Curated OER
Hans Christian Andersen's Fairy Tales
A thorough instructional activity introduces learners to Hans Christian Andersen, the nineteenth-century author who created wonderful tales. They read the original texts of several of his stories, including "The Ugly Duckling," "The...
Curated OER
The Eagle Has Landed: Aztecs Find a Home
Pupils examine the Aztec civilization in what is now Mexico. Using a map, they locate the empire and explain the legend of the founding of Tenochtitlan. They explore the symbols on various Mexican flags and what they meant to the Aztec...
Curated OER
Breaking News
Young scholars organize a newspaper article using a worksheet that helps them study the vocabulary of news articles. They write newspaper articles about mythical creatures invading contemporary Los Angeles.
Curated OER
Dear Congressperson...
Young scholars identify their local, state, and national officials. They create a short blurb about each official and their function in office. Students choose an issue of concern they would like to write to their local official about,...
Curated OER
Trekking to Timbuktu: Restoring the Past
Students describe the environmental conditions that presently threaten Timbuktu. They explain what efforts are being made to restore the ancient mosques, describe the condition of the ancient manuscripts and tell what is being done to...
Curated OER
The Battle Over Reconstruction: The Aftermath of Reconstruction
Students examine the Reconstruction Era. In this American history lesson, students explore the condition of the United States following the Civil War as they read statistical data. Students analyze the Reconstruction policies to...
National Endowment for the Humanities
The Greek Alphabet: More Familiar Than You Think!
In this Greek alphabet instructional activity, pupils explore the Phoenician origins to the Greek alphabet. Learners compare Greek letters to current letters and write a paragraph about the life of students in ancient Greece. They...
Curated OER
Mapping South America
Students explore South America. In this South American lesson, students use their geography skills to create population, terrain, biomes/vegetation, and major exports maps. Students present their finished maps to their classmates and...
Curated OER
The Ups and Downs of Technology
Middle schoolers create a visual timeline of skyscrapers built in the past 20 years. In this physical science lesson, students research important facts about the building. They discuss the challenges architects face when building...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Lesson 4: The Phoenicians, the Greeks, the Romans, and Us
Learners review knowledge gained in the three-part unit on the history of the alphabet. Using maps and images, learners consolidate their understanding of ancient Greece, the Romans and the Phoenicians, and their respective impacts...
Curated OER
Elements of Chemistry: Solids, Liquids and Gases
Students predict if icebergs melting has an effect on the sea level rising. In this global warming lesson students complete an experiment to see the effects of melting icebergs and write a conclusion on their data collected.
Curated OER
America and the Sino-Japanese Conflict, 1933-1939
Learners examine the U.S. stance regarding the Sino-Japanese conflict. For this diplomacy lesson, students analyze the sanctions employed by United States on Japan when they took over Manchuria. Learners determine how actions...
Curated OER
The End of the Civil Rights Movement
Middle schoolers examine the relationships between blacks and whites in their community. In this racial discrimination lesson, students make race relations observations within their community and then write letters that reveal their...
Curated OER
Trekking to Timbuktu: Trade in Ancient West Africa
Young scholars research how trade in Timbuktu was affected by geography. Students conduct online research to determine the major trade routes, main products of trade, plus how and why trade spread across Africa.
Curated OER
A New Federation
Learners describe the relationships between state and federal parliaments in Australia. They identify responsibilities shared between federal and state and territory governments. Students explore an alternative federal structure by...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Colonizing the Bay
Eleventh graders review the goals of John Winthrop. In this American History lesson, 11th graders read Winthrop's speech and summarize his key points. Students predict the possibilities for success and failure in the...
Curated OER
Bradford England
Young scholars explore the locality and diversity of culture within the Bradford District of England. Through map activities and discussion, they identify the major forms of transport, people and places in the region. Students compare...
Curated OER
Puerto Rico: The 51st State?
Students explore Puerto Rico. In this Puerto Rico current events lesson, students conduct a Webquest to answer questions about Puerto Rico's culture. Students discuss whether Puerto Rico is a country or a state, and defend...
Curated OER
A House is a House for Me: Library Skills for Young Readers
Read Mary Ann Hoberman's book A House is a House for Me to introduce the idea that a library is a house for shelves of books. Young readers practice alphabetizing in the picture book (easy fiction) section of the library. They learn how...
Curated OER
Dictionary Work - Entry Words
Second graders examine the use of entry words in the dictionary. In this dictionary use activity, learners look at guide words in a children's dictionary as the teacher/librarian describes the characteristics of each entry. They complete...
Curated OER
Comparing Sparta and Athens
Students are taught the differences between totalitarianism and democracy. They discuss the historical roots of the democratic tradition. Students are introduced to the term totalitarianism and are told that it is a form of government...
Curated OER
The Great Fire of Saint John: Producing Historic Plays
Students produce a play about their community. In this historic play lesson, students research their community and script historic play books that provide a background about their community.
Curated OER
Trekking to Timbuktu: Timbuktu: A Center of Trade - Teacher Version
Fourth graders discuss the origins of Timbuktu, explain the importance of its location, and describe the kingdom of Mali. They also explain how and why Timbuktu became a part of Mali.
Curated OER
On the Road with Marco Polo: Crossing the Deserts of China
Students explore the geography of China. They describe the geography of the Taklimakan. Students discover the best route to travel from one end of the desert to the other. They investigate how some of the local inhabitants make a...