Novelinks
The House on Mango Street: Biopoem
Young poets demonstrate their understanding of a character from Sandra Cisneros' The House on Mango Street by crafting a biopoem that captures the essence of this person.
Curated OER
Vanishing Environment: Exploring Changes in Landscape
To discover the impact of urbanization on the environment, learners compare landscape paintings from the past with contemporary photographs, create found poems from descriptions of artwork, design backyard or public garden spaces,...
Poetry Out Loud
The Tabloid Ballad
What do the theme song from Gilligan's Island, the nursery rhyme "The Owl and the Pussy-Cat," and the poem "The Shooting of Dan McGrew" all have in common? Why, they're ballads of course! Challenge your young balladeers to compose their...
Curated OER
Making a Living and Leisure Activities
Students investigate the economic and daily activities in a typical African community. They design and construct a small scale house, play an African board game, create African money, discuss vocabulary, and write an essay.
Curated OER
The Drum
Students complete a variety of activities related to the folktale from India, "The Drum." They listen to the story and answer comprehension questions, construct a coffee can drum, and complete a phonics and matching worksheet.
Curated OER
Understanding the Complexities of Setting with Where the Lilies Bloom
After reading Where the Lilies Bloom and researching the wildflowers and herbs mentioned in the novel, class members create a mural that reflects the setting of the novel. Groups design the background, the houses of the characters, the...
Curated OER
How Can Clear of Tress Destroy a Community?
Fifth graders brainstorm the relationship between trees and humans to determine how humans benefit from trees and how they benefit from us. They discuss oxygen/carbon dioxide exchange, soil stablization, animal habitat, shade, medicine...
Curated OER
Importance of the Rain Forest
Students use the Internet to conduct a research project. In this rain forest lesson, students work in groups to research different parts of the rain forest. Students research climate, foods, house products and...
Curated OER
Electrical Appliances
Students explore electricity in daily life by examining everyday appliances. In this electrical current lesson, students identify the differences between watts, volts and amps and how they relate to the devices we depend upon. Students...
Curated OER
Portfolio Open House Celebration
Seventh graders present their Great Depression portfolio to parents. In this social studies instructional activity, 7th graders evaluate their own work using the self-evaluation form. They watch a movie and discuss its relevance to the...
Curated OER
Sun Friendly Homes
Students design and build a model solar energy home. In this technology instructional activity, students test the efficiency of their model houses by measuring temperature at regular intervals. They analyze data and share results with...
Curated OER
Where Does the Water Go?
Students examine how water travels in and out of houses through pipes. They discover how water is treated and discuss the importance of the treatment centers. They participate in an experiment with different size piping and water.
Curated OER
Chromatography of Foods
Students complete a counter top chemistry experiment on the chromatography of foods. The experiment is based upon the relative attraction of the components of the mixture for the mobile phase (water) and the stationery phase (paper).
Curated OER
We've Gotcha Covered: The Iowa Insurance Story
Analyze the relationship between financial risks and the growth of the insurance industry in Iowa. Learners work in groups to analyze the major catastrophic events that occurred in their community. Several worksheets are included.
August House
When Turtle Grew Feathers
Friendship is a valuable part of growing up. Learn about the importance of friendship with a variety of activities based on When Turtle Grew Feathers by Tim Tingle. Kids practice making musical instruments, discussing plot points,...
Curated OER
Healthy Teeth
A simple, yet effective lesson on dental health is here for your young learners. In groups, your class will place eggs in cups that contain a variety of liquids and observe what happens to the color of the egg. They brush the egg with a...
Chymist
Landfills and Recycling
Examine the nature of landfills through experimentation. Scholars build miniature landfills and monitor changes over a six-week period. Observations allow individuals to draw conclusions about the different types of trash and their...
Curated OER
Deck the Halls with Literature Trees
Reinforce and assess reading comprehension by having your class make a literature tree! After reading a book, pupils make decorations to represent the book's themes, characters, and setting. Materials for decorating can be as diverse and...
August House
The Drum
Take a journey to India with a read aloud of The Drum: A Folktale from India by Rob Cleveland. Make connections to the story's theme by building and practicing drums, role playing story characters, and practicing skills in phonics, math,...
Curated OER
Connecting Poetry with Philanthropy
Learners use their knowledge of philanthropy and poetic conventions to write original poetry about philanthropic giving. In this philanthropy lesson, students write poetry based on philanthropy using poetic conventions. Learners...
Curated OER
St. Patrick's Day and Leprechauns
Young learners are introduced to the history, and customs surrounding St. Patrick's Day. This colorful and enchanting lesson plan has the young scholars hunt for leprechauns, four-leaf clovers, and that lucky pot 'o gold.
Curated OER
Sentence Order: "Tell Me Why!"
In this sentence order worksheet, pupils rearrange words to correctly put sentences together. Then they complete sentences in their own words. There are sixteen questions to complete.
Curated OER
Salt Marsh in a Pan
Students create a model of a salt marsh to discover the impact of pollution and human activities on water-based habitats including bays and the ocean. They recognize the relationship between natural and developed areas. Students impact...
Curated OER
Printing Practice Letter P
In this printing worksheet, students trace 4 uppercase letter P's. The first box provides arrows that guide students in tracing the letter.