Curated OER
Cracking Sticks
Students explore the letter /k/ in this instructional activity, and identify the /k/ sound in words. They read a tongue twister emphasizing the /k/ sound, and discuss that two letters make the /k/ sound - c and k. They then practice...
Curated OER
Steve and Harriet's Wedding
Students identify the digraph /sh/ in written and spoken language. After a brief discussion the independent and combined sounds of the phonemes /s/ and /h/ students practice identifying initial and final placement of the new digraph /sh/...
Curated OER
Naper Settlement: Post Activity, Journal Entry
Fourth graders have to place themselves in someone else' shoes through journal writing. They place themselves in someone else' shoes through journal writing. Students write the journal entry to another student in the class or a...
Curated OER
The Earth, Sun, Moon, And Stars
Fifth graders explore the solar system. In this solar system unit, 5th graders investigate numerous projects while rotating through learning centers. Students write about space and construct a space shuttle model. Students practice map...
Curated OER
From Foreground to Background
Students examine the composition of landscape paintings with an emphasis on foreground, middle ground, and background. They view and analyze a painting by Poussin, and create an original imagined landscape.
Curated OER
Still-Life Painting: Arranging Nature—Lesson 2
Learners choose meaningful objects for a still-life arrangement and paint it using watercolors. After reflecting on their choice of objects and composition, students begin to write an artist's statement.
Curated OER
Our Small World
Students explore indigenous and Native cultures, and promote appreciation for the contributions from these cultures. They explore the concept of cultural conservation and gain more understanding about the issues that tribes face today. ...
Curated OER
Shadow Puppets
Students examine the role of shadow puppets. They create their own puppet and put on a play.
Curated OER
The Notorious Hope Diamond: What Makes an American Legend?
Students view and discuss a video on the legend of the Hope Diamond then compare and contrast other tales such as Paul Bunyan, Pecos Bill and Johnny Appleseed. They analyze basic characteristics of these legends then use descriptive...
Curated OER
First Lady Fashions
Sixth graders research and explore the fashion of a certain time while identifying with the personal convictions and tastes of the famous first ladies of the past. They practice what they explore adjectives to describe what they see and...
Curated OER
Communities for All
Students explore potential community "barriers" that might prevent equal access for all people. In this disability awareness instructional activity, students identify potential barriers in their community that prevent people with...
Curated OER
Scaling the Blues
Young scholars identify musical characteristics of blues music and define the term 'scale.' They identify chromatic, major, pentatonic, and blues scales and label each key on a keyboard using letter names, sharps and flats.
Curated OER
We Like to Read with Enthusiasm
Students develop skills to become independent readers by telling a story with expression and enthusiasm. They read with expression and enthusiasm with a partner the books, "Duck on a Bike," and "David Goes to School," both by David Shannon.
Curated OER
Vacuuming the V's
Students exercise the skill of phoneme awareness with vocal gestures to create the sound of /v/. They review the way to print the letter "V," how to form the /v/ sound and create a hand gesture to help them recall the vocal gesture of...
Curated OER
The Water Cycle: Revising the Drafts
Learners explore states of matter by concentrating on the ways in which water moves between its solid, liquid, and gaseous states in a variety of Earth environments familiar to the students. Learners represent these movements in dance.
Curated OER
Bowls of Reconciliation
Students decorate bowls designed around a chosen theme. The project is based around Bellvue Museum's Israeli/Palestinian relations exhibit. While the theme may be too sophisticated for younger grades, the theme can be modified as needed.
Curated OER
The Painting Ballerina
Students read the book "The Painting Ballerina" by Gloria M. Buono, discuss the book, and use images from the story to create their own artistic paintings. Emphasis is placed upon literacy and creative exploration in this...
Curated OER
The Painting Ballerina
Students read one or two chapters from The Painting Ballerina, then pick a scene or idea from the story that is very vivid in their imagines and draw it. They display their finished works and talk about them as a class.
Curated OER
Create-a-Composition
Learners creatively express themselves by creating simple pieces of music.
Curated OER
Make Your Own Sketchbook
Students create individualized art "sketchbooks" by decorating pieces of cardboard and fastening blank sketch paper inside in this middle-level Art project. The lesson includes ideas for choosing weekly sketchbook "assignments" for the...
Curated OER
Truly Terrific Tessellations
Third graders discover how the use of pattern is evident in dance, math, and visual art. They create a tessellation pattern, as well as a square dance that show an understanding of the principles of design (balance, repetition, rhythm,...
Curated OER
Romare Bearden
Students examine and discuss a collage by the artist Romare Bearden. They analyze the impact of jazz on art, listen to jazz, and create an original collage.
Curated OER
The Latest Style
Students create a contemporary collage of a Northern Renaissance theme/story in an exciting group project. Through in-class examples and student work, the art of the Northern Renaissance is studied and analyzed.
Curated OER
A Capital Contest
Students analyze Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise and the competition for their design in which Brunelleschi's design was refused. The instructional activity concludes with students creating new doors for the U.S. Capitol Building in...