Curated OER
The King's Chessboard
Middle schoolers speculate on the better rate of pay: a dollar a day for 10 days, or a penny the first day, two pennies the second, doubling each day for 10 days. Start by listening to the story The King's Chessboard, by David Birch....
EngageNY
Talking with My Peers: Carousel of Reading Superheroes Around the World
In many places in the world, people go to great lengths to get books to read. This beginning-of-the-year activity uses pictures of people reading in extraordinary situations to stimulate effective listening and speaking using the...
Curated OER
Discussing How Plants Grow
Study how plants grow with your English language learners with a cross-curricular lesson revolving around pumpkins. These activities provide opportunities to practice new scientific vocabulary while practicing skills such as estimating...
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How Weather Affects Our Lives
English learners practice basic weather terms from listening to two books. They keep a daily weather record for two weeks to record the type of weather, as well as the high and low temperatures for each day. Next, they complete a simple...
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Alphabet Vocabulary
Third graders explore the biodiversity that exist on the prairie. Through reading or listening to books, they keep track of vocabulary words associated with the prairie on an 'Alphabet Poster'.
Curated OER
Ambassador Satch, Superb Entertainer: 1950-1971
Students participated in guided listening lessons of Louis Armstrong's jazz music while interpreting his lyrics. They study his life as an entertainer and goodwill ambassador for the US.
Curated OER
Legends
Pupils are introduced to the topic of legends. Using the text of Irving's novels, they gather information on different cultures. They practice using new vocabulary and their listening skills. They retell the stories in chronlogical order.
Curated OER
The State Of Wisconsin
Students investigate the state of Wisconsin and use sound to experience the concept differently. They listen to Native American songs of a tribe in the state. Also they listen to the frogs that live there in the classroom or out in the...
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Weather Noise
Pupils listen to sound bytes of various weather sounds. They listen for clues as to what the weather was like when the sound was recorded. Then they write and illustrate what they think the weather conditions were at the time.
Tech Museum of Innovation
Seed Dispersal
Engineering challenges are not just man-made ... nature has its own set of them. A hands-on STEM activity has groups designing a seed dispersal system. Each group can only use one sheet of paper — a tough task!
Curated OER
Autumn Arrays
Autumn is a time for nature to get ready for the upcoming winter. After listening to the book Time to Sleep about the changes of deciduous trees in the fall, learners monitor a tree on a daily basis and view photos of fall foliage online.
Curated OER
Play: It's Not Just For Kids
Students realize that play is an important part of life and in the effort to staying healthy. They explore the role of play in society. In addition, they illustrate listening and speaking strategies for different purposes that pertain to...
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Dinosaurs
Young scholars are introduced to the various types of dinosaurs and write in their journals about their favorite one. After listening to a story and watching a filmstrip, they color a few pages in their Dinosaur Friends Book. They also...
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Illinois Biodiversity
Students examine the amount of biodiversity in the state of Illinois. They practice using new vocabulary and listening to stories about animals. After given time to reflect, they write their own haiku. They work together to create a...
Curated OER
Male Image Building Utilizing the Writing Process
Introduce your class to the techniques of proper writing. In groups, they brainstorm their ideas on family structures and discuss the importance of having a male figure in their lives. After listening to an African-American poem, they...
Curated OER
Be a Food Detective
Students explore how food is made and what are healthy and unhealthy eating habits. They participate in activities to further show them foods nutritional value.
Curated OER
What Does This Song Really Say?
Young scholars investigate communication by analyzing lyrics from a song. In this music arts lesson, students discuss slavery, the Underground Railroad and African American traditions while listening to a song called "This Train." Young...
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Sound Portraits
Learners observe a variety of sounds which can be heard within their schoolyard habitat by sitting quietly by themselves for five minutes, listening, and then recording the sounds around them by drawing them.
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The Sun and Moon
Students understand basic concepts about Earth, the Sun and the Moon,
such as relative movement and the phases of the moon. Through discussion, looking at pictures, listening to Native American stories, observing, and building models,...
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The Social Effects of the Great Depression
Learners explore U.S. history by listening to an economics lecture. In this Great Depression instructional activity, students read a letter written to the President during the worst economical disaster in U.S. history. Learners answer...
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Insects: Listen and Learn
Fourth graders use their listening skills to make observations of their environment. They study various insects within a natural setting. They, along with their identification of the insect, create a sketch of the insect.
Curated OER
Weight Game
Students estimate and compare grapefruit weights. In this weight measurement and literacy lesson, students listen to the story Nate's Big Hair and the Grapefruit in There, then estimate the weight of a grapefruit after holding it....
Curated OER
The Influence of Jazz Music in Twentieth Century Art
Learners examine the effect of music on society. While listening to music, they identify the beat, rhythm and write down their reaction to it. Listening to longer selections, they assign a color to the music and share it with the...
Curated OER
Get to Know Birds
Students observe animals in their natural habitats. In this bird identification lesson, students observe birds by watching and listening and report on the sightings they made. Students also document bird signs such as tracks, nests and...