Collision Investigators

A hands-on, project-based engineering design unit where 8th-grade students investigate mechanical forces, distinguish dead and live loads, and iteratively engineer, test, and redesign load-bearing playground structures (such as swing frames, climbing towers, and monkey bars) to structural failure. Students apply fair testing protocols to pinpoint weaknesses and justify material selections based on mechanical properties.

An introductory Day 1 biology lesson investigating how plants acquire carbon from atmospheric carbon dioxide and return it through combustion, tracking atoms to demonstrate the conservation of matter across Earth systems (BI-LS2-5 and BI-LS2-4).

A faithful, print-ready student science probe following the exact wording from the condensation interview protocol, including the scenario, original multiple-choice questions, explanation lines, drawing area, and reflection space.

A comprehensive middle school weather science sequence aligned with NGSS MS-ESS2-4, MS-ESS2-5, and MS-ESS2-6. Integrates sensory-friendly visual design, calm color palettes, movement breaks, and flexible multimodal participation.

Teams conduct rigorous destructive testing under standardized loading conditions to evaluate playground structure prototype performance and record failure modes. Students calculate structural efficiency, diagnose playground failure points, and propose evidence-backed redesigns with child safety justifications.

A 32-slide presentation for high school biology on carbon cycling, featuring custom SVG scientific models, chloroplast/mitochondria diagrams, the Keeling Curve data graph, trophic energy pyramid, and Earth-systems flux charts aligned to Arkansas standards.

A hands-on, three-part early elementary science sequence exploring how flowers, pollinators, and food connect. Students discover flower parts, meet animal helpers, and see how pollination creates seeds and fruits.

Student engineering teams design and construct load-bearing playground structures (such as swing frames, climbing towers, and monkey bars) using constrained materials. Teams analyze structural geometry, vertical columns, and lateral cross-bracing to engineer prototypes capable of supporting high live-to-dead load ratios.

Cinematic visual presentation featuring detailed SVG biological diagrams, data charts, molecular models, and Earth system cycles tracing plant carbon uptake and combustion.

A high-engagement, hands-on science sequence exploring the natural world through classification, distinguishing living from non-living things and discovering animal traits. Designed with visual supports, accessible text, and playful sorting activities tailored for diverse learners.

Students explore the mechanics of structural engineering by modeling four core internal forces—tension, compression, torsion, and shear—and distinguishing between permanent dead loads and variable live loads. Through physical simulations, students analyze how materials respond to stress and prepare for playground structure engineering.

A complete teacher answer key and scoring guide providing model diagrams, atom-counting balances, and expected explanations for all student activity prompts.