Curated OER
Farming in Ancient Mesopotamia: An Ancient Civil Engineering Problem
Sixth graders identify the major obstacles in farming in Mesopotamia. They work together to design and build a model that solves these problems. They write a short essay that describes the problems and their possible solutions.
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Urban Ecosystems 2: Why are There Cities? A Historical Perspective
Second in a series of five lessons, this lesson encourages preteens to consider cities as urban ecosystems. First, they keep a food diary for a few days. They visit the Natrional Agricultural Statistics Service website for current data...
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Victorian Fashion Detectives
A rare lesson plan on fashions that were in vogue during the Victorian era. Learners discover what types of clothes both rich and poor people of this time period wore. They see how fashions changed during the reign of Queen Victoria, and...
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Life With Energy
Students consider different forms of energy. In this energy lesson, students investigate different forms of energy. Students explore the advantages and disadvantages of these forms of energy.
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Chocolate Chip Cookie Mining
Students explore nonrenewable energy resources. In this coal lesson, students investigate how coal is formed and how it is used as a source of energy. Students mine for "coal" using toothpicks and chocolate chip cookies.
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Seepy Sandwich
Pupils explore Earth science by participating in a pollution activity. In this water infiltration lesson, students utilize a water sprayer, food coloring and slices of bread to simulate how pollution can spread into our drinking water at...
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Gala Fiesta Jamboree
Students explore world cultures by identifying local cuisine. In this cultural analysis lesson, students read assigned text which discusses the history of food and how hunter gathering was essential to our existence. Students view video...
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Up the Down Tree House
Students investigate the decomposition process. In this ecology lesson, students participate in a play, "Up the Treehouse" where the main idea focuses on a decomposing tree and how food chains are effected by decomposition. After the...
Media Smarts
Marketing to Teens: Alternate Ads
Did you know that Coke can teach the world to sing in perfect harmony? Learners develop an awareness of more subtle, less obvious methods advertisers use to reach consumers. Included is a list of related lessons available on the Media...
Curated OER
Soil: Food Mapping
Students examine the concept of food mapping . In this agriculture lesson, students explore food and agriculture systems in the United States in the past and today. Students complete food mapping activities.
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Weather Quilt
Students observe weather conditions, record them in their journals for a week, and understand how weather affects their lives. They then represent how weather affects the way they play and live on a quilt square and document their study...
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What's Cooking?
Students investigate solar energy by making sun tea. In this ecology and solar energy lesson, students prepare traditional tea and "sun" tea, then record and graph data comparing color, clarity, smell and taste.
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Grass as Biomass
Students explore energy properties by listening to a sustainability lecture in class. In this biomass lesson, students identify what biomass is, how it can be transformed into a usable energy and how it complements the energy cycle....
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This Mine of Mine
Students explore natural resources by conducting a geology experiment in class. In this mineral mining lesson, students discuss the types of geological material that can be found when mining and the uses for these resources such as coal....
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Power to the Peanut
Students locate information about the life and research of African American botanist George Washington Carver. They identify how Carver's knowledge of botany contributed to improvement of farming practices and introduction of new...
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Places of Performance
Students explore and analyze the architecture of performing arts facilities to create a replica of a theater. They identify the interior and exterior characteristics of these types of facilities and create a replica of a real or imagined...
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On Aztec Terraces
Young scholars investigate the development and use of Aztec terraces while farming. They conduct research using a variety of resources. Students use the information for the context of class discussion and then create a diorama to...
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My Friend's Heritage Quilt
Students brainstorm a list of stories or items that make them proud of their heritage. Individually, they create their own quilt square design which uses a border and markers. To end the lesson, they sew the squares together and describe...
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Moscow's Magnificent Domes
Students, after researching Russian architecture in Moscow, find pictures of onion-shaped domes on buildings such as St. Basil's Cathedral. They discover how Byzantine architecture reflects the orthodox faith and then create a replica of...
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Maya Lin: Architect & Sculptor
Students explore and study about Maya Yang Lin and her influences on contemporary Chinese/American art. They assess the difference between architecture and sculptor and then create a miniature model of an expressive sculptor to symbolize...
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Community Gardens and Propaganda Posters
Students research community gardens. In this community garden lesson, students discover the history of community gardens and assess the benefits of locally grown food. Students create propaganda posters aimed at inviting discussions...
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Calculating Your Foodometer
Students explore environmental issues by completing a food production class activity. For this carbon footprint lesson, students discuss the types of foods they eat, where they come from and what types of methods are used to transport...
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Buying in Bulk
Students investigate buying purchases in bulk. In this buying in bulk lesson, students consider ways to cut costs and reduce waste in landfills by making bulk purchases.
Curated OER
Gardens Throughout the World
Fourth graders study various aspects of gardens. In this garden lesson, 4th graders discover the location of famous gardens on a map. Students research historic gardens.