Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Photovoltaics and Solar Energy

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students experiment with photovoltaic cells and determine the energy use of their appliances. In this renewable energy lesson, students calculate the energy emitted by a photovoltaic cell through an inquiry-based lab. They keep track of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solid Waste and Recycling

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students demonstrate effects of waste on environment and ways of reducing it, observe how much packaging goes into bag lunches each day, and survey their families to assess awareness levels and household recycling practices. Lessons all...
Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Native American Cultures Across the U.S.

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners examine how American Indians are represented in today's society. They read stories, analyze maps, and complete a chart and create an illustration about a specific tribe.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Railroads and Settlement of the Great Plains

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Enhance your American literature unit with this resource, in which readers access the Nebraska Studies website and read about "Railroads and Settlement." They search for a photograph of some aspect of the railroad from the Prairie...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Finding Meaning in the Badge

For Teachers Pre-K - K
Children who are three to five years old study two rank badges from the Qing dynasty to develop an understanding of social rank, language skills, and symbolism. The lesson is discussion-based and requires learners to compare and contrast...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Survival Strategies and Adaptation in Insects

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders investigate insects and their adaptations that help them survive. In this survival strategies lesson, 3rd graders view photographs of insects and discuss the adaptations that each one uses to survive, including camouflage...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Good Citizenship and Philanthropy

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students discuss how to work together to solve community problems. In this community problems lesson plan, students discuss how their home, school, and community could benefit from group work and philanthropy. They read different...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Begin Reading Seedfolks

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students are introduced to the book Seedfolks and the concept of community. For this Seedfolks literature study lesson, the first in a unit, the teacher reads the first half of the book and students answer comprehension questions and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Vanishing Rainforests: How can We Save Them?

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students focus in on the Amazon Rain forest. They research about various plants and animals that exist in our rain forests. Students develop knowledge of resources that come from our rain forests. They analyze the cause/effect of rain...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Brucemore Mansion

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students take a closer look at Brucemore Mansion. In this Iowa history lesson, students research what life was like at the mansion during the Gilded Age and through history. Students also research the responsibilities of servants as well...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Get to Know Your City

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders research the history of their home city and how it's development was influenced by different groups of people. They present their research information to the class.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Living and Working Now and Long Ago

For Teachers K - 1st
Learners visit an online museum and storybook to examine what life was like for African Americans during and after the Civil War.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Imag(in)ing History Across Generations

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students find an image depicting events of September 11 or after and write a letter to their future grandchldren explaining the image and why those chose to preserve it for them.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century Natural Dyes

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders explore the work of Americans when it came to coloring materials. In this interdisciplinary lesson, 2nd graders follow the provided steps to make natural goldenrod dye from scratch.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Omaha Race Riot of 1919

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students analyze primary documents and images. Students organize and evaluate the causes and results of the Omaha race riot of 1919. Students study and recognize key personalities involved. Students relate history to certain quotes...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Historical and Economic Impact of Military Bases in South Carolina

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders examine the history of South Carolina's military bases. In this South Carolina history lesson plan, 8th graders discover details about the history and economic impact of military bases in the state. Students analyze...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Technology Blackout Day

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students describe the impact of modern technology inventions on daily life. They create a graph of the class's favorite item of technology and draw a picture of their favorite piece of modern technology.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Entrepreneurs in History

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine the contributions of American entrepreneurs. For this industrialization lesson, students complete the provided handouts to determine how Vanderbilt, Carnegie, Hill, and Rockefeller impacted American society. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Watershed Lesson Plan

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students are introduced to the concepts of a watershed, stream flow and water quality. This five-day plan is an excellent way to introduce students to the concepts involved. They create their own watershed using a paper bag, water and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Measuring Biodiversity

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers collect species data from a mock intertidal community. For this biology lesson, students graph their data and analyze the species in it. They construct a species accumulation curve and present it to class.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Effects of Urban Growth

For Teachers 8th - 11th
Learners explore population growth in the United States and the impact it has had on society. First, they brainstorm the reasons for population growth and the results of these increases. Then, they design surveys, record results, and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

No More Traffic Jams: Lesson 3

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Traffic is a very real concern for any Urban dweller. After watching a video showing various traffic issues and solutions, learners group up to discuss and develop innovative traffic solutions of their own. They explore vocabulary and...
Lesson Plan
ReadWriteThink

Defining Literacy in a Digital World

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
What skills are necessary to interact with different types of text? Twenty-first century learners live in a digital world and must develop a whole new set of skills to develop media literacy. Class members engage in a series of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Workers on Sea and on Land

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students use photos of sailors and workers in the shipbuilding industry as a reference point to generate questions and investigate the working conditions for resource industry workers in 19th and 20th centruy Atlantic Canada and the...