National Endowment for the Humanities
Edgar Allan Poe, Ambrose Bierce, and the Unreliable Biographers
High schoolers research biographical facts about Edgar Allan Poe and Ambrose Bierce and complete literary analysis activities. In this biographical lesson plan, high schoolers research basic biographical facts about Poe and Bierce. High...
Curated OER
Play with Words: Rhymes & Verse
Students listen to poems and rhymes, clap out syllables, and sing along with familiar tunes. They use puppets and crafts to help recall and retell favorite poems, and craft their own poems.
Curated OER
The Museum Project
Students create an African Art Museum. Each group present art and information about that art on your wall of the museum.
Curated OER
Read More Than Words
Students, in groups, visually read photographs from the Farm Security Administration taken during the Great Depression. They analyze the photos and present their observations to the class.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Nathaniel Hawthorne and Literary Humor
Young scholars examine Nathaniel Hawthorne's style of humor and compare it to other humorists. They discuss the purpose of literary humor and determine how it develops characters and plots in stories. They analyze the use of different...
Curated OER
Was There an Industial Revolution? Americans at Work Before the Civil War
Students tabulate the First Industrial Revolution where a significant number of inventions and innovations appeared transforming American life. Cite examples of change (ex. telegraph) in the lives of Americans during the era of question....
National Endowment for the Humanities
"An Expression of the American Mind": Understanding the Declaration of Independence
Learners research the structure of the Declaration: introduction, main political/philosophical ideas, grievances and assertion of sovereignty. They analyze the ideological/political origins of the ideas in the Declaration. Students...
Curated OER
What To Be or Not To Be
Students discuss and learn about jobs and workers found in their school and then in the world around them. Through the activities presented in the lesson, students will become familiar with various workers and their tools. The describe...
National First Ladies' Library
Saluting Babe Ruth, the Bambino
For first-hand research experience, learners study the achievements of baseball hero, Babe Ruth. They gain a better understanding of the game, especially the role of a home run. They then use their research findings to create displays...
Curated OER
Electron Microscope
In this microscope worksheet, students use an on line site to answer questions about how a Scanning Electron Microscope works. They also conduct a virtual microscope activity where they view ten specimens and identify what each is.
Curated OER
How the Court Became Supreme
Students investigate how the Supreme Court changed under the leadership of John Marshall. In this Supreme Court lesson, students recognize the role of the Supreme Court as well as the significance of Marbury v. Madison. Students also...
Curated OER
Monster Symmetry
Third graders understand what a line of symmetry is and how to draw symmetrically. In this monster symmetry lesson, 3rd graders create an original monster that is symmetrical. Students participate in additional symmetry activities.
Curated OER
A Thousand Words
Students demonstrate compassion for others. In this character education lesson, students view photos from magazines and interpret what they see. Students discuss the feelings they get when viewing the photos.
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Our Forests Need Fires?
Students consider how forest fires are both damaging and beneficial to forests. For this earth science lesson, students are read the book Fire! In Yellowstone by Robert Ekey and watch "Fire Ecology" and "Two Sides of Fire" before...
National Endowment for the Humanities
From Courage to Freedom: Frederick Douglass's 1845 Autobiography
Students study slavery from the perspctive of an American slave. In this Frederick Douglass lesson, students complete the suggested pre-reading and post-reading activities included for Douglass's autobiography, Narrative of the Life of...
Curated OER
Media Awareness: the Basics of Advertising
Students explore marketing techniques. In this media awareness lesson, students watch instructor-selected advertising and identify the marketing techniques used in each of them. Students then create advertisements for products.
Curated OER
Cartoons in the Classroom: Drawn to Freedom
In this current events worksheet, students analyze political cartoons that feature the free exchange of ideas and government criticism. Students then respond to 2 short answer questions.
Curated OER
Introducing the Memo
Students explore memos to gather important information. For this memos lesson, students interpret memos and answer questions based on the information. Students define the parts of a memo. Students create their own memos.
Curated OER
Cooperative Classroom Text Features Activities
Fifth graders examine text features and create a PowerPoint presentation. In this text features lesson, 5th graders go over Kagan Cooperative Learning Structures and text features before they choose one to include in a book and...
Curated OER
Roles, Rights, and Responsibilities of Community Members
Students identify the roles, rights and responsibilities of a specific community. They conduct research, brainstorm ideas and prepare an illustrated booklet to present the gathered information.
Curated OER
Flow Charts
Students explore the use of flow charts and cyclical diagrams. They discuss how to read the charts. Students produce a simple flow chart or diagram to explain a process. They investigate various methods used to present text.
Curated OER
Good Citizen Posters
Third graders create a poster documenting the responsibilities of a good citizen. During group discussion, they develop a list of ways in which they can participate as responsible citizens in their society. Students use their list to...
Curated OER
Yearbook Project for ESL Students
Students in an ESL classroom are introduced to the American tradition of creating a yearbook. Using previous yearbooks, they note the various components and practice using new vocabulary. They brainstorm a list of items they would like...
Curated OER
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A NURSE
Second graders examine the front cover of the book, A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A NURSE and discuss with a friend about a time they visited the hospital. They then read the book together as a class and review events. They make a list as a class...