Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Swing your Partner: The Basics of Square Dancing

For Teachers Pre-K - 6th
Students perform square dancing steps. For this square dancing lesson, students view a video to learn the basic steps.  Students discuss the history of the dance and perform with partners. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Monkey Dance: Exploring Balinese Culture

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore Balinese culture. In this Balinese integrated fine arts lesson, students listen to a podcast of "The Monkey Dance," taking notes about important features of the dance. Students participate in a jigsaw cooperative...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Molas from South America

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders research world geography by creating a class presentation. In this South American lesson, 3rd graders read assigned text regarding the customs and traditions of different Indian communities in South America. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Discovering the Wetlands!

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students name wetland plant and animal life.  In this ecosystem instructional activity students go birdwatching and interpret native plants through art. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Problem Solving/ Holistic Lesson Plan: Paper Structure

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students observe geometric relationships in buildings and structures. They reason why structures are constructed in a specific way by applying geometric concepts. They construct a shelter using their geometric knowledge.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dealing With Death

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Young scholars watch and analyze a video dealing with the topic of death. They answer discussion questions, identify examples of how death is represented in popular media, write a poem, create a memory book, and write a letter to someone...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

An Episode on Australian Animals

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders identify and analyze various ecological regions of Australia in order to identify more about some of the animals that inhabit the area. Students record information they discover on a chart provided that is assessed at end...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reliving History Through Slave Narratives

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students read slave narratives and retell the stories to the class, identifying sensory details. For this slavery lesson, students discuss the importance of sensory details, then read the slave narratives looking for specific examples. ...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Utopian Visions

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners examine Sir Thomas More's Utopian vision. In this philosophy lesson, students read Utopia and determine the pros and cons of Utopian societies. Learners then create and present monologues of residents of the Utopia.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A World of Myths

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students read and write myths. In this world mythology lesson, students read and analyze myths from various cultures and then recognize their attributes as they write their own myths to explain natural phenomena.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dali & Desnos

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners explore surreal art and poetry. In this visual arts lesson plan, students examine works by André Breton, Robert Desnos, Salvador Dalí, and Joan Miro. Learners then apply the techniques in the works they analyze to their own poetry.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lewis and Clark: Artful Recordings

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students examine the nature journals of Lewis and Clark. In this primary source analysis activity, students research the journals that the members of the Corps of Discovery kept during the expedition and then conduct further research on...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Playing with Puns

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students examine the wit of characters in two plays. In this drama lesson, students read The Shakespeare Stealer by Gary L. Blackwood and Twelfth Night by Shakespeare. Students analyze the puns used in both plays and write essays that...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sundiata, Mali’s Lion King

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students investigate the history of Mali. In this African cultures lesson, students research the impact of Sundiata Keita as king of Mali, recognize the significance of historical Malian festivals, and create character masks to be worn...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Twain: Tom Sawyer—Mythic Adventurer

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students take a closer look at archetypes. In this characterization lesson, students examine the setting and the characters of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer as they read and analyze the novel. Students consider how Twain mythically...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Greek Mythology: Cultures and Art

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Young scholars examine literary arts. In this Greek mythology lessons, students read Greek myths and select characters from the myths to study. Young scholars create watercolor illustrations of the characters, write short stories about...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

We Are The Freedom Riders

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students consider the role of the Freedom Riders. In this American Civil Rights lesson, students watch videos, listen to lectures, and conduct research regarding the participants in the Freedom Ride protest. Several weblinks, worksheets,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pioneer America: Legendary Westerners - Can One Person Really Make a Difference?

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders research famous Americans from the Westward Movement and complete an interview. In this Westward Movement instructional activity, 4th graders work in pairs to research someone who was important during this time period....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Maurie Japarta Ryan, Oral History Analysis

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars research Australian History as it relates to the separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families. In this Maurie Japarta Ryan instructional activity, students apply specific...
Lesson Plan
Global Oneness Project

What Does it Mean to Be Resilient?

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Imagine the determination it would take to build a helicopter out of scrap. Now imagine doing it while hindered by the effects of polio. Everything is Incredible, a short film by Tyler Bastian, introduces Agustin who has been...
Lesson Plan
Civil War Trust

Civil War Newspaper

For Teachers 8th Standards
One photograph can represent so much more than the images on the film. Eighth graders select a photograph from the Civil War era and conduct additional research based on the subject matter from the picture. Once they complete the...
Lesson Plan
ARKive

Adaptations for Movement

For Teachers 6th - 8th
What animals are best suited for moving around a rainforest, or a desert? Design your own animal species based on a particular habitat, focusing on the characteristics it will need for optimal movement. Great as a group lesson or...
Lesson Plan
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum

Ask Not What Your Country Can Do for You

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Ask not what the lesson here can do for you, but what you can do with the lesson. The answer is quite a lot! Young scholars revisit JFK's famous inaugural address with a focus on his plea for civic engagement. There's a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pantomime

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
There's no doubt that dramatic play and creative movement are both essential for a healthy early childhood education. Here is a lesson that promotes both. Youngsters think of activities and emotions. The words are written on pieces of...