National Park Service
Should America Have Gone to War in 1812?
Using an incredibly engaging activity and detailed lesson plan, your learners will serve as advisors to President Madison on whether to participate in what would become the War of 1812! Utilize a variety of effective instructional...
Rochester Institute of Technology
Biomechanical Joint
Discuss mechanical advantage and how the human body moves/works. Learners focus on bioengineering, working together to build a functioning mechanical arm. Additionally, they analyze an air muscle, discussing its appropriate use in humans.
Curated OER
Michelle Kwan: Heart of a Champion
Who is a champion to your class? Elementary and middle schoolers think of a role-model from their lives. Then, in their journals, they write evidence of that person's perseverance. They identify the character trait of perseverance with...
Curated OER
Putting the Sitcom into Perspective
Students identify and compare similar characters and situations in stories and dramas from and about various cultures, illustrate with classroom dramatizations, and discuss how theater reflects life.
Curated OER
Scribbleboy
Fifth graders are introduced to the text, SCRIBBLEBOY, discussing the cover page for clues to the genre. They discuss the ordinary surroundings contrasted by the graffiti and the words and phrases used to provide information about the...
California Academy of Science
Make your own Antelope Horns!
What are those horns for anyway? Little ones discuss the shape, texture, and purpose of horns found on animals such as the deer and antelope. They then pair up and make their own set of antelope horns to wear while visiting a local...
Curated OER
Sonnet Explication
Students analyze close readings of poems, looking up words in the dictionary, and discussing the major parts of dictionary definitions, including word origin and parts of speech. They examine sonnets, then compare/contrast their findings.
Curated OER
Allocating Energy from a Photovoltaic System
How much electricity do you use in a day? Physics fanatics calculate their energy use by consulting a chart of the watts required to run typical household appliances. They compare power to amounts of electric energy used or generated....
Curated OER
Feeding in the Flow
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has developed a tremendous library of ocean-themed lessons that can be used in a variety of science settings. "Feeding in the Flow" is one of those activities; Its focus is on...
Curated OER
Oral Presentation
Practice public speaking in this oral presentation lesson plan. Middle schoolers list the characteristics of a powerful speaker. They watch a video of two speakers, compare them and discuss the qualities of a good speech. Afterwards,...
Curated OER
Ready, Set, Tech
Students oabsrve pictures of a Brachiosaurus and an Apotosaurus. They discuss how features are similar, and different. Students list data in a Venn diagram. They visit book mark websites. Students write three facts on how to saurpods...
Curated OER
History of Japan
Students research the mythological and factual founding of early Japan. They compare and contrast the two accounts. As an assessment activity, they fill out a chart that compares and contrasts the facts and myths surrounding Japanese...
Curated OER
Sort It Out and Match It Up
Middle schoolers identify objects that are the same shape and size. They compare and contrast attributes of two-and three-dimensional objects using appropriate vocabulary. Pupils justify an extension of a geometric pattern to explain...
Curated OER
Dam-it? I Just Don't Know!?!
Eighth graders analyze two different large dams: The Hoover Dam and the Three Gorges Dam. They compare and contrast the two dams.
Curated OER
Which Shall We Pick?
Students compare and contrast the value of different organizations in their community. They listen to subjective and objective perspectives to make a decision. They use the decision-making process to decide which organization needs...
Curated OER
Tribal Traits
Fourth graders will analyze the similarities and differences between early Texas Indian tribes, compare and contrast two tribes, select to which tribe they would rather belong, and determine their location today.
Curated OER
Burial Practices and Memorials
Students compare and contrast burial practices in ancient Egypt, the former Soviet Union, and the United States.
Curated OER
Pros and Cons of Advertising
Twelfth graders compare and contrast television commercials. They write paragraphs explaining how different company commercials for the same product can confuse consumers.
Curated OER
When You Put It All Together!
Students review information from variety of news sources found on the Internet, and compare and contrast the information.
Curated OER
Japan: perception, images, myths
Students compare and contrast American and Japanese social and cultural values, attitudes, characteristics, and patterns of behavior. They identify problems that North Americans have in doing business in Japan. They appreciate the...
Curated OER
Nonprofits?
Learners distinguish the nonprofit sector from the for-profit sector. They define and give examples of nonprofit organizations, name and illustrate examples in the local community and compare and contrast nonprofits to the for-profit...
Curated OER
Comparison of Political Life
Students research and compare and contrast the political leadership of three cultures.
Curated OER
Female Artists
Students listen to excerpts from "History of Women Artists for Students" and discuss the artwork of three artists. They compare and contrast the styles of art and investigate a CD-Rom of famous artists.
Curated OER
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Past and Present
Pupils use a Venn diagram to compare and contrast the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette as it was in the past and as it is today.