Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Hatfield and McCoy Feud

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders investigate the Hatfield and McCoy feud. In this Hatfield and McCoy feud lesson, 4th graders examine factors that caused the feud. Students also locate on a map where the feud took place, make a timeline of the main events...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Itaipu Dam and Power Plant (Brazil and Paraguay)

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners study South America's Itaipu Dam and Power Plant in order to gain an understanding that hydroelectric power is a major means of generating electricity throughout the world. They also look into the environmental impacts that...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Baby Elephant Orphans Get New Home, Families

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students react to a series of statements about elephants, then read a news article about how workers at an elephant orphanage are working to return the animals to the wild. In the animal studies and current events instructional activity,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Beethoven Manuscript Sold at Auction

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students react to a series of statements about Beethoven, then read a news article about the sale of a 179-year-old manuscript by the musical genius. For this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a discussion...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hemispheres: People and Place

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Here is an astounding series of lessons, designed for high schoolers, on environmental policy. By studying water conservation in rural India, the role of the government, and the reaction of the people, learners begin to formulate...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

British Royalty Tours the U.S.

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students share their knowledge of England, then read a news article about Prince Charles's anticipated visit to the U.S. In this current events lesson (written prior to Prince Charles's visit), the teacher introduces the article with a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Chicago White Sox Win World Series

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students react to a series of statements about the World Series, then read a news article about the Chicago White Sox winning the 2005 World Series. In this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a discussion and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Colossal Squid Caught in Antarctic

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students define the word colossal, then read a news article about an enormous squid caught off Antarctica. In this animal studies and current events instructional activity, the teacher introduces the article with dictionary and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Gas Prices Keep Rising

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students discuss rising gas prices, then read a news article about how the increase in fuel cost may affect other prices. In this economics and current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a discussion and vocabulary...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Gold Rush California and its Diverse Population

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students compare contemporary cultural differences with historical differences based on population percentage. For this cross-curriculum Gold Rush/math lesson, students analyze aspects of California's Gold Rush population and diversity...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

NASA Plans Moon Base

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students react to statements about the moon, then read a news article about NASA's plans to build a permanent base on the moon. In this space science and current events lesson plan, the teacher introduces the article with a discussion...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

New $1 Coins Honor U.S. Presidents

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Elementary schoolers examine money, then read a news article about new coins being produced by the U.S. Mint. The teacher introduces the article with samples of American money and a vocabulary activity, then students read the news piece...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

New Supreme Court Justice Sworn In

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students react to a series of statements about the Supreme Court, then read a news article about the confirmation of Chief Justice John Roberts. In this current events instructional activity, the teacher introduces the article with a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Oprah Winfrey Opens New School in Africa

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students locate Africa and share their knowledge of the continent, then read a news article about Oprah Winfrey building a school in South Africa. In this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a discussion and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Real Ice Ages Longer Than Movie Ice Ages

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
If your class's knowledge of the Ice Age is limited to animated movies, use this lesson plan to strengthen their knowledge. After sharing what they know about the Ice Age, young readers explore a news article seeking to dispel...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Return to the Moon

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students react to statements about space exploration, then read a news article about plans to resume manned flights to the moon. In this space science and current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a discussion and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Soda to be Absent from Schools

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Should schools serve soda to learners? Learners read an artlcle that argues against the sale of soda in schools and engage in a class discussion. They then complete a short assessment to check for comprehension and reflect on the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Trailers Become Schools After Hurricane Katrina

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students share their thoughts about natural disasters, then read a news article about how life at an elementary school was changed after Hurricane Katrina. In this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Traveling Cat Flown Home to Family

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students locate Wisconsin and Belgium on a world map, then read a news article about a cat that stowed away on ship from the U.S. to Europe. In this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with map and vocabulary...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Winter Olympic Torch Traveling Across Italy

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Learners react to statements about the 2006 Winter Olympics, then read a news article about the Olympic torch's journey through Italy. In this current events lesson (written prior to the 2006 Winter Olympics), the teacher introduces the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Marriage and Financial Goals, Budgeting Strategies

For Teachers 7th - 9th
There is no more useful life skill to learn than budgeting and setting financial goals. It's math that is used by every person, everyday. Learners examine the responsibilities and costs involved in family economics. Through a series of...
Lesson Plan
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Curated OER

Searching for Your Perfect Career

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Here is a very comprehensive lesson that spans several weeks and allows learners to fully explore career clusters. They take aptitude tests, list career options, then research one career choice. They create PowerPoint presentations that...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Planets in our Solar System

For Teachers 3rd
A wonderfully designed, and very thorough lesson plan on the planets in our solar system. Designed for third graders, this lesson has learners use technology and multimedia tools to research, explore, and create information about the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Grow it Now, Drive it Later?

For Teachers 7th
What do corn and career exploration have in common? A lot, if you're considering an agricultural career that contributes to alternative fuel resources. Through a series of films, presentations, activities, and readings, learners will...