Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Where in the World Clues

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners demonstrate ability to access information and classify that information as broad or specific. They create a game to share with other students.
Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Neh: Edsit Ement: Introduction to Modernist Poetry

For Teachers 9th - 10th Standards
Understanding the context of modernism is important for students before they analyze modernist texts themselves. To that end, this is a three-lesson curriculum unit: 1."Understanding the Context of Modernist Poetry;" 2. "Thirteen Ways of...
Activity
Cyberbee

Cyberbee: Who Dunnit?

For Students 3rd - 8th
If you are a crime scene investigation (CSI) fan, then you will love this site! You get to be the detective by examining the evidence, viewing the crime scene, dusting for fingerprints, interviewing the suspects, and solving the crime.
Activity
McGraw Hill

Mc Graw Hill Companies: Critical Thinking Exercises

For Students 9th - 10th
10 valuable critical thinking exercises ranging in subject matter. Includes questions and exercises regarding biological development, language usage, morals, values and ethics, and thought cycles.
Website
FNO Press

From Now On: Filling the Tool Box

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
Dr. Jamie McKenzie offers this comprehensive look at how to help students develop questioning skills. Practical suggestions for how to implement the ideas are also included.
Activity
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Buoyancy Brainteasers: Buoyancy Question

For Students 3rd - 8th
This interactive brainteaser from the NOVA: "Voyage of Doom" Web site challenges you to figure out what causes an object to sink.
Handout
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: The Tunnel Challenge

For Students 9th - 10th
This interactive activity, from the Web site developed for the PBS series "Building Big," explores tunneling and the tools and methods used to do the job.
Article
Northern Illinois University

Challenging Students, and How to Have More of Them [Pdf]

For Teachers 9th - 10th Standards
Phi Delta Kappa shares Alfie Kohn's research-based information about how to increase student engagement. Ideas are provided for increasing student engagement during all subject areas.
Interactive
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Tynker Hour of Code Puzzle: Dragon Dash

For Students 5th - 8th
Students solve complex coding puzzles by applying computer programming concepts and enhance STEM learning outcomes as they play a fun coding adventure game. Learn skills such as patterning, sequencing, nested loops, conditionals, plus...
Website
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: The Dome Challenge

For Students 9th - 10th
In this interactive activity, from the Web site developed for the PBS series "Building Big," think like an engineer and use your knowledge of dome design to match the right type of dome to the right location in a fictitious city.
Activity
University of Glasgow

University of Glasgow: Critical Reviews

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This site is designed to be used by psychology students at the university level, but it provides helpful instruction for anyone writing critical reviews of non-fiction. Instruction includes everything from how to be critical to...
Activity
Huntington Library

Huntington Library: Garden Lesson Plans: Rooting Into the Soil [Pdf]

For Teachers 4th - 8th
An experiment to investigate the capacity of different soils to retain water, and how this impacts on the survival, evolution, and adaptations of plants. Extension activities are included.
Activity
Huntington Library

Huntington Library: Garden Lesson Plans: Learning From Leaves [Pdf]

For Teachers 3rd - 7th
An investigation into how light levels affect leaf adaptations in plants.
Lesson Plan
Huntington Library

Huntington Library: Garden Lesson Plans: Experiments in Tea Dyeing [Pdf]

For Teachers K - 1st
An investigation for younger students to learn how plants were used in the past to dye cloth. Students will dye pieces of fabric using different types of teas and compare the results. Worksheets are included.
Lesson Plan
Huntington Library

Huntington Library: Garden Lesson Plans: Elements of a Japanese Garden [Pdf]

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
A multi-faceted activity where students learn about the elements of a Japanese garden, then construct a peepshow book that demonstrates their understanding of foreground, middle ground, and background to represent a Japanese garden....
Rubric
Buck Institute

Pbl Works: Critical Thinking Rubric (Non Ccss)

For Teachers 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login Required] This rubric helps teachers guide students in grades 6-12 in being effective critical thinkers in various phases of a project, and can be used to assess their performance. Alignment with CCSS is not...
Rubric
Buck Institute

Pbl Works: Critical Thinking Rubric (Ccss Aligned)

For Teachers 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login Required] This rubric helps teachers guide students in grades 6-12 in being effective critical thinkers in various phases of a project, and can be used to assess their performance. Alignment with CCSS in ELA is...
Rubric
Buck Institute

Pbl Works: Critical Thinking Rubric (Non Ccss)

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
[Free Registration/Login Required] This rubric helps teachers guide students in grades 3-5 in being effective critical thinkers in various phases of a project, and can be used to assess their performance. Alignment with CCSS is not...
Rubric
Buck Institute

Pbl Works: Critical Thinking Rubric (Ccss Aligned)

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
[Free Registration/Login Required] This rubric helps teachers guide students in grades 3-5 in being effective critical thinkers in various phases of a project, and can be used to assess their performance. Alignment with CCSS in ELA is...
Rubric
Buck Institute

Pbl Works: K 2 Critical Thinking Rubric

For Teachers K - 1st
[Free Registration/Login Required] This rubric helps teachers guide students in grades K-2 in being effective critical thinkers in a project, and can be used to assess their performance. It is aligned with CCSS, but also can be used in...
Online Course
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Mit: Open Course Ware: Problems in Philosophy

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Take advantage of these resources when examining the purpose and power of philosophy and increase understanding of argumentative skills.
Interactive
PBS

Pbs Kids: Cat in the Hat: Invention Engine Game

For Students 1st - 5th
Finish creating the engine invention to get the item to the pipe; then test it to see if it works, or you can design your own machine.
Interactive
PBS

Pbs Kids: Bob the Builder: Games: Stack to the Sky

For Students 1st - 4th
Help the builders build a tower as tall as possible; be sure to keep it stable.
Activity
PBS

Pbs Kids: Design Squad: Build: Top Builder Challenge

For Students 3rd - 8th
Students were challenged to create something powered by rubber bands. Check out the winners and runner ups. Can you recreate theirs or create one of your own?