Curated OER
U.S. State Reports
Students conduct Internet research on a chosen U.S. state. They include information about the history, climate, geography, symbols, and tourist attractions of their state, and write an original poem.
Curated OER
Re-Presenting Race in the Digital Age: "Who Can Pass"
Eleventh graders examine the relationship between race and class in historical and societal settings. They read and discuss the poem, "Passing," by Langston Hughes, analyze photographs by Yinka Shonibare, answer discussion questions,...
Curated OER
Citizens For the New Zoo
Third graders complete Internet research to find information about an animal and its basic needs. They design a model of a zoo habitat that would accommodate their animal. They write a letter of recommendation to a Zoo board of directors...
Curated OER
About Life: The Photographs of Dorthea Lange - Images of Children in Dorothea Lange's Photographs
Students examine how visual artists tell stories with their work. In this visual art instructional activity, students study two of Dorothea Lange's photographs to find elements of art and narrative content, use descriptive language when...
Curated OER
A Sense Of Water
Students examine several writings from both locals and Peace Corps volunteers from several African countries. Students reflect on how the writer's interactions with water are presented through the material. Students write their own pieces.
Curated OER
Biography of a River
Young scholars examine the importance of rivers. They conduct research on a select river, and develop a river biography that includes a century report, description, interviews, and an epitaph in the form of a Cinquain.
Curated OER
Chocolate Chaos
Second graders demonstrate the ability to examine the elements of a story (theme, plot, setting, mood) and characters, by discussing and writing about each. They have fun with chocolate related activities and enjoy reading about some...
Curated OER
A Round and A Round
Students practice singing rounds in daily warm-ups for 2 weeks prior to beginning this composition lesson. Students incorporate movement to the rhythm of each syllable, discuss syllables of words and their relationship to note values and...
Curated OER
Invent a Critter
Students create a living animal that could survive in at least one specific region and use the digital desert library to gather information. In this invent a critter instructional activity, students draw a picture of their animal, ...
Curated OER
Create a Computer Story
Second graders will create their own story and read it aloud. In this literacy/technology activity, 2nd graders use computer software to create their own story, which is read back to them while they write it. Afterward, the student...
Curated OER
Mosaic Pavement Panel
Students analyze Mosaic art and identify the tessellation process. In this Mosaic art instructional activity, students read information about Mosaic art and the tessellation process. Students compare mosaics from various civilizations...
Curated OER
Shakespeare Analysis
Eighth graders focus on the Shakespearian sonnet as a form and analyze the sonnet in terms of structure, the particular rhyme scheme of the quatrains and the rhyming couplet, the rhythm of iambic pentameter, as well as any figurative...
Curated OER
You Too Can Haiku
Students conduct Internet research and explain the history of Haiku. After listening and reading various examples of Haiku, students use their own vocabulary and practice their math skills to determine the correct number of syllables...
Curated OER
Haiku
Fourth graders create a haiku. They use a digial camera and file management techniques to save work. They also use a photo editor to manipulate the pictures. Finally, they create a PowerPoint presentation of their Haiku.
Curated OER
Rock N Rhythm & Rhyme
Students explore rhyming and rhythm. In this rhythm and rhyme instructional activity, students listen to the song, "A-Hunting We Will Go" and add new verses to the song with words that rhyme. Students use an interactive tool to create...
Curated OER
See Me, Feel Me, Hear Me, Describe Me!
Fifth graders read the poem "Root Cellar" and then close their eyes and describe objects that are placed in their hands.
Curated OER
Celebrating Saturn and Cassini
Young scholars use their notes from previous lessons to write a paper on Saturn or Cassini. They share their writings with the class. They discover how everyone has a different learning style.
Curated OER
Fall Similes
Students create descriptive autumn similes and write them on fall-themed paper. They first write the autumn simile, and then arrange the plants around the border of the paper. They use natural plants which must be pressed.
Curated OER
I Imagine
Students discuss the importance of using sensory words to describe objects; talking about words that refer to size, shape, texture, sound, smell, etc. They select a few objects around the classroom and use sensory words to describe.
Curated OER
Nouns Practice
In this noun worksheet, students read a poem and box in all nouns, write nouns that fit given descriptions, and circle nouns in sentences.
Curated OER
Electric Light Art
Students write a poem about a single work of art by Flavin. In this descriptive response lesson, students express their feelings about the work and organize words into phrases. Students arrange word phrases on paper to form...
Curated OER
Literature
Third graders study phrases, poetry and myths of Ancient Greece and Rome in these lessons.
Curated OER
Putting It All Together
Students organize their daily observation logs to write a nonfiction piece. They compare and contrast Saturn to other planets or write a summary. They use this piece of writing in future lessons.
Curated OER
If a Picture is Worth a Thousand Words...
Fourth graders take three different photographs representing the beginning, middle and end of their story. They use the Tool Factor program Fresco to add elements to enhance their creativity and make their writing come alive. They then...