Digital Public Library of America
The Fifteenth Amendment
Fifteen primary sources provide a context for a study of the Fifteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. The packet captures the excitement for the changes promised by the amendment as well as the backlash against it.
Academy of American Poets
Teach This Poem: "Once the Magnolia has Blossomed" by Ed Roberson
A free write, an image of magnolia leaves, and the Ed Roberson's poem "Once the Magnolia has Blossomed" ask scholars to use their noticing skills to reflect on the instructional activity beauty teaches about loss and grief.
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Section Three: What's the Status of Biodiversity?
Biodiversity is essential for every habitat, but many species are at risk due to pollution and other factors. Explore several different species native to Illinois in a gallery walk with posters that learners have created after research...
August House
When Turtle Grew Feathers
Friendship is a valuable part of growing up. Learn about the importance of friendship with a variety of activities based on When Turtle Grew Feathers by Tim Tingle. Kids practice making musical instruments, discussing plot points,...
Curated OER
Charlotte's Web
Fourth graders focus on fluency by reading the book Charlotte's Web. In this reading strategies lesson, 4th graders partner read, do guided reading, and independent reading to increase fluency. Students use Venn Diagrams, discuss...
Curated OER
Abolitionists and Proponents of Slavery
Eleventh graders compare and contrast the visions of abolitionists and proponents of slavery. In this slavery lesson, 11th graders read primary documents representing both sides of the slavery issue and use graphic organizers to analyze...
Curated OER
Giving Beyond Measure-The Diary of Anne Frank
Students read and analyze the play "The Diary of Anne Frank" based on the book of the same name. They identify philanthropic concepts and values in the play and discuss the ways in which specific characters actions affect the events....
Curated OER
Biomimicry, Nature: Architecture of the Future
Students explore the relationship between nature and architecture. In this cross curriculum history, culture, and architecture lesson, students observe and discuss structures visible in nature. Students view websites in which Native...
Curated OER
New Year Celebrations
Second graders compare and contrast holidays. In this holiday lesson plan, 2nd graders compare United States New Year to the Chinese New Year. They read the story This Next New Year by Janet S. Wong and create a list about how China...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Charles Baudelaire: Poète Maudit (The Cursed Poet)
After learning the main ideas of the Decadent movement, students work in small groups to read and translate poems by the French poet Charles Baudelaire using basic etymology skills. They then read the accurate English translations to see...
Curated OER
Mastering the Keyboard
Sixth graders view an animated program showing how the continents fit together millions of years ago. In groups, they compare and contrast the distribution of rocks and fossils based on how the continents fit together. After reading a...
Curated OER
Angle Exploration and Classification
Students compare and contrast angles and identify them as acute, obtuse, right, or straight angles. They create rays and angles using uncooked spaghetti, read and discuss key vocabulary terms, and complete a variety of geometry worksheets.
Curated OER
The Voices of Slavery
Fourth graders recognize and can describe the settlers of Early America. In this American colonies lesson plan, 4th graders research using primary and secondary sources, Native Americans, Europeans, and African Americans role in the...
Curated OER
Forest Loss Slows as Asian Nations Plant
Students survey the loss of forests around the world. In this environmental lesson, students read an article that outlines how forests are being lost and government interaction which encourages forests to be rebuilt. Activities to...
Curated OER
Poverty Point Native Americans
Students investigate the Poverty Point Indians. In this Native Americans activity, students research the Indians and use the information to fill out graphic organizers and to compare and contrast communities over time. Students locate...
Curated OER
Forces
In this forces worksheet, students read about force and acceleration. They complete a Venn Diagram to compare and contrast balanced and unbalanced forces, they answer questions about a diagram of a tug-a-war and the forces acting on each...
Curated OER
Our Side of the Story: African Americans Share Their Experiences of Slavery
Seventh graders listen to a variety of folktales sharing experiences of slavery. As a class, they compare and contrast reading a story and telling a story. They participate in a role play activity to discover the journey of a slave and...
Curated OER
The Cajuns: Natives with a Difference!
Students examine the immigrant experiences of various culture groups. Using this information, they work together to compare and contrast these experiences with those of the Cajuns. As a class, they define ethnic group and research the...
Curated OER
Sponges, Cnidarians, Flatworms, and Roundworms
In this simple animals learning exercise, students read information about sponges, cnidarians, flatworms, and roundworms and then complete a chart comparing and contrasting these groups of animals. This learning exercise has 11 fill in...
Curated OER
Neighborhoods
Students examine homes around the world. In this multicultural lesson plan, students read the book A World of Homes and Homes Around the World. Students compare and contrast the homes in the books to their own homes. Students construct a...
Curated OER
On Trial - Juvenile or Adult?
Students compare and contrast juvenile and adult courts in the United States. In this judicial system lesson, students read and discuss articles and statistics in order to determine why juveniles may be tried as adults and examine the...
Curated OER
Religion and the Environment
Students consider the role of environmentalists in the United States. In this political issues instructional activity, students compare and contrast the evangelical vote in the U.S. with the liberal vote as they read selected articles...
Curated OER
Stream Table
Young scholars explore channelization, riparian habitats and soil erosion to find out about the aquatic habitats in Iowa. For this aquatic habitats lesson, students define important terms and read an article about pollution. ...
Roald Dahl
The Twits - The Furniture Goes Up
Work gets done faster when people work as a team. The ninth installment of an 11-lesson unit designed to accompany The Twits by Roald Dahl combines character education with research skills and creative writing activities. The lesson ends...