Finding Background Information Teacher Resources

Young scholars participate in activities in which they find the Big Dipper and locate the North Star in the night sky, examine the relationship between the angle to Polaris and latitude, and determine latitude by using an astrolabe.

Pupils conduct Internet research on the different safaris available. They locate and label safari sites on the continent of Africa. They create a PowerPoint presentation for the class to persuade the class why they should vote for their...

Students determine a route from their home to the Stones River National Battlefield. In this map work lesson, students use a detailed city map of Murfreesboro to locate a route to the Stones River National Battlefield. They follow...

Students make inferences about a shipwreck based on the location of artifacts. They role play as marine archaeologists and list three processes that contribute to the deterioration of the Titanic.

Students explore the hidden messages in advertisements. In this business instructional activity, students discuss the role that advertisements play in our lives. Students locate advertisements that use various advertising techniques....

Young scholars model how the bones in a bat wing are organized. They develop questions about bat body parts based on photographs. They hypothesize how bats locate their food.

Tenth graders discuss what their prior knowledge of the exploration of the Americas/Caribbean and the history of the island of Haiti. They trace Columbus' journey from Spain to Hispaniola and locate Haiti in the Caribbean and read the...

Young scholars explore the relationship between the senses of taste and smell using a blindfold taste test. In partners, they taste different foods with their noses plugged and unplugged. They create a life size outline of the human...

Students learn about and make models of coral reefs. In this reef ecosystem lesson, the class locates a number of coral reefs on a map. They learn how a coral reef is a balanced ecosystem that depends upon all of it's plant and animal...

Students inquire about animals using SIRS Discoverer or eLibrary Elementary.  In this organizing data lesson, students sort pictures of animals in various ways and develop graphs. Students locate a mammal, reptile, fish, insect or...

Students find how freedom quilts helped free slaves.  In this American History lesson, students read the story Sweet Clara and The Freedom Quilt and discuss the Underground Railroad.  They use their map skills to locate...

  Students discuss what a watershed is, and locate watersheds on a map.  In this watershed lesson, students use the information they have been introduced to and create a color coded watershed map of their own.     

Students research the history of North Logan, Utah. Using photographs, they identify the similiarties and differences between the past and today. They locate their home on a large map discuss ways in which different groups and...

Learners investigate water ways by conducting an experiment with classmates.  In this natural resources lesson, students define a watershed and identify where large ones are located within the United States.  Learners utilize...

Learners participation in a simulation of laying the track of Transcontinental Railroad starting from three different locations. They use toothpicks and coffee stirrers to build the rails. They evaluate which group laid the most track...

High schoolers explore echolocation of animals. They examine how dolphins and other echolocating animals use their senses to locate and identify objects without using their sense of sight. Through experimentation, they discover how sound...

Second graders work in small groups with a cup each of several materials. Students layer the gravel, sand, and water into a resealable bag. They draw a picture of this bag in their water journal. Students place their sealed bags in a...

Pupils examine the concept of organization. In this library skills lesson, students practice ordering and classification skills by playing the Flood Game as well as locating and shelving books in the school library.

Students identify lightning words from The Adventures of Tom Sawyer to complete definition and synonym activities. In this word study activity, students discuss lighting words and read a Mark Twain quote. Students then read specific...

Students explore pond ecosystems.  In this pond organism activity, students will use pond water and a plastic bad in order to locate and identify freshwater organisms.  The activity is designed for younger grades, but...

Learners compare and contrast families around the world emphasizing the country of India. In this families lesson plan, students share and learn about roles in families, how we share characteristics, and how families in India are similar...

Young scholars predict the location where the relative humidity the highest and lowest in and around their school. They use a sling psychrometer to measure the relative humidity of the various locations.

Students create a mental map of San Francisco. They compare it with actual topographical maps of the city. Then they label various locations on the San Francisco Hillshade map and locate watershed boundaries.

Students research where in the world coral reefs are located. In this ecology lesson, students create food chains and food web. They simulate growing coral reefs to understand their characteristics better.