Planet Solvers

An ecology and life science curriculum sequence exploring the microscopic and macroscopic systems of our planet, from cellular organelles and biological organization to Earth's interconnected spheres.

An immersive, 90-minute entrepreneurial challenge where teams collaborate to design, budget, and present a fully functional snack shack business while navigating real-world supply chain and staffing twists.

A 1-page printable sheet containing 6 highly detailed, print-and-cut "Midway Twist Cards" with dashed cut lines. Each card features a distinct real-world business conflict (staff shortages, supplier failures, budget cuts, inventory surges) to prompt team problem-solving.

A comprehensive teacher professional development and model lesson plan sequence. It equips educators with hands-on mineral testing protocols, inquiry-based (3D) NGSS teaching strategies, geological vocabulary support, and formative assessment tools for grades 4-8.

A middle/high school biology performance task exploring homeostasis through the lens of Indiana's massive cornfields. Students analyze how corn transpiration (locally known as 'corn sweat') regulates water balance and temperature during humid July days.

A 2-page business planning workbook for student teams. Combines scaffolded sentence starters with realistic workplace forms, including a branding planner, a custom concession menu with price charts, an employee shifts and duty roster, an equipment checklist, and a dedicated problem-solving section for the Midway Twist.

An interactive, highly visual ecosystem unit designed for 7th/8th grade MCAS standards but adapted to a 4th-grade reading and comprehension level. The unit explores abiotic/biotic factors, energy flow, interactions, and disruptions through hands-on activities, adapted readings, visual slides, and scaffolded assessments.

An interactive lesson where students explore how Earth's four major spheres (atmosphere, biosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere) interact, alongside the biological organization of living things from cells to the entire biosphere.

A retro diner-themed slide deck that guides teams through the Snack Shack Showdown. Includes clear steps for branding, menu creation, roles, supplies, the Midway Twist, and guidelines for pitch presentations with live role-play demonstrations.

A highly visual 4-day science unit exploring ocean habitats and depth zones. Tailored for differentiated instruction for 3rd grade and nonverbal 7th grade students using Boardmaker-style symbols, color-coded matching, and visual check comprehension.

A project-based lesson where students showcase their knowledge of plant and animal cells by choosing from a variety of campaign-style, artistic, and narrative projects. Includes a student choice board with planning pages and a comprehensive master rubric for assessment.

A 1-page printable teacher answer key. Provides clear, highlighted answers for the multiple choice questions, model written responses, and fully solved word ladders for quick grading.