STEM
February 12, 2014 - February 18, 2014

Find the latest educational resources from Iowa Public Television.

Designing Parachutes: Applying Science Knowledge
Grade Range: 3-5

In this professional development video from Engineering is Elementary, teacher Jean Facchiano has her fourth grade students perform tests on models while controlling variables. The lesson shows students working on Performance Expectations in Engineering Design as well as Engineering Practices from the NGSS.

Wind Powered Vehicles

Grade Range: 3-5

In this activity from Engineering is Elementary, students design, build, and test small vehicles that are powered by puffs of air. The activity is useful for introducing components of Engineering Design (ETS) from the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) in grades 3-5.

Meerkatcher: Multiply Fractions with Unlike Denominators
Grade Range: 6

The rascally meerkat gang is eating all the food in the zoo. Multiply fractions to feed the animals and catch those 'kats! In this activity, students will focus on multiplying fractions, starting with single-digit denominators and working up. This activity will include explanations of how the formula works.

Dunk Tank: Area of Squares & Rectangles
Grade Range: 5-6

An interactive game to explore key concepts about area of squares, rectangles and composite shapes, including measuring with unit squares and using the formula A = L x W. Students play Polygon-athon"to create simple polygons and find their areas; watch a comic video about using a non-standard unit of measure; and answer other questions designed to promote deeper understanding of area. This resource is part of Dunk Tank, a collection of interactive math-themed games.

I <3 Math: Percent as a Rate
Grade Range: 6

This episode of I <3 Math presents multi-step ratio and percent problems to illustrate the concept of percent as a rate. The video uses real-world comparisons to convert rates into equivalent percentages.

Curious George: Build a Wall

Grade Range: PreK-1

In the video Keep Out Cows, Curious George tries to build a wall to keep the cows from munching on a flowerbed. He uses newspapers attached to a clothesline, but will they be strong enough to keep Leslie Cow and her friends away? Students explore various building materials as they plan, construct, and then test out their own walls.

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