Curated OER
One Room School House Reading Lesson
Students explore schools during the Colonial period. In this American history instructional activity, students participate in a simulation of school days in Colonial America. Students visit a museum and use the schoolhouse as a setting...
Curated OER
What Has Brown Done for You?
Learners review the facts of the court case Brown v. Board of Education. Next, they research recent court cases that uphold contrasting views on the landmark decision. They write opinions about these recent court cases from a 1954...
Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media
Sarah Green Probate Record
The proof is in the probate record. Much can be learned about history by investigating old, primary source documents. Class members hone their detective skills by examing the 1759 probate record of Sarah Green. Who was this lady? Was she...
NET Foundation for Television
1850-1874 Native Americans and Settlers
Did Western settlers receiving free land from the Homestead Act realize it wasn't really free at all? Scholars investigate the impact Western expansion had on Native American culture in the mid-1800s. They use documents, timelines, and...
NET Foundation for Television
1850-1874 Homestead Act Signed: The Challenges of The Plains
Start a whole new life in a land known as the Wild Wild West! Learners analyze maps, personal accounts, the Kansas-Nebraska Act, songs, and video clips to uncover life under the Homestead Act. Using their new skills, class members role...
National Institute on Drug Abuse
The Brain's Response to Drugs
Marijuana affects the brain differently than inhalants, which have a different effect than opioids. Elementary and middle school classes read about these drugs as well as nicotine, methamphetamine, hallucinogens, and steroids before...
NET Foundation for Television
1850-1874 Beef Moves to Nebraska
Just how long was the Long Drive? Learners investigate the movement of cattle in the Great Plains during the mid-1800s. They incorporate photographic, newspaper, video, and primary source evidence into their posters, artwork, and written...
Curated OER
Four Corners Debate
Should the student population wear uniforms to school? Pupils express whether they strongly agree, agree, disagree, or strongly disagree with a controversial statement, moving to a designated corner of the room to indicate their stance....
Curated OER
Teaching Tolerance: That's Not Fair!
Students study unequal resources and their effects on education. In this educational disparities lesson, students participate in a coloring activity with quality and low-quality resources. Students then discuss the disparity in the...
Curated OER
Life in a One-Room Arkansas Schoolhouse
Students read primary source documents to examine what a typical school day was like in the early 1900s. They discover how African-American children were taught differently than whites. They compare and contrast past school days to...
Curated OER
Maniac Magee: Life Without Problems
Young readers discuss how they would deal with problems faced by the main character in Maniac Magee. They write down their own problems and exchange them with others to analyze and provide possible solutions. They establish a "Dear Abby"...
Curated OER
Practice Your Escape Plan
Students practice escaping from a fire. In this fire safety lesson, students listen to the smoke alarm and discuss what it tells them to do. Students learn what to do when the alarm goes off during the day. Students determine a...
Curated OER
Practice Plan Writing
Learners work in small groups to write a plan for how to do a class assignment. They remember that making plans is an adult ability and they need to practice while they are young.
Curated OER
The History of Furniture
Students investigate historic furniture. In this art history lesson, students compare and contrast two chairs from different periods. Students create a collage from images of the past.
Curated OER
Balanced Literacy: Presidents
Students participate in a unit (all lessons on the same page) to explore the Presidents of the United States. They choose one President to write a mini-book about, create a puppet and an original puppet show to perform about their chosen...
Curated OER
Early European Explorers Map
Fifth graders create an explorer's map. In this explorers instructional activity students use a map of the world as reference to draw their own map of Europe, North America, Central America, and the Caribbean Islands. The students use...
Curated OER
Exploring Sounds
Young scholars identify the "sh"sound with the help of the Florida quarter. Students place the sounds placement within words with this kinesthetic activity. Young scholars share various examples of consonant blends on the board.
Curated OER
Who Could Ask for Mores?
Learners enjoy hands-on learning experiences. In this Victorian Britain instructional activity, students may visit the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Shambellie House Museum of Costume, or the Museum of Costume of Bath online or...
Curated OER
Is Charleston Your Lucky Charm?
Students determine what makes Charleston, West Virginia unique. In this West Virginia history activity, students explore the West Virginia History Museum to identify why Charleston became the capitol of the state.
Curated OER
Learning About A Country While Chatting Online
Students take a "virtual trip" to Switzerland. This activity gives suggestions about how to arrange and then organize such an online chat trip so that it be as beneficial as possible.
Curated OER
Back to Basics
Students examine the unique and diverse historical artifacts that people have designed to fulfill their everyday needs in extraordinary ways. They identify ways humans have used design throughout history to enhance the ways they meet...
Curated OER
. . .And the Answer is
Students appreciate creative thinking and that some situations have more than one answer.
Curated OER
Design a School
Students create a design for their ideal school. They work in groups to design a part of the school and put the designs together to create one complete school design.