Curated OER
Coast-to-Coast Book Design-Part 3: Brainstorming the Book
Middle schoolers examine the process of designing a book and identify the steps necessary to publish a book. In small groups they analyze ABC books, and discuss the similarities and differences between the books. Students then brainstorm...
Curated OER
Who is the President Now?
Students discover the presidents of the United States using digital tools. In life skills lesson plan, students use PowerPoint and SMART Board technology to match presidents of the United States to their photographs.
Curated OER
The Civil War in Historical Fiction and Historical Accounts
Eighth graders examine life during the Civil War through various readings. They compare and contrast a novel they read in class to one they chose on the subject. They work together as a class to produce a newspaper displaying the...
Curated OER
The Lorax
Third graders identify and list five problems presented in The Lorax by Dr. Seuss. They relate these problems to current environmental issues and debate how to make a difference then participate in different activities to improve their...
Curated OER
Setting Goals with Benjamin Franklin
Students discuss historical accounts and accomplishments of "Benjamin Franklin" which exemplify good character traits. They create a display of paper keys which describe these traits. They relate these traits to their future goals and...
Curated OER
Use or Make a Table
For this make a table worksheet, students read real world questions and write an equation to match the equation. Next, they solve the equation. This one-page worksheet contains two problems.
Curated OER
Biomimicry: Working Together, Cooperative Design
Students explore the concept of biomimicry. In this cooperative design lesson, students consider how cooperation is connected to nature and then collaborate to create their own cooperative designs for the future.
Curated OER
Our Treasured Trees
Students discuss natural resources and renewable resources with trees being considered renewable resources which need special attention. In this Earth science lesson plan, students write a list of reasons for why it would be good to stop...
Curated OER
And Still The Turtle Watched
Third graders discuss ways to be kind to the Earth. In this conservation lesson, 3rd graders listen to the story And Still The Turtle Watched by Sheila MacGill-Callalhan. They compare how the early people treated the Earth to how we...
Curated OER
Be Kind to our Earth
Learners make a list of ideas on ways we can take care of our Earth and complete a class project planning sheet where they problem solve to help save the Earth. In this Earth lesson plan, students also play a conservation charades game.
Curated OER
Women's Brains
Students experience an example of bias in science dealing with women and gender.
Curated OER
Ellen Ochoa
Young scholars identify who Ellen Ochoa was and how she has accomplished many things in her life, such as, inventions. They demonstrate their knowledge of the invention process by creating their own invention while using problem solving...
Curated OER
Caps for Sale/Color Words
Students read the book "Caps for Sale." Students model reading a sentence and using one color cap and the color word (written in its color). They match the color word (written in its color) to the correct color hat.
Curated OER
Personal Responsibility
Students write in their journals. In this writing and responsibility lesson, students write about personal responsibility. They have three writing choices to choose from that all deal with this central theme.
Curated OER
Environmental Destruction in Vietnam
Students watch video clip on Environmental Destruction of Vietnam, select and discuss passages from essay, Resuscitation of the Dead Earth, that emphasize destruction to the land, and write essay on whether United States should have been...
Curated OER
Lesson Plan on Benjamin Franklin
Fifth graders utilize Internet research methods to gather information about the inventions of Benjamin Franklin. They prepare oral reports and present them to the class incorporating at least one visual aid.
Curated OER
Comparison of King Lear and King James
Students learn of the comparisons between Shakespeare's play, King Lear, and the actual King James. They make historical connections through internet research.
Curated OER
Pumpkin Writing Paper
In this writing worksheet, learners use the blank lined paper with a colorful pumpkin border for any kind of writing: reports, poetry, stories or letters.
Curated OER
Back To School Crossword
In this reading worksheet, pupils analyze 10 words which pertain to Back to school time. Students read clues and fit the words in the crossword puzzle.
Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD)
Ascd: Building Literacy in Social Studies: Ch 1: Reading Social Studies Texts
Article provides excellent tips and strategies for building comprehension and critical thinking skills in Social Studies. It describes some of the challenges students have with reading and understanding their textbooks.
PBS
Pbs: Academic Vocabulary in the Common Core: Disciplinary Vocabulary
This series of four video segments features a social studies teacher and a chemistry teacher demonstrating the integration of academic vocabulary into their classrooms. These segments feature the incorporation of general vocabulary (Tier...
Vocabulary University
My vocabulary.com: List of Themes for Social Studies & History
This is a list of interactive vocabulary activities for social studies and history.
Quizlet
Quizlet: 8th Grade: Social Studies Vocabulary: Flashcards
This set of interactive flashcards focuses on social studies vocabulary terms and a fill-in-the-blank sentence using each term.
Other
Reading Quest: Making Sense of Social Studies
Teaching students to read well in areas other than language arts requires teaching and reinforcing the kinds of reading strategies taught here. There are 27 strategies, ranging from brainstorming to word mapping. The site includes PDF...