National Council of Teachers of English
Writing Acrostic Poems with Thematically Related Texts in the Content Areas
Scholars scour thematically aligned texts to gather a bank of words they can use in an original acrostic poem.
Syracuse University
Ancient World Writing System
Most twenty-first century pupils don't know how to interpret cuneiform. Examining images of cuneiform and papyrus writing and using a chart and Venn diagram, young historians extrapolate what life may have been like for people who lived...
Curated OER
Are You Sure You've Got the Right Answer?
Young researchers work through the research cycle. They question, plan, gather, sort, synthesize, and evaluate the materials they collect at the library. There are web supplements for this lesson.
Curated OER
Fairy Tales
Students research the Internet using hotlists to find two different versions of a fairy tale after watching a teacher presentation of two versions of The Three Little Pigs. They design a PowerPoint presentation that shows the comparisons...
Curated OER
Timber: Living and Working in an Arkansas Forest
Upper elementary and middle schoolers examine and research the history of the Timber Industry in the state of Arkansas. An economic component is quite prevalent in this lesson as well. Groups of learners work together to write essays...
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Simple Internet Searching Lesson 2
Learn how to use search engines and keywords! Learners evaluate the information process using given criteria and determine ways in which the process may be improved.
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Mary and the Red River Raft
Upper elementary and middle schoolers examine how the clearing of rivers such as the Red River helped to boost the Arkansas economy of the mid-1800's. They listen to a story called, "Mary and the Red River Raft," then conduct research on...
Curated OER
Rights and Responsibilities in History
Students research rights and responsibilities in historic themes using primary source documents. They produce an iMovie including appropriate images and sounds.
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Looking at Lewis and Clark
Fifth graders review information on Lewis and Clark by using a variety of resources. With partners, they travel between stations researching different information based on the expedition. They check each others work and share it with the...
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Middle Ages Diary
Learners research life in the Middle Ages. They write a historical fiction diary based on a character they create. Students use the six steps to process writing to complete their diary. They orally present their diaries to the class.
Curated OER
Earn a Quarter of a Million Dollars in Sports and Never Play a Game!
Students research and list various sports related careers. Students select a career and prepare a five- slide presentation highlighting that career.
Curated OER
Using Primary Source Documents
Students examine copies of primary source documents and determine the document's value to a researcher. They analyze and evaluate the document for bias or contradiction. They know the difference between a primary and secondary source.
Curated OER
A Civil War Lesson
Fifth graders research information about the US Civil War using the Internet in order to complete a worksheet. They complete the worksheet using accurate research information after studying background information from their textbooks.
Curated OER
The City I Live In
Research information about your city and state. Pupils investigate details such as the name of the city mayor, local establishments, and entertainment. For the state, they name the capital, governor, state flower, and flag. There are...
Curated OER
The Nifty Fifty-What's Your Size?
Students explore state populations. In this state geography activity, students use a variety of technology tools to research and graph population and area of assigned states.
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People Who "Think Different"
Learners conduct Internet research on one famous person to explore his/her important contributions to society.
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Cooperative Learning, Sci., Tech., Lang
Students research, write, edit, revise and present a paragraph, using word processor, about animal of their choice, including description, where animal lives, what it eats, its habits, e.g. is it endangered, migration, hibernation,...
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African Americans in Aviation: The 1940s- A Decade of Change
Students investigate African Americans in aviation. In this primary resources lesson, students examine primary resources to research the history of African American in aviation. Students answer two research questions and write an essay...
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The Significance of the Buffalo
Learners discuss the significance of the buffalo in their Native American community. They interview elders and take a field trip to a buffalo pasture. They conduct research in the library about how the buffalo was used in the...
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Introduction to the Internet
Students conduct a brief overview of the Internet in four main sections: Background of the Internet, E-mail, Web Browsing, and Web Searching. The latter three sections of this unit cover the mechanics as well as the underlying concepts...
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A Special Place
Learners research distinctive homes and habitats of the past and present using electronic and library resources. They then design innovative new homes and habitats for the future, synthesizing information discovered from research.
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Investigate Non-native Neighborhood Invasion Species
Young scholars investigate non-native species that are invading local or state environments. They choose one species to research and report on.
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High Rollaway Heroes
Students work collaboratively with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to preserve a local historical and environmentally fragile site. They conduct a survey of the plant and animal life at the site, and create an informational...
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Reasons to Settle in America
Students complete a research project. In this American History instructional activity, students work in groups to research reasons that people wanted to settle in America. Students record the information, share what they...