themed poems, and create sparkly new reptile pets to wear!
NEW! Spinning a Yarn
Let your students' imaginations run wild as they explore the realm of tall tales, "spin their own yarns," and create a decorative yarn ball craft.
Let your students' imaginations run wild as they explore the realm of tall tales, "spin their own yarns," and create a decorative yarn ball craft.
NEW! Fanciful Story Hats
Help students identify the key elements of a story and then turn them loose to create a colorful story hat to demonstrate their learning.
Help students identify the key elements of a story and then turn them loose to create a colorful story hat to demonstrate their learning.
NEW! Animal Adaptations
Explore the planet's biodiversity by inviting students to analyze animals' unique features and adaptations and then create their own unique creatures.
Explore the planet's biodiversity by inviting students to analyze animals' unique features and adaptations and then create their own unique creatures.
Build a Classroom Tree
Students will explore the importance of expressing their ideas and feelings with this hands-on classroom project. An at-home extension will encourage students to work with their family to build a family tree.
Students will explore the importance of expressing their ideas and feelings with this hands-on classroom project. An at-home extension will encourage students to work with their family to build a family tree.
Apples All Around
For this research-, math- and craft-driven lesson, students will create a paper model to "dissect" an apple, engage in a discussion about the history of American apples, read about apples, and more.
For this research-, math- and craft-driven lesson, students will create a paper model to "dissect" an apple, engage in a discussion about the history of American apples, read about apples, and more.
We Are All Scientists
Students will be encouraged to review a varied cross section of scientists who made important, now-famous contributions to the development of their fields. There are research, art, vocabulary, and writing components to this lesson.
Students will be encouraged to review a varied cross section of scientists who made important, now-famous contributions to the development of their fields. There are research, art, vocabulary, and writing components to this lesson.
About Me Magazine
For this lesson, students will examine the structure of a magazine. Through a research and writing exercise, students will be encouraged to think critically about themselves and how they learn and gather information about a specific subject.
For this lesson, students will examine the structure of a magazine. Through a research and writing exercise, students will be encouraged to think critically about themselves and how they learn and gather information about a specific subject.
Engineer a Spiderweb
Anyone who has spent time staring at a spiderweb has marveled at the intricacy of the spiders' designs. In this lesson, your students will start as scientists, discussing and discovering how a spider's web helps it survive.
Anyone who has spent time staring at a spiderweb has marveled at the intricacy of the spiders' designs. In this lesson, your students will start as scientists, discussing and discovering how a spider's web helps it survive.
Learning About Monarch Butterflies
When you see a monarch butterfly flying by, it's hard not to stop and watch it. In this lesson, your students will be anatomists, researching, studying, and diagramming the anatomy of a butterfly.
When you see a monarch butterfly flying by, it's hard not to stop and watch it. In this lesson, your students will be anatomists, researching, studying, and diagramming the anatomy of a butterfly.
Building Paper Airplanes
Have you ever wondered why planes can fly? This lesson will turn your students into aviation experts as they design and test out their own planes.
Have you ever wondered why planes can fly? This lesson will turn your students into aviation experts as they design and test out their own planes.
Engineering a Bridge
This lesson will involve your students in geometry and measurement as they work as civil engineers to design and build their own bridge.
This lesson will involve your students in geometry and measurement as they work as civil engineers to design and build their own bridge.
Clothespin Pinwheels
Students will learn about the basics of wind energy and how turbines work, then use recycled materials to build handmade pinwheels.
Students will learn about the basics of wind energy and how turbines work, then use recycled materials to build handmade pinwheels.
Ode to the Earth: Magnetic Poetry
Celebrate Earth Day and National Poetry Month together in one creative activity. Students will work together to make poems that honor the earth and its resources, while emphasizing the importance of maintaining its safety and health.
Celebrate Earth Day and National Poetry Month together in one creative activity. Students will work together to make poems that honor the earth and its resources, while emphasizing the importance of maintaining its safety and health.
Endangered Species Animal Masks
Go wild with vibrant animal masks and a lesson in endangered species. Students will learn about endangered species in the United States and will build their own endangered animal masks out of recycled materials.
Go wild with vibrant animal masks and a lesson in endangered species. Students will learn about endangered species in the United States and will build their own endangered animal masks out of recycled materials.
Experiencing 3D
Students will learn how 3D works, and will build their own 3D glasses and red/blue 3D images in this science lesson that explores perspective.
Students will learn how 3D works, and will build their own 3D glasses and red/blue 3D images in this science lesson that explores perspective.
My Very Own Octopus
After reading My Very Own Octopus by Bernard Most, students will make their own octopus crafts out of recyclable materials.
After reading My Very Own Octopus by Bernard Most, students will make their own octopus crafts out of recyclable materials.
Constellation Creations
Go stargazing in the classroom with this hands-on project.
Go stargazing in the classroom with this hands-on project.
Grouchy Ladybug Mobile
Give storybook character the Grouchy Ladybug something to be cheerful about!
Give storybook character the Grouchy Ladybug something to be cheerful about!
Tissue Box Guitars
Start your own ''School of Rock'' with easy-to-make tissue box guitars.
Start your own ''School of Rock'' with easy-to-make tissue box guitars.
Recycled Wind Chimes
Add a decorative flair and new sounds to your classroom with these handmade, environmentally friendly wind chimes.
Add a decorative flair and new sounds to your classroom with these handmade, environmentally friendly wind chimes.
Eco-Inspector Binoculars
Students will keep an eye out for environmentally unfriendly spots in the classroom.
Students will keep an eye out for environmentally unfriendly spots in the classroom.
