Curated OER
The School Holiday Calendar
Various Muslim holidays and their meanings are researched and your young scholars will predict whether or not they should be recognized on the New York City school calendar. An extension could be to write a letter to the Mayor about...
Curated OER
American Becomes a Colonial Power
Exploring the idea of America joining "the imperialist club" at the end of the 19th century, this presentation presents reasons why America not only had the drive to explore the world, but the power and wealth with which to do so....
Curated OER
Writing Exercises: English Settlements in North America
A great writing exercise should have it all. This one requires learners to think critically about cause and effect, compare and contrast, and summarizing. They compose responses to five short answer questions regarding Spanish and...
Skyscraper Museum
Changes in a City Over Time
Investigate the growth and development of New York City with the final instructional activity in this four-part series on skyscrapers. Learners first explore the concept of urban growth by looking closely at a series of three paintings...
EngageNY
Summarizing Complex Ideas: Comparing the Original UDHR and the "Plain Language" Version
The eighth lesson plan in this series continues the focus on vocabulary and increasing young readers' awareness of academic language. Pairs of learners participate in a short vocabulary review activity called Interactive Words in which...
While They Watched
Teaching the Holocaust
What is the difference between prejudice and discrimination? Between collaborators and bystanders? Guilt and responsibility? Prompt learners to think critically about a very complex and textured topic with an innovative packet of materials.
Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation
Why Did Some Colonial Virginians Continue to Support the King?
Not all colonials supported the American Revolution. A resource from the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown ask young historians to investigate the reasons why some colonial Virginians were loyalist and continued to support King...
ConnectED
Crime Scene Investigation
How exactly does a crime scene investigation work? The resource, a unit on criminology, covers everything from the deductive reasoning skills needed for detectives to DNA fingerprinting, all the way to how to gather evidence and bring...
Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation
How Do We Know about Colonial Life?
Young history sleuths examine an inventory of the belongings of a Virginia colonist and use deductive reasoning to determine what the document reveals about colonial life. They then use a Venn diagram to compare the inventory with a...
ProCon
Israeli - Palestinian Conflict
Many people think the best solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a two-state solution. After reviewing the available resources, scholars determine whether they agree with that approach. They analyze graphs and charts about...
Curated OER
The Brain Teaser Five Pack
In this critical thinking worksheet, students answer five brain teaser questions that challenge them to use their common sense and basic knowledge.
Curated OER
Everything You Know Is Wrong 1: Us and Them
Students explore rational, irrational, analytical and non-analytical methods of reasoning. They participate in numerous exercises and hands-on activities to understand assumptions and how most people think. Students establish the...
Curated OER
Multicultural Math Project
Sixth graders examine where mathematics came from. In this Math History lesson, 6th graders complete various activities to understand mathematical reasoning. Students complete critical thinking questions.
Curated OER
Thinking About the Environment: Where Are Our Forests?
Learners investigate our lack of forests by examining population. In this deforestation lesson, students research a list of the continents, their populations, and remaining forest area. Learners discuss why forests are disappearing and...
Curated OER
Social Studies: Reasons Diseases become Epidemic
Pupils identify reasons diseases become epidemic and list them in web format. They explore additional questins to to better investigate the time periods mentioned: 14th century, America at contact and the Age of Industry.
Curated OER
UMNH: Thinking About The Past
Fourth graders use a personal item to explain and share the importance of their past. They also connect this importance with reasons why all human past is important.
Curated OER
Thinking About the Past
Fourth graders use a personal item to understand and share the importance of their past. They connect this importance with reasons why all human past is important and recognize the sequence of change in Utah over time. They bring to...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Lesson 4 James Madison: Internal Improvements Balancing Act—Federal/State and Executive/Legislative
Who has the power? The founding fathers asked the same question when the United States was formed. Learners explore issues that arose during Madison’s presidency that raised constitutional questions. Through discovery, discussion, and...
Curated OER
Papier-Mache Masks
Read about, and then make culturally inspired masks. Learners watch the video, "Masks and Face Coverings," then design and make a mask with cultural significance out of papier mache. Tip: Have small groups research, write about, and make...
Curated OER
Step into the Painting: Social Studies, Literature, and Art
Travel back in American history to the era of slavery and abolition. After reading about the Underground Railroad, young historians examine a painting depicting the event, and write a narrative from the point of view of a person in the...
Curated OER
All About Nicknames: New Mexico quarter reverse
Most of the states in the union have a nickname. Using the New Mexico state quarter as an example, pupils try to figure out why particular states have particular nicknames. They think about all the reasons New Mexico might be called...
Curated OER
How were European nations capable of dominating the African contintnt?
Help your class determine why European was able to dominate the African continent. They read 5 excerpts, each related to a reason why Europe colonized Africa. Then they answer 4 critical-thinking questions.
Yummy Math
Sweethearts Candy
Sweethearts® candies are a beloved Valentine's Day treat—so much so that eight billion hearts are produced every year around the world! Learners use number sense reasoning and critical thinking to solve nine word problems about the...
Curated OER
U.S. History Worksheet #72
Why did the North win the war? In this United States history worksheet, students utilize a word bank of 10 terms or phrases to answer 10 fill in the blank questions pertaining to the Civil War. A short answer question is included as...