Curated OER
Photo Essay Semester Project
Students reinforce research and organizational skills with this project. They create a photo essay and conduct an interview with a person associated with their chosen topic. Pupils may choose to get their pictures from a digital camera,...
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Photography: Beyond the Snapshot
Students explore news photography skills. For this photojournalism lesson, students examine photographs from newspapers and magazines and discuss the attributes of quality photographs. Students complete a webquest at the Kodak website...
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Natural Inquirer Lesson Plan - Bio Energy Edition
Young scholars investigate energy use by discussing the pros and cons of oil use. In this energy source lesson, students portray different individuals in the fictional town of Heatville and argue why they should or should not switch...
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Water: Narrative vs. Expository Texts
A reading of vignettes written by Peace Corps Volunteers serving in Lesotho and Madagascar launches a study of the difference between narrative and expository texts. As final products, young writers craft both a narrative and an...
Thomas Jefferson Foundation
Personal Morals vs. Political Moves
Was Thomas Jefferson a hypocrite? That is the question facing class members as they examine excerpts from documents that relate to Jefferson's beliefs about slaves and slavery.
Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy
A Search for Symbolism in The Great Gatsby
After reading The Great Gatsby, groups return to the text and note passages where Fitzgerald uses symbols and color imagery in his narrative. They then develop a presentation that explains the context, the implications, and possible...
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Thesis Statements
Students explain the purpose of a thesis statement in an academic essay. They identify the two components of a basic thesis statement. Students identify, create and correct thesis statements.
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Focusing with Anticipation Guides
Students write with a sharp, distinct focus identifying topic, task and audience. They discuss anticipatory statements with supporting details. Students create an essential question at the beginning of a composition, novel, or unit.
Curated OER
Timeline
Students develop a timeline that depicts geologic development and the history of life. They write an interpretive analysis essay that discusses and reflects on their observations.
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A Never-Before-Seen Creature
Students construct a never-before-seen creature in part of an analysis of societal injustices and discrimination. In this societal issues lesson, students create a creature called a Man-Droid as a study about the differences among...
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All About Me
Students examine their own personality traits and preferences. They use this information to write an autobiography.
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Mystery and Mayhem
Students use literature to examine the violence and loss of innocence during the 1960s. In this U.S. history lesson plan, students read Robert McCammon's Boy's Life to investigate the social unrest, violence and loss of innocence in the...
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The Music and Message of Lauryn Hill
Students explore the music of artist Lauryn Hill and analyze the way she uses her music in a socially responsible manner. In this music artist lesson, students read the lyrics to Hill's songs and listen to some example songs. Students...
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Microarrays: Chipping Away at the Mysteries of Science and Medicine
High schoolers research microarrays on the internet in cooperative groups. Students write an essay describing the use of microarrays in environmental research and in medicine.
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A Treasure at our Doorstep
Learners write a descriptive essay about a historical landmark in their area, such as the Curtis Center in Philadelphia, PA. For this historical landmarks lesson, students use their senses to detail information about the chosen landmark,...
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Our Eye in the Sky: The TIROS Weather Satellite
Students investigate the political context of the creation of a weather satellite. In this technology and society lesson, students explore the historical, technological, and political context of the TIROS weather satellite. They write a...
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How Tragic!
Students study and interpret a classical tragedy and role play a character from the play. In this tragedy instructional activity, students discuss a specific work to discover the form, structure, and characteristics of the genre and...
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Parliamentary Newsroom : Developing Media Literacy
Learners explain and examine the selection, development, sources, transmission and impact of news on the public. They write a brief essay on the topic: "The Public Must Be Critical In Their Assessment of the News Before Drawing...
Curated OER
How Do New Species Form?
Students read an article by Niles Eldridge about species and the environment and break into small groups to discuss it. They write essays noting strengths and weaknesses of punctuated equilibrium and gradualism, or other topics listed.
Curated OER
Teaching Earth Literacy Through Poetry
Students listen to two major poems; Coleridge's "Rime of the Ancient Mariner" and Wordsworth's "Lines Written a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey". They determine the shared central them of both poems and write a five-paragraph essay on one...
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Teacher Appreciation Week
Students write a biographical narrative about their favorite teacher. In this teacher appreciation instructional activity, students interview their favorite teacher and compile it into a biographical narrative including a teacher quote.
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Composing Communities in College
Students conduct research about a local community of interest using observation, interviews and written sources. They follow the writing process and produce an essay on the topic.
Curated OER
Comparing The Hobbit and The Fellowship of the Ring
Students write an essay comparing The Hobbit to The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien. In this The Hobbit and The Fellowship of the Ring lesson, students compare the plot, theme, writing styles, and other elements in the two books.
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The Witch of Goingsnake
Students interpret proverbs as part of an analysis of the book The Witch of Goingsnake. In this literary analysis lesson plan, students interpret a proverb and complete a KWL chart for the proverb. Students then research the proverb and...