C-SPAN
Why Do Americans Not Vote in Elections?
In an age of inflamed politics, who votes, who doesn't vote, and why are the questions everyone is trying to answer. Pupils listen to scholars, journalists and data crunchers on voting statistics to make their own conclusions. A chart...
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Build Your Own Robot Arm
Engineers team up to design and construct an 18-inch-long robotic arm that can successfully pick up a paper cup. Each group is given the exact same set of materials, but it is up to them to decide what to use and how to use it. It is a...
Learning for Justice
Beauty is Skin Deep
If you are in need of a instructional activity on tolerance or the impact of media, this plan could be useful. The class begins with a brainstorming session in which they reflect on their own experiences with bias based on appearance....
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Engineered Music
Sound engineers investigate the structural design of a musical instrument, the recorder. They work in collaborative groups to choose an instrument to build out of everyday craft materials. It must be able to repeat a three-note sequence...
EdHelper
George Washington's Socks by Elvira Woodruff
A solid, straightforward book report form is an excellent addition to your literature unit. Class members note the main characters, point of view, plot elements, and other important details from a story, adding their favorite part...
Teaching Tolerance
Journalism for Justice
Roll the presses! Or at least have your class members participate in the time-honored tradition of the student press by creating their own newspapers or journalist pieces on a social problem. After conducting research and collaborating...
Curated OER
Journaling
Young scholars explore journal writing. In this writing lesson plan, students are given writing prompts such as "how the choices I make affect our water quality?" and use critical writing skills to express their feelings in a journal....
Curated OER
State Government Debt in Utah: Rapid Growth in Recent Years
Students examine growth of debt in Utah state government from 1991 to present, compare general obligation debt and revenue debt incurred by state, identify four primary methods used by governments to finance projects, and complete...
Curated OER
Cooperative Classroom Text Features Activities
Fifth graders examine text features and create a PowerPoint presentation. In this text features lesson, 5th graders go over Kagan Cooperative Learning Structures and text features before they choose one to include in a book and...
Curated OER
Fluid Thinking About Liquids and Solids
Second graders examine the physical characteristics of the different states of matter. In this chemistry lesson, 2nd graders observe how matter changes from one phase to another. They classify substances according to its type of matter.
Curated OER
Fish Farm: an open ended, student centered laboratory activity
Students are contacted by a fictitious company which raises tropical fish to do basic research for them so that they might keep their production costs down. They need to know the optimum salinity in which to hatch the brine shrimp that...
Curated OER
Marine & Aquatic Habitats Activities - Tidal Pools
Learners analyze the survival needs of different organisms and the conditions in a particular area that can affect these survival rates.
Curated OER
Blazing the Trail
Learning about proportions through measuring and mapping distances is the focus of this real-world math instructional activity that doubles as an activity. Mathematicians complete a course designed to measure and map locations in order...
Curated OER
Trait Variations for Survival
Young learners examine how different traits could give one organism an advantage over another. In groups, they view two different organisms in different environments. To end the lesson, they complete a Venn Diagram on the two organisms...
Curated OER
Puzzles With Partners
Students work together to complete puzzles. They practice their critical thinking skills and cooperative learning. They share their puzzles once they are complete.
Curated OER
Improving Literacy in the Biology Classroom via Genetic Disorders
Students read, write and reflect on Science articles, this approach will promote both literacy and critical thinking skills. Critical thinking skills learned in the science classroom from these activities will impact students in many...
Curated OER
Spot the Hoax
Students examine websites and use critical thinking skills to determine which one is real and which one is a hoax. They then discuss their criteria for deciding which website was real and which one was not.
Curated OER
Investigation - I've Got It
Students explore patterns by participating in a sorting activity. In this pattern identification lesson, students collaborate in a group and share their footwear in order to categorize each other's shoes based on similar characteristics....
Curated OER
Writing to Learn History: Annotations and Mini-Writes
Students use their critical thinking skills to write about historical events. In this historical perspectives instructional activity, students read documents about historical events and make annotations and marginal notes. Students then...
Curated OER
What and Why (Cause and Effect)
Students examine cause and effect. For this cause and effect lesson, students discuss examples of cause and effect that their instructor shares with them. Students identify examples of cause and effect in their own lives and then...
Curated OER
Leaf Arrangement: Kinetic Cognitive Connections
Students use critical thinking to identify leaf patterns. In this problem solving activity, student compare leaf patterns by "acting out" the positions and structures they see. This is a kinetic lesson plan where concepts are attained...
Curated OER
Analysis of the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct
Students examine primary resources to analyze pictures and documents related to the Pontysyllte Aqueduct (built by Thomas Telford) in Britain. In this critical-thinking lesson, students answer questions based on primary source documents...
Curated OER
How to keep a timecard in Excel
Students fill out a timecard of family activities in Microsoft Excel. In this Excel lesson plan, students use the program to fill in times they do various activities with their families.
Curated OER
My Mental Health
Students define mental health and complete a worksheet about themselves. In this mental health lesson, students evaluate themselves as they score their worksheet. Students discuss critical thinking questions about their...