Curated OER
Spy on a Spider
Students view slides or live specimens to name and describe the distinguishing features of groups of arthropods, especially spiders and insects. They complete worksheets, observe webs and then search for and record where spiders can be...
Curated OER
Japan: New Year's Day
Young scholars discover how New Year's Day is celebrated in Japan. In groups, they create their own versions of Japanese kites using materials available to them in the classroom. They discover the signifigance of the kites to their...
Curated OER
Letters from the Japanese American Internment
Students make deductions about life in an internment camp by reading and comparing letters written to Clara Breed. Along the way, they consider the advantages of looking at a historical event from the multiple points of view of...
Curated OER
Let's Put a Spin on Things: Graffiti Role Play
Fourth graders examine what is and what isn't graffiti. They role-play various scenarios, research the Graffiti Hurts website, and discuss when graffiti should be reported to local law enforcement.
Curated OER
Picnics-- Chinese Style
Third graders explore about the Chinese rituals of poetry competition. They compare and contrast Chinese picnics with American picnics. Students create short poems, celebrating their own spring poetry picnic. They discuss words or...
Curated OER
Globe Raider: Part II
Students design a PowerPoint slide presentation using information gathered about a Spanish speaking country. They incluse 6 specific slides in their presentation and present them to the entire class.
Curated OER
Scale from the Solar System to a Monster Bee
Sixth graders are introduced to the concept of scale. As a class, they create a model of the solar system taking into account the scale between the planets and the Sun. To end the instructional activity, they examine "Dina the Monster...
Curated OER
What Masks Reveal
Students explore the cultural significance of masks by investigating the role they play in ceremonies and on special occasions in societies from widely separated regions of the world.
Curated OER
Space Shapes
Students read "Captain Invincible and the Space Shapes" by Stuart Murphy and view a PowerPoint presentation on shapes. They identify shapes presented in the book and then identify shapes found in their classroom.
Curated OER
Lessons From the Lorax
Students read and discuss Dr. Seuss's The Lorax. They explore the changes the characters could have made to preserve the environment and relate the plot to real-world places and events.
Curated OER
Desperation: The Great Depression
Students examined the feelings of hopelessness that can result from losing
their income, much like one-third of Americans experienced during the Depression in a small group lesson of a mock household. Students create a household budget...
Curated OER
Identity Box
Students examine how the work (paid or voluntary) they do in the past, present, and future affects and is affected by the communities to which they belong. They realize that human beings' perceptions of one another based on age, sex,...
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Getting To Know You:learning the Aza Ssp Terminology
Students discover the role zoos play in conservation of animals. They research the captive breeding programs that are in place at the Minnesota Zoo. They use the zoo's website to find the American Zoo and Aquarium Associations criteria...
National First Ladies' Library
Birds of a Feather: Parrots, Pigeons, Parakeets, and More
Students investigate the concepts related to the extinction of birds while conduct research using the internet and a variety of resources. The information is used in order to create a class presentation or set the context for class...
Curated OER
This is for the Birds!
Students complete activities to investigate wild birds. In this bird study lesson, students make a wild bird feeder to examine the proper ways to care for wild birds. Students explore organizations in their community that help wild birds...