Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Life Cycle of the Plant - The Pumpkin

For Teachers 1st
First graders access prior knowledge about pumpkins and read the story Pumpkin, Pumpkin. They will sequence the life cycle of the pumpkin through the use of picture cards and then sing a song about the life cycle of the pumpkin and plant...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Understanding Folklife and Folklore

For Teachers K - Higher Ed
Student examine the basic characteristics of folklore. In this folklore lesson, young scholars complete activities to identify two kinds of folk, folk groups, and folklife. Students list daily activities in their home, identify folk...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Life Cycle of the Mealworm

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders provide a habitat for live mealworms and observe their life cycle. In this animal life cycle and scientific inquiry instructional activity, 4th graders create a habitat for a live mealworm and observe and record related...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Through the Eyes of an Owl

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Young scholars describe vertebrates in terms of observable body parts and characteristics and describe life cycles of familiar organisms. They identify familiar organisms as part of a food chain or food web and describe their feeding...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Short Story: A Slice of Life

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students are introduced to the characteristics of the short story. Individually, they use their own personal experiences to write a poem about their families to get them used to writing. Next, they practice reading various short...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Insects

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students study the characteristics and basic needs of insects. They compare and describe similarities among insects. They examine the body structure, covering, and movement of insects and also, examine insect life cycles in this unit of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Notorious Hope Diamond: What Makes an American Legend?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students view and discuss a video on the legend of the Hope Diamond then compare and contrast other tales such as Paul Bunyan, Pecos Bill and Johnny Appleseed. They analyze basic characteristics of these legends then use descriptive...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What's Special About Nonfiction?

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students examine the difference between nonfiction and fictional writing. They identify the characteristics of nonfiction literature and examine how a nonfiction textbook organizes information.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mountain Magic: Identifying the Basic Physical Characteristics of Mountains

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students read about and identify on maps the physical characteristics of mountains. For this mountains lesson plan, students also write about the characteristics using personification.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

First Grade Goes to the Zoo

For Teachers 1st
First graders summarize their trip to the zoo. In this summarizing lesson plan, 1st graders will study animals that they may see at the zoo including their characteristics and habitats. Once the trip is done, they create a word document...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Twain: Steamboat's a-Comin'

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students discover how rivers inspire creative expression.  In this Mark Twain lesson, students list songs about rivers and discuss common characteristics. They locate the Mississippi River on a map and write a script in which a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Botanical Discoveries

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders examine the Lewis and Clark Expedition. For this plant discovery lesson, 6th graders put in chronological order the plant discoveries of Lewis and Clark. Students understand the characteristics of leaves and find the area...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Literacy Through Photography

For Teachers K - 5th
Students practice using words to describe photographs they have taken.  In this descriptive writing lesson, students utilize a disposable or digital camera to take 5 pictures of their life after school.  Students create slides...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

James Brown: Life and Times

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students trace James Brown's rise from "Little Junior" in Depression-era Augusta, Georgia, to the "Minister of the New Super Heavy Funk" and create a collage that captures his impact on American music.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sowing Seeds: the Beginning of the Fast Plant Life Cycle

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Learners plant seeds, observe and tend plants. They identify major plant parts, how to germinate and troubleshoot problems with plants; and, that plants need water, light, and soil nutrients to thrive. They create a Plant Growth Data Log.
Lesson Plan
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Classifying Living and Non-Living Objects

For Teachers K
Students investigate living organisms and define the properties of a living species.  In this life characteristic lesson, students examine plants in their class and discuss whether or not they are alive.  Students create a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Poetry

For Teachers 12th
Twelfth graders examine the main characteristics of poetry. They read and discuss a handout on the characteristics of poetry, read the poem, The Road Not Taken, discuss their interpretation of the poem, and research poetry on the Internet.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

2nd Grade - Act. 25: Creature Creation

For Teachers 2nd
Create a creature using some of the characteristics of a real animal. Second graders will read a book from the "Froggy," series by Johnathan London to learn about the characteristics of frogs. After discussing and recording various...
Interactive
Curated OER

Demian - Essay Questions

For Students 9th - 12th
If your class is reading Demian by Hermann Hesse, consider printing this list of essay questions to help them explore the text. There are 13 questions provided; some are basic recall questions, but others encourage a deeper...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Using Poetry in Teaching Reading to Special Education Students

For Teachers 6th - 9th
A series of well-written activities, these lessons prompt middle schoolers reading below grade level (at a second, third, or fourth grade level) to use poetry to practice basic reading skills. They rhyme, build words, make inferences,...
Lesson Plan
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Persuade Me, Please! Reading a Persuasive Essay and Liking It!

For Students 6th - 12th Standards
Persuade your writers that crafting arguments is not that difficult. They only need to follow the steps outlined in this resource.
Lesson Plan
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Learning About the Kumeyaay Indians

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders research the Native American nation of Kumeyaay. Scholars use the internet to research past history. Through email, 3rd graders communicate with a Kumeyaay child to discover life on a present day reservation. They create a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

People are People

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Explore human diversity in this human rights lesson. Middle schoolers compare novels, speeches, videos, and short stories that promote diversity and basic human rights. They complete daily coursework as they read the selected literature...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Help the Duck Find Her Babies

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students study the basic need for animals to attract mates and reproduce young.