Curriculum Corner
Helping Students Learn to Collaborate
Keep this attractive display up on your walls to refer to each time you ask your learners to engage in a group discussion. The printable reminds participants to come prepared, complete assignments before meeting, listen and share ideas,...
Classroom Adventures Program
Creating Characters
Examine character in depth. Over the course of these six lessons, learners explore their own character traits, determine the traits of characters in the books they read, practice comparing and contrasting, and collaborate in small groups...
Curated OER
Arbitrary Arrangements: Daniel Sprick's Release Your Plans
Students investigate abstract artists as storytellers. In this art analysis lesson, students observe the small details in the painting called "Release Your Plans" by Daniel Sprick. Students collaborate in groups to create their own...
Curated OER
Because of Winn-Dixie
Readers analyze an excerpt from Kate DiCamillo's novel Because of Winn-Dixie. They read silently, and then hear it read aloud. Definitions for underlined vocabulary words are in the margin, and other potentially difficult words are in...
Curated OER
Capitalization
Teach your class the rules of capitalization with this fun, engaging instructional activity. Children participate in a learning activity, collaborate with peers, and practice their writing as they learn three specific rules: to always...
Curated OER
Groupworld: A Group Imagination Activity to Promote Group Cooperation and Compromise
Teach learners how to communicate and collaborate in a discussion on a shared project with this rich activity. It asks participants to channel their unique imaginations to produce a fictional "groupworld", while adhering to proper...
Curated OER
Enough to Make Your Head Spin
Students investigate the world of nonverbal communication by analyzing body language around the world. In this cultural communication instructional activity, students research the Bulgarian language and how we could easily misinterpret...
Curated OER
Time Capsule: Oral Presentation
A great way to gain proficiency when learning a new language is to prepare an oral presentation. In this foreign language lesson, pairs collaborate to develop a Time Capsule which they present to their class using their target language.
Curated OER
Using Details from Text to Identify Author's Purpose
Explore writing techniques by analyzing newspapers and magazines with middle schoolers. They will collaborate in small groups to read local news stories and identify the main ideas and author's intent. They also utilize an information...
Curated OER
Vivid Verbs
Students explore parts of speech by collaborating in groups. In this verbs lesson plan, students examine several boring sentences with their class and define verbs which can spice the sentence up. Students collaborate in pairs to enhance...
Curated OER
Order, Order
Third graders practice creative writing by making a book. In this book publishing lesson, 3rd graders investigate the steps needed to publish anything by researching the Internet. Students collaborate on a list of 5 steps to creating a...
Curated OER
Raising Plants
Young scholars investigate the life cycle of plants by growing their own in class. In this botany lesson plan, students practice using plant vocabulary while they grow their own Wisconsin Fast Plants. Young scholars collaboratively...
Curated OER
Music To My Ears: The District of Columbia Quarter
Students practice identifying different genres of music by creating posters. In this music appreciation lesson, students research Duke Ellington and complete worksheets based on his style of music, Jazz. Students collaborate in small...
Curated OER
The Water Cycle
Third graders investigate water formations by conducting an experiment. In this water properties lesson, 3rd graders utilize pie tins, sponges and salt shakers to create an evaporation and saturation experiment. Students collaborate in...
Curated OER
The First Americans
Third graders explore American history by researching Native Americans. For this American settlers lesson, 3rd graders research the Native American Woodland Indians and define the actions they took when faced with the European settlers....
Curated OER
Composing Music
Students explore music appreciation by creating their own music pieces in class. In this music composition lesson, students collaborate in small groups with their instruments and compose a short song which they will play for class....
Curated OER
Mixing Mixed Numbers Art/Creating Fractions
Third graders explore number values by participating in class math activities. In this fractions lesson, 3rd graders collaborate with classmates to discuss the technique of adding mix numbers while utilizing paper plates to help...
Curated OER
Protecting Our Native Forests
Students explore environmental awareness by utilizing computer technology. In this ecosystem conservation lesson plan, students read assigned text which describes the current ecological conditions of Hawaii. Students collaborate in...
Curated OER
Move It! With Simple Machines
Students explore engineering by participating in a mechanical class activity. In this simple machines lesson, students identify many simple machines that allow them to perform tasks easily each day. Students collaborate in small groups...
Curated OER
National Museum of Natural History
Students explore U.S. history by participating in a class field trip. In this museum lesson, students attend a field trip to the Natural History Museum and identify cultural stories and art pieces they enjoy. Students collaborate in...
Curated OER
Diet and Exercise Activity
Learners explore their physical abilities by participating in team sports. In this physical education lesson, students collaborate in groups in one of several team sports before moving on to the next station. Learners discuss healthy...
Curated OER
Group Rules and Expectations
Students explore psychology by participating in a student behavior activity. In this group dynamic lesson, students identify ways to keep several students interested and focused on one task. Students complete worksheets discussing family...
Listenwise
Teacher's Guide to Podcasting in the Classroom
Ever feel disengaged? Let's talk about it! Learning how to create podcast lessons in the classroom fully engages scholars and educators. Participants learn how to conduct simple podcast lessons, then evolve into creating more complex,...
Curated OER
Letters and Photos
Students practice using a new language by reading letters. In this foreign language lesson, students read a fictional letter by a young person from the target language's country. Students read the letters separately, but collaborate in...