Curated OER
Developing A Balanced Lifestyle
Students engage in a study of the character trait of peace and how it is useful to becoming part of a lifestyle. The lesson asks students to read a story that illustrates the concept that is followed by targeted questions to be answered.
Curated OER
Statistics Newscast in Math Class
Students study sports teams, gather data about the teams, and create a newscast about their data. In this sports analysis lesson, students research two teams and define their statistical data. Students compare the two teams, make...
PBS
Stories of Painkiller Addiction: Contemplating Nature vs. Nurture
Does having an addict in your family make it more likely to become one yourself? Explore the genetic risk factors, as well as the prominent environmental influences, for substance addiction in a lesson that encourages awareness and open...
Positively Autism
Travis the Train Delivers Shapes
Triangle, circle, square, rectangle, oval, star, diamond, heart. Travis the Train delivers eight shapes for learners with autism to identify. Part of a learning unit on shapes.
Curated OER
Developing Coordination Skills and Pencil Control Using Mouse Hockey
Students explore motor skills by participating in a drawing activity. In this hand coordination lesson, students utilize activity sheets in which they drag their pencil in a specific direction quickly and efficiently. Students utilize...
Curated OER
Taking a Stand on Bullying
Middle schoolers stand up against bullying in a character-building instructional activity. After discussing historical figures who became advocates in times of adversity, they brainstorm ways to end bullying at their own school, and use...
Channel Islands Film
Eminent Domain
After viewing the documentary The Last Roundup, a documentary about the transitioning of Santa Rosa from a privately own island to a National Park, class members debate the takings clause of the Fifth Amendment that permits the...
Curated OER
Circle of Caring
Students explore the concept of philanthropy. In this service learning lesson, students study the works of well-known philanthropists and write an acrostic poem using the word CARING.
Curated OER
Traditional Mexican Paper Cutting
Students examine the art form of Mexican paper cutting and discover how to make a pattern. After reading the book "Look What Came From Mexico", they discuss Mexican folk art and view some samples. Individually they create a Mexican...
Curated OER
Let's Be Honest!
Students investigate the concepts of honesty and take a survey about honesty. They use the New York Times to conduct research to identify the characteristics commonly found in stories about cheating. Students write reflective papers...
Curated OER
A Step Back in Time
Fifth graders study the Civil War, discuss the life and policy decisions of Abraham Lincoln and the concepts/issues that developed to create North vs. South. This lesson is meant to be used before visiting Ford's Theatre.
Curated OER
Literature Study of the Civil War Era
Learn more about the Civil War. Young scholars will choose a novel based on the Civil War to learn more about the viewpoints of that time period. They will then discuss the roles of the members of a Literature Circle and then participate...
Curated OER
Building Character: Holocaust Survivor Testimonies
Host a fishbowl discussion to help your class recognize and articulate the relationship between words and the character traits they describe. They analyze Holocaust survivor testimonies and apply the character traits they observe. No...
Curated OER
Fire Fight
While somewhat dated (young scholars write letters to President George W. Bush about the Iraq War), this lesson could be a good way to reinforce rhetorical reading and critical thinking. Students examine information regarding Operation...
Curated OER
Now That's Beautiful!
Your class experiences dozens of messages about beauty every day by reading magazines, watching movies, and listening to the radio. Have them analyze society's view of beauty in groups after discussing several resources, including Dove's...
PBS
U.S. Agricultural Subsidies and Nutrition
Most young people don't spend a lot of time thinking about why some foods cost less than others. This resource uses clips from the documentary, Food, Inc. to explore the impact of agricultural subsidies on nutrition, health, and the...
Curated OER
That's the Spirit
Is, as Walt Whitman contends, America’s “almost maniacal appetite for wealth,” the heart of the American dream? Class members grapple with this question as they read David Brooks’ article “The Commercial Republic,” and quotes that...
PBS
The Little Red Hen: A Tale of Cooperation
Ensure that your kids don't even consider saying "Not me!" when it comes time to read by engaging them in this set of lesson plans based around "The Little Red Hen." The class reads the story together before starting in on additional...
Curated OER
Philanthropic Behavior
Youngsters create class rules by determining the environment they would like to have in their classroom. They come to a consensus about how to have a safe, fair, fun learning environment by discussing the rules in the Karla Kustin poem,...
Curated OER
Social Roles
Students role play in order to better understand the social roles of the Colonial period. For this Colonial period lesson plan, students guess what role the student is playing based on social role cards.
Curated OER
Turkey Time
Students move safely in a general direction while practicing their chasing, fleeing, and dodging skills. They practice using a Thanksgiving theme for the activity.
Curated OER
"Yarning" About Latitude and Longitude
Students identify various locations using latitude and longitude. In this map skills lesson, students use yarn and labels to create a "human globe." Students identify the Prime Meridian, the Equator, and Northern and Southern Hemisphere.
Ed Change
Equity and Diversity Awareness Quiz
Here is a multiple choice assessment in which students respond to 15 questions relating to social justice, equity, and diversity issues in the United States.
Curated OER
Portrait of a First Grader
First graders generate ideas of the things that a 1st Grade student thinks, does and feels based on a model on bulletin board paper. They (counselors) pick one students and trace that student's body onto a pieces of bulleting board paper...