Curated OER
Soulfully Remembered
Students study about the Mexican holiday Day of the Dead to explore another culture's attitude towards death. They create collages reflecting the interests of and memories about someone who has passed away.
Curated OER
All the News That's Fit to Blog
Learners critique three Web logs, each of which offers first-hand accounts, but reflect different points-of-view, on the war in Iraq; students write a response to one of the entries and analyze what they learned about the war from the...
Curated OER
Make It or Break It
Students study about "breaking news" by analyzing the New York Times' coverage of the July 2006 bombing of seven commuter trains in Mumbai, India. They write their own breaking news stories for homework.
Curated OER
TE Lesson: Fighting Back!
Students examine the roles of the immune system in keeping the body healthy. They see how engineers contribute to this process by creating antibiotics, and vaccinations. They discuss how an astronauts' immune system may be suppressed...
Curated OER
Who's on Trial Here?
Students discuss privacy issues that public personalities encounter when they are accused of committing a crime after reading an article in The New York Times. Students then write essays after researching several trials of public...
Curated OER
Changing of the Guard
Students reflect on their knowledge of democracy. After reading an article, they examine current plans for the placement of a democracy in Iraq. In groups, they research past regime changes and democratization attempts and discuss the...
Curated OER
Genetic Drift
Students use a mathematical simulation of genetic drift to answer questions about the factors that influence this evolutionary process. They run a series of simulations varying allele frequency and population size and then analyze their...
National First Ladies' Library
Politics! Politics! The Emergence of Political Parties in the U.S.
High schoolers are split into six small groups which focus on one of six websites, that tell the story of the emergence of the Federalist and Democratic-Republican parties at the end of the 18th century. They compile a chronological list...
Curated OER
Voting And Elections
Students examine the voting practices of the past several presidential elections while using data to determine the influence of different factors. They identify the reasons for high or low voter turnout and then display the outcome of...
Curated OER
Life in Pictures
Students share opinions about the typical images that represent life in New York City. They create their own scavenger hunts to find images that represent the intrinsic character of their respective communities.
Curated OER
Buying the Writes
Students explore the connections between non-fiction and fiction best-seller lists and current events that are shaping readers' lives and choices.
Curated OER
Smoke and Mirrors
Learners study the changing public perception of cigarettes over the century. They create a visual timeline for classroom display, and design a survey on people's views on cigarette smoking for homework. In addition, they design and...
Curated OER
Getting Ready for Success
Third graders review the poem and activity from the previous session and then work in groups of four to tape skill strips in the appropriate category on a Venn Diagram. Next, a spokesperson from each group gives a report summarizing...
Curated OER
Spaced Out
Students explore the transit of Venus and the information that this minieclipse provides about the distance between the Earth and the sun. They create their own astronomical units.
Curated OER
Wildlife Animal Skulls
Students observe skulls of wild animals and determine their characteristics for survival. They evaluate the skuylls to discover the diets, and if the animals were predators or prey. They complete worksheets on mystery skulls.
Curated OER
BLAST Algorithm
Students explore a series of activities on using BLAST. In this biology lesson plan, students explain the significance of BLAST in DNA query. They give real world applications of BLAST.
Curated OER
The Seasons
Second graders determine the ways in which deciduous trees lose their leaves by investigating fallen leaves and how the weather changes throughout the seasons. They obtain knowledge about why and what causes the weather to change...
Curated OER
A Burning Desire to Move?
Students consider the dangers of living around active volcanoes. They develop media campaigns to encourage different groups of residents around Mount Vesuvius to consider moving.
Curated OER
Discriminating Issues
Students examine how U.S. Law Defines Discrimination In this lesson. They research the issues surrounding a variety of types of discrimination, and then write editorials analyzing legal and social positions on discrimination in the...
Curated OER
Faulty Powers?
Students explore the White House response to Richard A. Clarke's testimony and apology to the commission investigating the events of September 11, 2001.
National First Ladies' Library
First Ladies as Activists
Students choose a First Lady of the 20th century to research. Using both print and non-print sources, they identify the cause to which their First Lady gave her name, time, and energy. After researching, they right a press release...
Curated OER
Gobble, Gobble and Gobble Some More?
Students are taught about stomach capacity and they reflect on how overeating might affect the body. They discuss the biological effects of binge eating by reading and discussing the article "Ate Too Much? Tight Pants May Be the...
Curated OER
Redesigning Resumes
Ninth graders identify the elements of resumes and then design a resume to be used by an eighth grader applying for high school. In this resume lesson, 9th graders define resumes and work in teams to use computer software to design...
Curated OER
You Are Here
Students simulate a course with and without a guide as if they were an airplane with and without air traffic control. They read and discuss the article "For Airlines, Hands-On Air Traffic Control". They discuss challenges that air...