Curated OER
History: All About Trappers
Students hold a "rendezvous," role-playing as trappers gathering supplies for the upcoming year in the mountains. They trade simulated beaver pelts for supplies such as bullets, tea, flour, and sugar. They share storytelling with each...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Baseball Rocks!
Students investigate rocks, minerals and the rock cycle before they participate in a videoconferencing activity with another class that tests their knowledge. They create PowerPoint presentation with questions about rocks and mineral...
Curated OER
The Scramble for Wealth And Power
Students participate in a simulation activity involving the distribution of the world's wealth and power. The activity starts when 100 pennies, representing wealth and power, are spread on the floor and students must grab as many...
Curated OER
What's My Job?
Young scholars watch an episode of the PBS show, "Maya & Miguel," and discuss various career options. They match pictures with job descriptions, organize a career day that includes local professionals and parents, and role-play...
Curated OER
What's Air Got to Do with It?
Learners use M&M's to create a pie graph that expresses their understanding of the composition of air. They watch and conduct several simple experiments to develop an understanding of the properties of air (it has mass, it takes up...
Curated OER
Archaeologists Puzzle Pieces
Students identify how archaeologists use typology to interpret artifacts. They interpret sample artifacts as if they discovered them.
Curated OER
Westward Ho!
Students explore what life was like on the American frontier. They participate in a simulation of frontier life using Oregon Trail computer software, create an Oregon Trail newsletter, develop a timeline, and conduct interviews with...
Curated OER
Animal Adaptations
Students use items from boxes to dress up classmates as animals adapted to a given environment.
Curated OER
What is Equality and How Does it Affect Me?
Students explore the concept of civil rights and the ways in which Dr. Martin Luther Kind and others utilized non-violent protests to achieve their goals. They participate in a variety of discussion and role play activities during this...
Curated OER
50th Anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education
Students examine a poster of Brown v. Board of Education and discuss what the important details are. They read the story behind the poster and court case. They role play different sections of the case such as the court case or Linda...
Curated OER
Climate Change Challenge
Students participate in a demonstration in which they role-play polar bears and habitat components to demonstrate the impacts of climate change on the Arctic Ocean ecosystem.
Curated OER
Dress Up a Twig
Students study the structure and function of the parts of a winter twig. They determine how to identify trees using the twigs.
Michigan Sea Grant
Survival Game
Musical chairs may be a classic game, but Ruffe Musical Chairs is a unique lesson on invasive species! Using the time-honored game, pupils role play the behaviors of the invasive fish called Eurasian ruffe. Learning about this aggressive...
Curated OER
"Giggle Poetry" Theater
Students read and perform "Giggle Poetry Theater." In small groups, they read the poems, collect props, rehearse, and present their poem to their classmates.
Curated OER
"101 Amazing Earth Facts" Game
Students read for comprehension, work cooperatively to learn "101 Amazing Earth Facts," and compete as teams in a Jeopardy-like game.
Curated OER
Life Science: Human Body Skit
Students create skits based on the human body systems. Working in groups, they role-play as organs in the various systems. They make costumes or wear signs identifying themselves as the organs in their skits.
Curated OER
Biome Discovery Expedition
Students research similarities and differences among biomes online. They simulate job of zoo planners, and depart on expedition to decide which biome the city zoo should construct, as well as which plants and animals to include in it.
Curated OER
Engineering - Solid Rock to Building Block
Students role-play as engineers designing wedge tools. They devise methods for shaping quarry rocks into pyramid blocks. Following a teacher demonstration, they use materials such as soap, clay, and foam for blocks and wood, plastic,...
Curated OER
Born to be Wild
Young scholars watch an episode depicting the human vs. polar bear conflict in Churchill, Canada. They conduct online research and analyze the information. They interpret the facts and use storytelling techniques and role playing to...
Curated OER
Water Safety
Students examine water safety for the beach. They discuss the three safety rules, demonstrate various ways to rescue a person, participate in the stingray shuffle dance, and complete a crossword puzzle quiz.
Curated OER
Cookie Topography
Students construct a cross section diagram showing elevation changes on a "cookie island." Using a chocolate chip cookie for an island, they locate the highest point in centimeters on the cookie and create a scale in feet. After tracing...
Curated OER
Making Friends
Learners explore how to choose and make friends through character cards that represent their favorite characters. They can drerss as their characters or use the cards as stick puppets to role play their friendly conversations.
Curated OER
Battling Bullies
Students identify aspects of a conflict situation through a story. They engage in problem solving or identification of an aspect of bullying. Applying their knowledge of bullying, they create scenarios that reflect their methods of...
Curated OER
Cyber Currency, Currently
Students explore the value of currency and how to save and earn interest. In a key lesson, kids even get to purchase items in their classroom's general store. It's a fun way to learn the importance of being financially literate!