Authentic Lessons for 21st Century Learning
In this professional development session, participants will engage in embedded instructional strategies that will allow them to examine the criteria for authentic assessments. Participants also will explore connections between the “whys” and “hows” of creating and using rubrics for authentic assessment... Read more »
Created by: Lindsay Hawkins
Date Updated: July 24th, 2023
In this session, participants will be given a menu of instructional strategies to "taste test." Each of these strategies is research-based and supports components of authenticity. Once strategies have been chosen, the session will be built around a three-course meal of participants' chosen strategies.... Read more »
Created by: Lindsay Hawkins
Date Updated: July 18th, 2025
In this professional learning activity, participants explore what characterizes effective communication and productive discourse through several strategies, including drawing, norms setting, a silent debate, collaborative concept mapping, and collaborative goal setting. Read more »
Created by: Jared Whaley
Date Updated: May 30th, 2024
This lesson utilizes a current events video that allows students to investigate federal policies towards Native Americans. This lesson pairs well with discussions over the transformation of the West during the nineteenth century. To ensure the success of this lesson, students will need to have some... Read more »
Created by: Chelsee Wilson
Date Updated: November 12th, 2024
Native Americans in the U.S.
In this lesson, students listen to a song while completing a painting activity. They collaborate to paint a list of descriptive words on their canvases based on the song. Considering the song lyrics as poetry, students analyze the song, focusing on descriptive language and sensory details. Students... Read more »
Created by: K20 Center
Date Updated: April 22nd, 2025
Communication: Using Descriptive Language
In this lesson, students will analyze primary and secondary sources to determine the push and pull factors that led immigrants to come to the United States by the millions in the 1880s through the 1920s. It will also examine the immigrant experience upon arriving in the United States, including the... Read more »
Created by: K20 Center
Date Updated: November 21st, 2024
U.S. History
Students investigate the properties and impacts of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) on the Earth. Based upon the activity, this is best for older students or very precocious younger high school students. A prerequisite would be basic physical science, but can easily be approached early on in an environmental... Read more »
Created by: K20 Center
Date Updated: June 22nd, 2023
Coronal Mass Ejections / Space Storms
In this lesson, students will explore a variety of plant reproductive structures and determine differences between sexual and asexual reproduction through hands-on observations and online research. Based on their findings, students will use engineering design to create and test "seed dispersal" structures.... Read more »
Created by: Heather Shaffery
Date Updated: October 9th, 2024
Plant Reproduction and Seed Dispersal
In this second lesson of the What Is a Wave? unit, students will review key concepts from the first lesson using the Strike Out! strategy. Students will connect prior learning to new content by watching videos that demonstrate the speed of sound waves, and then will be introduced to the Triangle of... Read more »
Created by: Laura Halstied
Date Updated: June 1st, 2023
Not the Bermuda Triangle
In this fifth and final lesson of the "What Is a Wave?" unit, students will observe two demonstrations of waves interacting with different types of matter and form conclusions to understand how light travels through matter. Students will complete a Concept Card Map activity to demonstrate their understanding... Read more »
Created by: Laura Halstied
Date Updated: June 15th, 2023
New Direction
This lesson introduces the idea of energy flow in ecosystems using energy pyramids. It also exposes students to a career in scientific illustration. Students participate in a game that models energy flow through trophic levels and calculate the transfer of energy up an energy pyramid. After learning... Read more »
Created by: Heather Shaffery
Date Updated: June 24th, 2025
Ecological Energy Pyramids and Science Illustration