National Endowment for the Humanities
The Greek Alphabet: More Familiar Than You Think!
In this Greek alphabet instructional activity, pupils explore the Phoenician origins to the Greek alphabet. Learners compare Greek letters to current letters and write a paragraph about the life of students in ancient Greece. They...
Curated OER
Becoming American: Immigration Experiences
Eleventh graders explore the process of becoming American. In this US History lesson, 11th graders examine the challenges that immigrants face in the United States. Students create a mini phrase book that would help...
Curated OER
Play Dough Number Sentences
First graders receive a can of play dough and form it into numbers to make addition problems. They also learn the proper format for an addition sentence from left to right. This is a great hands-on math instructional activity for young...
Curated OER
Exchange Students
Students discuss as a class the items they value and why. They read an article about the popularity of cellphones in Iraq. In groups, they work together to create a guide to their culture to share with others visiting their classroom....
Curated OER
Let's Get Critical!
Students write a letter to a classmate recommending a favorite book and brainstorm ways in which a person would encourage others to read a book, focusing on specific elements of novels.
Curated OER
Building Bridges for Young Learners- School
Students examine the purpose of education. In this schooling lesson, students read a letter from a child in Uzbekistan. Students compare and contrast their schooling to children around the world.
Curated OER
Pioneer America: Pioneer Living
Fourth graders research pioneer life. In this pioneer lesson, 4th graders read the book Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder and discuss what life was like for early pioneers. They research pioneers and show what they...
Curated OER
The Desert Alphabet Book
Students explore world geography by researching a science book with their classmates. In this desert identification lesson, students utilize a U.S. map to locate the geographical locations of deserts. Students create an oral report based...
Curated OER
Living on the Titanic
Eighth graders research life on the Titantic using the Internet. They write journal entries from the point of view as a Titanic passenger. They write a friendly letter and a busines letter.
Creative Educator
Amazing Animal Alliterations
Creatures can cause creativity! Alliteration can make writing more enjoyable and entertaining. Help your pupils grasp this concept by using animals as inspiration for alliterative sentences. Prepare your class for the activities by first...
Curated OER
Wheel of Pharaoh
Students investigate ancient Egyptian civilization and its rulers. In this ancient history lesson, students simulate playing a game similar to Wheel of Fortune whereby students have to correctly guess all the letters that spell a word or...
Curated OER
Don't Type To Strangers
Students create Web advertisements to protect young people from online predators. For homework, they write letters pitching their ads and analyzing their effect. They discuss their own use of the Internet and how to protect young people.
Curated OER
I'm A Poet and Now I Know It
Eighth graders gather ideas generated from other poems and their own inspiration, to create original poetry. A celebration is included as students bind and submit poems for publication.
Curated OER
Grading on a Curve?
Young scholars create a report card for George Bush based on research of key issues. They review political symbols and send a letter to the President explaining why they have given him the grades.
Curated OER
Popularity, Publicity, and Public Service
Learners discuss the issue of celebritites who speak out for certain diseases. After reading an article, they consider a doctor's perspective on the use of celebrities. In groups, they research a common disease and design a public...
Curated OER
President Obama's Address to Students Across America
Young scholars listen to President Obama's speech, and discuss its meaning. In this President Obama instructional activity students learn about the president, about how to deliver a speech, and the ways they can make a difference. They...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Responding to Emily Dickinson: Poetic Analysis
Learners explore Emily Dickinson's poem "Safe in Their Alabaster Chambers." In this Dickinson poem lesson, high schoolers analyze the poem as proof of Dickinson' awareness of her reader. Learners analyze her style and identify her...
Curated OER
Let Me Tell You About My State
Fifth graders research one of the 50 U.S. States that they were unfamiliar with. In this U.S. Geography lesson, 5th graders utilize encyclopedias as well as the Internet to research a chosen U.S. State in order to write a report....
Curated OER
Basic Food Items
Students explore healthy eating by defining food vocabulary terms. In this food purchasing lesson, students utilize word/picture cards to participate in a food identification activity among their classmates. Students read a list of food...
Curated OER
Paws in Jobland: Getting to Know Paws in Jobland
Students browse occupations that interest them. In this career lesson plan, students examine the features of jobs as they explore career interests and learn how to find career information.
Curated OER
Spanish in English
What do the words alligator, armadillo, and cockroach all have in common? Each one is an English word with Spanish origins. Introduce young etymologists to the joys of discovering word origins with a lesson that asks them to create a...
Curated OER
George Washington and the First Census of Agriculture
Sixth graders compare modern agricultural statistics with those that are extracted from a primary source letter of George Washington. They complete worksheets and discuss what they have learned.
Curated OER
The Powers That Be
Students investigate past energy legislation, then write letters to Congress from the perspective of citizens trying to influence the original passage of these bills. Each small group does their research using a website imbedded in this...
Curated OER
A Whale of a Problem
Students evaluate the possible causes contributing to the decline of the killer whale population from a number of differing perspectives. They present their findings in a talk show format and in letters of advocacy regarding