Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Brutal British

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students read and predict the outcome of a story set during the Civil War, then map the story. To prepare for the activity, students determine why it is important to look at historical events from all angles by using primary and...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Recording Electricity in the Brain

For Students 9th - 12th
In this electricity in the brain worksheet, students read about neurons, electrical impulses, brain activity and EEGs that measure electrical activity in the brain. They answer four critical thinking questions about brain activity.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Basics of Journalism: A Little Preview

For Teachers 10th - Higher Ed
Students define journalism and identify the basic components of a news story. In this journalism basics lesson, students define the word journalism, read a new story, and break it into parts with two major characteristics for each...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Non-Violence Means "Doing Nothing"

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students reflect on violence and non-violence.  In this World History lesson, students read an article by Gandhi then write an essay as to whether they agree or disagree with his thoughts.  Students then share all their ideas...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Old Hickories

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students analyze historical events to develop a historical perspective. In this critical analysis lesson, students read excerpts, primary sources and other materials in order to understand the Native American Removal that occurred during...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Utopian Visions

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

I Wish I Were a Butterfly

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students inquire about biology by reading a children's book in class. In this insect lesson, students read the story "I Wish I Were a Butterfly" and identify the unique characteristics of butterflies and other insects. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Journey To Japan Through Poetry

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders gain an appreciation for writing, analyzing, reading and listening to poetry, viewing poems as a motivation for studying Japanese culture and tradition. They study and create their own haiku and tanka poems with illustrations.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Poet Naomi Shihab Nye

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students read and analyze poetry by Naomi Shihab Nye. They define stereotypes, view and discuss a video interview with Nye, present an oral reading of a poem, and write a persuasive letter to an author.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring the Mystery Genre

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners determine the story elements of typical mystery stories including characters and plot structure. They look at vocabulary that is common to mystery stories before reading and responding to mystery chapter books. Working in guided...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Jobs in the 21st Century

For Teachers K - 5th
Young scholars understand the tools that will be used in the lab in the 21st century. In this job preparation lesson, students experiment and understand how to use lab equipment. Young scholars will write about the lab tools they've...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Treasure Chest

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Learners explore Chicago in the fur-trading era. In this Chicago lesson, students discover what life what like during this time. Learners read an historical fiction story about life in the fur-trade era. Students view replicas of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Story Summaries; The Three Little Pigs

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore language arts by completing a graphic organizer in class. In this story structure instructional activity, students read the classic tale "The Three Little Pigs" and discuss the main characters, conflict and setting....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fossils

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Learners complete a unit on fossils. They read and discuss informational handouts, define key vocabulary terms, answer discussion questions, create a geologic timeline and a timeline of their own life, analyze bones, and create a fossil...
Lesson Plan
PBS

The March on Washington and Its Impact

For Teachers 7th - 12th Standards
High schoolers read Martin Luther King, Jr's speech that he gave in Washington. They identify the social conditions that led to the civil rights movement. They discuss the significance of the March on Washington.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Insights of American Blacks During the 19th and 20th Centuries in New Haven, Connecticut

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Learners examine the contributions of African Americans in New Haven, Connecticut in the 19th and 20th centuries. After being introduced to new vocabulary, they review the elements of autobiographies and read excerpts of African...
Activity
Curated OER

Short Story Group PowerPoint Project

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students choose a short story from the class literature book. They find information about the author. They read the short story from the literature textbook. They create a PowerPoint to retell the short story.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Stephen Crane: The Open Boat

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the genre of American literary naturalism by reading,"The Open Boat" by Stephen Crane. They examine the relationship of man and nature through analysis of the characters, narration and descriptive vocabulary.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Viral Invaders

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students conduct a critical investigation of the West Nile Virus. They assess the relationship between the sources of information and their credibility. Students use their findings to create a public health campaign about the virus.
Lesson Plan
PBS

Looking for Lincoln Throughout His Life

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Young historians gather information about Abraham Lincoln through a variety of activities. They match vocabulary words with pictures to create a timeline. Additionally, learners read books and articles that teach them...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Intro to Witch on Blackbird Pond

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders read Witch on Blackbird Pond and understand the difficulties of traveling to America during the colonial period.  In this Witch on Blackbird Pond lesson, 4th graders compare the choices we have in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Natural Disasters

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Young scholars read the book "Tsunami!" and discuss natural disasters and how they can prepare. This lesson is much more than a study of tsunamis. The lesson is chock-full of ways to study the Japanese culture across the curriculum....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Teens on Trial

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students read about the public reaction to the conviction of Alex and Derek King, and explore the issue of child offenders being tried and sentenced as adults. They compose letters to Florida Governor Jeb Bush, outlining their opinion on...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Thou Dost Protest

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students analyze recent anti-American protests around the world, using Pakistan as a starting point. They read and discuss, In Streets of Pakistani Cities, Cries of 'Death to America! students develop and present case studies of protests.