Curated OER
Similes
Similes are a great way to get your writers thinking about descriptive details. They read a brief explanation which covers clichés and the general wording of a simile. Then, learners try a few on their own. First, they complete nine...
American Battle Monuments Commission
Flying Yanks: American Airmen in World War I
Their boots may not have been on the ground, but military airmen in World War I made a lasting impact on the global conflict. A thorough interactive resource takes learners through a timeline of events, campaigns, and battles with...
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Paintings on the Ceiling
Students explore the graffiti paintings of Paco Rosic and recognize that his artworks were designed to please himself. Your class are led to identify the techniques in Paco Rosic's paintings and create graffiti art. There...
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Water Conservation
Open learners' eyes to the challenge of finding safe drinking water – something we often take for granted in our country. The PowerPoint presentation includes images, graphs, diagrams, and even a video to stimulate discussion on how we...
Teaching Tolerance
Consuming and Creating Political Art
A picture is worth a thousand words, but political art may be worth even more! After examining examples of political cartoons, murals, and other forms of public art, class members create their own pieces to reflect their ideals and...
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Reliving History through Slave Narratives
Helpful for an American literature or history unit, this lesson prompts middle schoolers to examine slavery in the United States. They read slave narratives that were part of the Federal Writers' Project and then conduct their own...
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A House is a House for Me
Students evaluate the impact climates have on the building of structures. They research the different types of materials used to build houses in various climates and build small models of houses which are tested against different climates.
NOAA
To Boldly Go...
When we think of ocean exploration, many of us have visions of sunken pirate ships full of treasure or mysterious creatures of the deep. What really motivates deep-sea investigation? The first in a series of diverse six-part lessons...
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Environment: Just Around the Bend
Pupils decipher landforms on a map and corresponding satellite imagery. They consider the impact of pollution on agriculture and water. They draw diagrams demonstrating how pollution works its way into the food source.
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Olympic Challenges
Students consider the impact of the Olympic Games. In this current events lesson, students prepare for the 2006 Olympics by visiting selected websites to learn how the Olympic games began, political issues of the games, and preview the...
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An Aging Population - Economic Problem or Opportunity
Students explore if the aging population has any effect on the economy and overall well-being of society. In this economic lesson, students research the economic impact of the older citizens. They develop their own ideas and...
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Health: Media and Body Image
Fifth graders examine the influence of advertisements on body image and purchasing. They discuss the psychology behind the ads and working in groups cut out words in magazine advertisements that could entice them to buy the product. ...
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Facing The Unknown
Students discuss how images help us to mark the passing of time, and to remember people, places and events from the past. They discuss the different ideas and images related to life, death and the idea of the afterlife. Students also...
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The Rise and Fall of the Jim Crow Era
High schoolers explore African American history by researching the Jim Crow laws. In this Civil Rights lesson plan, students define the Jim Crow laws, the reasons they were put into place, and how they were ultimately defeated. High...
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Dorothea Lange and the Relocation of Japanese Americans
Students analyze a photograph and translate the analysis into words. They explain and explain the impact of governmental decisions made during a specific historical time period.
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Cartoons for the Classroom: Satire or Slander
Encourage your young learners to analyze and think critically about how media portrays people or events. Upper graders analyze a political cartoon depicting President Obama as a Muslim and the First Lady as a revolutionary. Guided by...
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Our Eye in the Sky: The TIROS Weather Satellite
High schoolers investigate the political context of the creation of a weather satellite. In this technology and society lesson, students explore the historical, technological, and political context of the TIROS weather satellite. They...
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The Challenge of Egg Photography
Students examine lighting and composition to create a photograph of a white subject (an egg) against a white background. In this photography lesson students examine each others photos to determine the best methods.
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For Goodness Sake, Power to the People
Students examine the impact of the nonprofit sector on society by researching philanthropic Websites. They role-play as minority groups that used alternative power structures to change society and write in their journals on a...
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The Odyssey of a CoinC
Young scholars create a fictitious newspaper article to document the travels of an ancient Greek coin. They evaluate the economic conditions that existed in ancient Greece and analyze the impact Alexander the Great had on the ancient world.
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Symmetry with Shapes
Students analyze a symmetrical stamp design with an equal balance of light and dark to create a pattern in succession. In this shape design instructional activity, students review concepts of sign, symbol and language across cultures....
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Life as a Legend: Marilyn Monroe: What is Beautiful?
Learners consider the notion of beauty and what impact the media and popular culture have on it. In this cross curricular lesson, students examine print ads, write down and share their thoughts on them. Then learners form literary groups...
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Environmental Impact
High schoolers analyze a 20th century photograph of a Los Angeles landscape and examine the population expansion of L.A. They discuss the principles of design, complete a worksheet, and write a research paper on overpopulation in Los...
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The Pickle "Dill"emma
Students study a problem in their local farming community regarding a pickle factory, and the class is asked to help determine if the pickle factory is the source of a seed germination problem.