Curated OER
A "Teacher Appreciation Week" Card for the Teacher
Anyone can create Teacher Appreciation Week cards for their teachers. This activity is designed to be incorporated with an art class. Learners will design a card and discuss ways to show appreciation for their teacher. Resource links are...
Curated OER
Musical Moods
To celebrate diversity and the purpose of Harmony Day, the class examines culturally diverse music and expression through line drawing. They discuss that all cultures produce music and that music can convey mood just like art can. As the...
Curated OER
Popular Culture & Diversity
The topic of cultural diversity is explored with the use of pop songs and lyrics. As a way to celebrate Harmony Day, small groups read, reflect, and present their opinions on how the lyrics they analyzed have expressed a statement of...
Curated OER
In the Olden Days: Senior Reading Buddies
Students, in pre-selected groups, read and visit with senior citizen "buddies." They write letters to their buddies and discuss "the olden days."
John F. Kennedy Center
Musical Harlem: How Is Jazz Music Reflective of the Harlem Renaissance?
Bring jazz music and the Harlem Renaissance to light with a lesson that challenges scholars to research and create. Pupils delve deep into information materials to identify jazz terminology, compare types of jazz and jazz musicians,...
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Native Americans
Students develop an appreciation of American Indians. They sing "Ten Little Indians," then act out "Brave Little Indian," an action story. They learn the poem "Then and Now."
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Dude, Where's My Karma?
Students research various aspects of Indian culture. They create a Book of Knowledge about India. In a second activity they research the history behind any game. They make presentations and play the different games during Game Day.
Curated OER
Branches of Government
Students explore the three branches of government. In this government and U.S. history activity, students listen to a story about a boy who attempts to sponsor a bill to ban cartoons. Students interview three teachers who each represent...
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. . .And the Answer is
Students appreciate creative thinking and that some situations have more than one answer.
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Lewis and Clark in Washington Shrub Steppe Habitat
Students reserach the flora and fauna next to their school for two days and also Lewis and Clark's journals. They compare Lewis and Clark's description of the area to the one they have today. They also discuss the idea of restoring...
Polk Bros Foundation
American Presidents
Emanuel Leutze's painting Washington Crossing the Delaware. Alexander Gardner's photograph of Abraham Lincoln. What do these works of art tell us about the character of these American Presidents? After examining the techniques the...
Civil War Trust
Civil War Play
Raise the curtain to a class play that depicts the Civil War through both factual information and literary devices. The performance showcases the Battle of Antietam (Battle of Sharpsburg) and brings attention to women's roles, as well as...
Curated OER
Japan: Land of the Rising Sun
Students locate Japan on a globe, name the major physical features, and describe the physical environment. They survey the differences and similarities between the life and culture of Japanese young people and American young people.
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Jazz in America
Learners participate in a class discussion about jazz music, compare improvisation with regular conversion, listen to various jazz musicians and compare and contrast their individual sounds.
Curated OER
Conserving Electric Energy
Another fantastic lesson on energy is presented by the American Coal Foundation. This one focuses on electricity; how it is produced, how it is delivered, and how it is used. Some excellent handouts are embedded in this fine plan which...
Curated OER
My Secret War: Lesson 5
Fifth graders determine how freedom comes with rights and responsibilities through literature and poetry about World War II. In this World War II lesson, 5th graders use the letters in the word "infamy" to write an acrostic poem. They...
Curated OER
Math Really Does Connect to the Real World
Students listen to parent speakers who discuss how they use math in their professional or personal lives. They take notes and write business form thank you letters.
Curated OER
AIH-5: Westward Expansion
Fifth graders research how the westward expansion affected the American Indians.
Harry S. Truman Presidential Library & Museum
Using Truman Trivia as a Springboard to Research and Oral Presentation Skills
Students research Truman Library website and gather ten trivia facts. They prepare a short oral presentation on one of their questions, scoring each other on speaking and listening skills. Then they create a Truman campaign button.
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I Am a Star
Students explore the unique qualities of themselves and others. In this character education instructional activity, students read the book A Unicorn Named Beulah Mae and create a paper star displaying their unique personality traits.
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Food and Languages of the World
Learners engage in creative bead making while discussing Africa. For this diversity and arts lesson, students create African necklaces while being introduced to the African culture.
Curated OER
Artifacts
Students learn that articles used by a culture reveal much about life and people's values. They learn the Japanese word to identify some artifacts and some simple games using Japanese toys.
Curated OER
Voices of Our People: A Patchwork of Cultures
Students view a gallery of photographs online and list objective and subject observations of the photos. They develop questions about the photos and write first person narratives about them.
Curated OER
THe Trash We Pass
Students identify the sources of pollution and waste in their community. They examine the process of recycling and how to eliminate some of their family waste.