Parents and children work together in a community circle to discuss caring for people with special needs. In separate groups, the children sing and listen to a story. They discuss ways people are alike, and ways they are different....

Expose your secondary special education class to the importance of belonging and feeling accepted. They define self-esteem, pride, and appreciation. Then create a self collage and share what they like about themselves with the class. A...

Use a video on self-modeling to practice life skills as part of an Autism activity. Young scholars complete modeling activities and use a video activity to practice the life skills.

Bring the excitement and beauty of Japanese festivals into your classroom. Kids with special needs create calendars that reflect special festivals and holidays common to Japanese culture. They start the project by creating a list of...

Students use pictures and make a mural to investigate how ocean animals are adapted to certain parts of their environment.

Bring A Charlie Brown Christmas to social studies, language arts, math, science, and art class! Learners ponder the meaning of Christmas trees, write about Christmas during the original release of the television special,...

Students work with younger students to collaborate to create a painting. In this instructional activity, students read Life Doesn't Frighten Me. High School students write and discuss fears with Kindergarten children, and then create an...

Students discuss the reasons for having a budget. They create their own personal budget and explain how the bartering system can work for some items today.

Learners explore sea life. For this cross curriculum fine arts, science, and P.E. "dolphins" lesson, students sing songs and play games about dolphins, perform water experiments, create mosaics, and use their five senses to explore sand...

Create a digital movie documenting research about an American President. Using internet sources, young scholars with special needs gather information about their chosen president. Working in groups, they use this information to create a...

Students observe and describe a "special place" chosen along a nature trail. In this habitat observational skills and writing instructional activity, students take a walk on a nature trail and choose a spot to sit and meditate. Students...

Students study the Anza-Borrego Desert. They complete the Patterns Project and survey the history of San Diego. They present their research to the class in the form of poster or report.

Mystery is an exciting genre for young readers to investigate. The plots are so intriguing! Here is a series of lessons featuring Sherlock Holmes stories that invite learners to enter the world of the mystery genre.  Based on what...

A biography writing lesson with a tasty twist! Kids create a "visual biography" in which each pizza slice represents a paragraph, and toppings represent supporting details. They learn research techniques, note-taking skills, and how to...

Students explore the parts of plants and discover that plants need to grow. In this plant lesson, students discuss the parts of the plant and plant petunias. Students can share their plants with friends or families.

Intended to build an understanding of Braille in a general education classroom. They read the book Helen Keller then write their names using a braille website. Many interesting web links are included. Could be used for a general or...

Studenty create a photo essay of a day in their lives. In this photographic story lesson, students take pictures throughout their day and use the images to tell a story.  Students create an album with an online account. 

Bring influential historical figures to life with a highly interactive and informative activity. Your class members will research important activists during the women's suffrage movement and then share what they have learned by role...

Need a musical lesson for your drama or performing arts class? VH1 has put together a really neat lesson, in which learners use biographical information about Alicia Keys to write and perform a one-act musical related to her life. This...

Learners in a special education classroom examine the role of weather and water in their lives. Each day, they add a symbol for the weather outside and identify the proper activities for the weather on that day. In groups, they...

Seventh graders explore the basics of composition, acrylic painting techniques, and color theory, examine works of the American painter Wayne Thiebaud, and create still lifes using three pieces of candy.

Students complete activities to learn about the life cycle of a seed. In this plant growth lesson, students complete activities for the life cycles of seeds.

Students study the biology and morphology of Lophelia corals.  In this investigative lesson plan students explain how the coral contributes to communities, and create a poster.  

Students create a digital portfolio about their activities for several school years. Students compile pictures and copies of their best work onto flash drives. Students combine the pictures and text each year to create a cumulative...