Curated OER
Lesson One: Characterizing Philanthropic People
Familiarize your class with philanthropy and involve individuals in philanthropic activities. First, determine the traits of philanthropic people. Class members attach sticky notes with character traits written on them to each side of at...
Curated OER
What Color Is Your Apple?
Third graders spend time identifying the characteristics they have and ones they would like to develop for their own personal growth. As a class, they brainstorm ways they can tell they are growing up or being mature. Individually, they...
Curated OER
People Are Like Peas in a Pod
Students experiment with peapods to show the diversity of individual within a population. They examine dominant traits, recessive traits, genotypes, and phenotypes and show the process of making a Punnett Square.
Curated OER
Out of the Dust
Seventh graders read a book of poems called "Out of the Dust". In groups, they research the Dust Bowl and how it affected people living through the Great Depression. Using the text, they identify the theme and key turning points and...
Novelinks
The House on Mango Street: Biopoem
Young poets demonstrate their understanding of a character from Sandra Cisneros' The House on Mango Street by crafting a biopoem that captures the essence of this person.
Novelinks
The Good Earth: Biopoem Strategy
To gain a better understanding of characters in Pearl Buck's The Good Earth, kids create a biopoem for one of her characters.
John Wiley & Sons
Introduction to the Student Leadership Challenge
"Leadership is learned, and everyone has the potential to be a leader." From modeling the way to encouraging the heart, learners discover the five practices of exemplary leadership through a series of rich, hands-on, collaborative...
Vanderbilt University
Stories from the Panama Canal
The stories of the Silver People, the West Indies immigrants hired to work on the Panama Canal, come to life in a lesson about the building of the Panama Canal. Groups research why the canal was built, how it was build, the working...
Curated OER
Out of the Dust: Biopoem
As part of their study of Out of the Dust, readers create a biopoem for one of the characters in Karen Hesse's 1998 Newbery Medal winning verse novel.
Curated OER
Celebrate National Inclusive Schools Week
Students list traits that make them unique. They participate in a Bingo-like game, where they try to identify people by their traits.
Curated OER
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Fourth graders research and write an author report on Roald Dahl, including books written by him, birthplace, family life, and other information on his writing. Students read aloud chapters in the book. Students create a newspaper...
Curated OER
Decision Making and Assertiveness
Fourth graders identify a problem and write a persuasive essay to the appropriate audience, to correct the problem. They demonstrate effective decision making based on positive self-worth. Students need to write a paragraph about their...
Curated OER
What Makes a Cat a Cat?
Students investigate the lives of pets by videotaping them. Â In this animal life lesson, students videotape a cat and other pets using school cameras in a computer lab. Â Students review the footage from the cat and other animals and...
Curated OER
Endeavor: Preparing Ourselves for Future Destinations
Students define the word endeavor and then practice the art of self-discipline. They create character trait charts and discuss how strong character traits help students meet their future destinations.
Curated OER
Number Stories
Students write and solve various number stories. They solve number stories using one, two and three digit numbers. Students practice writing sentences using the following 6+1 traits, ideas and content, organization, word choice and...
Curated OER
Character Education: Honesty
Students explore the character trait of honesty. They listen to the book, Jamaica's Find, identify the examples of honesty and dishonesty, role-play scenarios from the story, and draw a picture about a time they were honest.
Curated OER
Harriet The Spy
Fourth graders investigate the style of diary writing as its own genre of literature. They read Harriet The Spy in order to have a text for this literature study. Students use the skill of prediction to preview the story, and then...
Curated OER
Mercer Mayer-Just Me and My ...books
Students read various Mercer Mayer books. They discuss the enhancement of family and relationships within the family. Students write a book with their peers about their relationship with a member of their family. They practice their...
Curated OER
Mary, Queen of Scots: Heroine or Harlot?
Students explain how international politics, religion, and cultural beliefs influenced the life of Mary Queen of Scots. They watch a film about Mary, Queen of Scots and participate in a discussion and variety of extension activities.
Curated OER
Language Arts:Similes That Make Us Smile
Students identify similes and create their own self descriptions using them as examples. After identifying characteristics associated with pictures of the sun, fish, and other items, they discover how those traits can be used as...
Curated OER
Earthworm Bridge
Fourth graders complete analysis experiments for decomposers and their adaptable traits. For this decomposers lesson, 4th graders test worm behavior to light, sound, warmth, touch, and moisture. Students work in groups to analyze the...
Curated OER
Hero Stories Teach
Students create a slogan. In this heroes lesson, students identify traits from hero stories that match traits of real life heroes. They discuss what lessons they can learn from heroes about courage and come up with a one line slogan that...
Curated OER
What's Wild? What's Not?
Students complete activities to differentiate between wild and domestic animals. In this animal types lesson plan, students bring stuffed animals to class and pictures from magazines or newspaper. Students put their stuffed animals in a...
Curated OER
Dear Diary
In this narrative worksheet, students compose a diary entry that includes different facets of writing. Students then respond to different narratives in the class by answering 11 different questions.