Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Year in the Work of the Bard

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students study the life and times of Shakespeare. In this William Shakespeare lesson, students research the noted Web sites to discover details about Shakespeare's life and the times he lived in. Students also virtually visit the Globe...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

One Year Later: Every Story Counts

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students read different sections on a website about September 11th. They are to write down their feelings as they read the articles and stories. They also focus on saving and preserving family treasures.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Science: Criminalistics - A New Look at Crime

For Teachers K - 12th
Students examine the world of forensic science, focusing on fingerprint analysis. In the instructional activity, they implement a method by which fingerprints of class members are categorized and identified. Elementary students study...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Barnum and Bailey Bartered Bride

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students focus on the study of The Bartered Bride by integrating the theme of the circus begin the lesson with a "KWL" strategy map on the Circus. Students are asked: What do you know about the circus?
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Japanese Folktales

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students listen to examples of Japanese folktales and identify universal themes. Students construct a 'kamishibai' - a traditional Japanese storytelling prop - and dramatize a folktale through puppetry.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Stranger Than Fiction

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students reflect on the importance of science literacy. They review the year's science curriculum by reading, discussing and writing questions on teacher-selected New York Times articles and the related science content.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ho Ho Poetry

For Teachers 6th - 11th
Students read about the sights and sounds of a Las Vegas Christmas. They use words and phrases taken from articles in a recent issue of the New York Times to create a holiday-themed "found Poem."
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Golden Globe as Gauge

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students discuss the significance of the Golden Globes and other awards as indicators of the current cultural and political climate. After reading an article, they identify the nominees for the 2006 Golden Globe awards. Using the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Catcher in the Rye

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders engage in the reading of literature in order to focus upon some of the basic literary elements while examining "The Catcher In The Rye". They use the experience of reading and literary analysis in order to help develop an...
Lesson Planet Article
Curated OER

Lesson Ideas for Halloween Writing

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Halloween writing activities provide a way to make descriptive language a part of a student's literary repertoire.
Lesson Plan
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Fires of the 21st Century

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners explore historical perspectives. In this contemporary history lesson, students listen to Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start the Fire," discuss they lyrics, and add  a new verse to the song for the years 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005.
Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Folklore in Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners define folklore, folk groups, tradition, and oral narrative. They identify traditional elements in Their Eyes Were Watching God Analyze and understand the role of traditional folkways and folk speech in the overall literary...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Artist Mice Art Nice

For Teachers Pre-K - Higher Ed
Students help create "Art picture frames" that display their own artwork throughout the year in this exciting lesson for the pre-Kindergarten classroom. The "frames" are then decorated with small mouse cutouts and pictures of each student.
Lesson Plan
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First Day in Grapes

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Learners read about a boy's first day in a new school. In this self-esteem lesson, students discuss the problems Chico has in his new school and how he faces them with courage and bravery. Learners discuss people who migrate from other...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Classroom Guide for The Birthday Swap

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students complete activities with the book The Birthday Swap by Loretta Lopez. In this literature lesson plan, students answer pre-reading questions, locate new vocabulary, and read the story. They answer comprehension questions,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Meet Mikhail Ippolitov-Ivanov!

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Young scholars listen to music and review instruments of the orchestra. They explore musical terms, solo, texture and theme of the music and discuss other features of the music. Students research and discuss the life of Mikhail...
Activity
New Jersey Historical Commission and New Jersey Council for the Humanities

Thomas Edison: The Wizard of Menlo Park

For Teachers 1st - 6th Standards
What would change in your daily life due to a power outage? Here, learners explore the inventions brought to us by the one and only, Thomas Edison, and imagine a day without them. Scholars take part in a grand conversation and write a...
Activity
Overcoming Obstacles

Blowin' in the Wind

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Working together isn't as easy as it looks! Small groups of classmates try to keep a balloon in the air using only a straw, their breath, and team communication.
Activity
Smekens Education Solutions, Inc.

Introducing the 6 Traits to Students

For Teachers K - 8th Standards
Put together an English language arts unit on the six traits of writing with this helpful collection of resources. From fun songs to differentiated writing exercises reinforcing each of the traits, great ideas are provided for...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Cold War and Development of Post-War America

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars view examples of political advertisements during the years of 1952 through 1964. After viewing, they discuss how the Cold War and the threat of Communism affected the development of the United States. They compare the Cold...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Teaching with Timelines

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Learners create illustrated timelines to accompany the historical events and people they have studied. In this chronological history lesson, students collaborate to create timelines that are enhanced with each new historical era...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Newbery Books: Guaranteed Good Reading

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders explore and analyze Newbery Medal books. They view a Powerpoint presentation on the Newbery Medal book of that current year, select a book, read and analyze the book, and prepare a multimedia book report presentation.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Vocabulary and Language Development

For Teachers Pre-K - K
Young scholars discover new vocabulary words. In this language development instructional activity, students reach into a box of themed items and identify the object. They discuss the attributes of the object as well. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Searching For The American Dream

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders explore the meaning of the American dream and how it has been explained in various forms. After reading various immigrant accounts, 9th graders use poetry and writing to explain how different cultures view the American...