Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Confronting Two Challenges-One Physical, One Intellectual

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young scholars examine how the author confronted the challenges of a new language and a new culture. They examine how the author's penchant for running featured in his adjustment to the culture of Fuling and in his learning of the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Allele and Phenotype Frequencies in Rock Pocket Mouse Populations

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
In the deserts of Arizona and New Mexico, some tiny creatures show just how quickly natural selection can turn a mutation into an advantageous adaptation. Watch a video about rock pocket mice, who show that one small change can make all...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Unique Plants of the Biomes

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine how the earth is divided into different biomes that are characterized by a distinctive climate.  In this earth's surface lesson students identify adaptations of plants in specific biomes. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth Day Lesson

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students analyze Earth science by answering environmental study questions. In this Earth Day activity, students read the book The Lorax and identify the themes within it. Students define several recycling vocabulary terms and create an...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Rigors of Learning a New Language

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students consider the immensity of the the task the author undertook to learn Chinese. They examine the rigors involved in learning another language-particularly one as notoriously difficult as Chinese and compare aspects of Chinese...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Off to the Future

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students read a handout and predict the position of the San Andreas Fault far in the future. In this future world lesson plan, students use a map worksheet to demonstrate the path of the Pacific Plate millions of years from now.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Africa, A Look Through the Eyes of A Child

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders read literature about Africa, examine physical characteristics of the continent, explore animals native to Africa, and discuss distance between Africa and locations in the United States.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Sahara Desert

For Teachers K - 3rd
The children will create a watercolor picture of the Sahara Desert and label it.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Trekking to Timbuktu: The Geography of Mali -Teacher Version

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers investigate the geography of Mali. They locate Mali on a satellite map, explore various websites, describe the landscape and climate, label a map, and write an essay about the Niger Riger.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Trekking to Timbuktu: Restoring the Past

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers investigate the environmental factors that threaten Timbuktu. Students investigate what measures are being taken to restore their mosques, and the condition of their ancient manuscripts. Middle schoolers discover...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Desert Animals

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers survive within an ecosystem, an animal must be physically and behaviorally adapted to the conditions of its environment.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Sidewinder and the Sidewinder

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Learners compare and contrast the Sidewinder of the U.S. Southwest and the Namib Desert. They watch and discuss a video, complete a journal entry, color templates of both types of sidewinders, and discuss the differences between the two.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Biomes of The World

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Learners research different biomes, using links from global pen pal letters.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Topography of Africa

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students study Africa's diverse landscape and investigate how these features impact the available water supply, food sources, and population distribution of the continent. They compare topographical features and their affect on each...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Map Your State: Regions of Arizona

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders define vocabulary and locate physical features on maps.  In this mapping instructional activity, 4th graders explore regions of Arizona through landforms found on topographic maps.  Students research the history...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Color of Soil

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students are introduced to the Munsell System of Color Notation that is used for direct comparison of soils anywhere in the world. They become familiar with hue, value and chroma notations, identify colors that act as clues to the...
Lesson Plan
Desert Discoveries

Invent - A - Saurus

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders get to invent their own dinosaur! This is done by using a very clever worksheet embedded in the plan. The worksheet leads them through naming their dinosaur by having explanations of the Latin terminology that is used with...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rivers that Flow from the Continental Divide: The Journey of Two Rivers

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students explore river routes. In this social studies lesson, students trace the route of a river from its source and discuss the Continental Divide. Students draw the route the river takes and name the states it flows through. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Carter Center’s Work in Sub-Saharan Africa

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students explore the state of Sub-Saharan Africa. In this geography skills lesson, students examine the work of the Carter Center in Africa as they investigate the strengths and weaknesses of linguistic, tribal, and religious...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth: The Apple of our Eye

For Teachers K - 5th
Students are led through a demonstration in which they cut open an apple, which represents the earth. They follow through the hands-on lesson, cutting the apple into various portions--each representing some aspect of the earth.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Language Arts: Novel Guides

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students discuss the Revolution and consider the causes of the war, the attitudes of the colonists, and the position of the British. Then students explore American involvement in wars since the country's inception.
Lesson Plan
NOAA

Climographs

For Teachers 6th - 8th
In the second lesson of a five-part series, young climatologists use provided temperature and precipitation data to create climographs of three different cities. They then analyze these climographs to develop a general understanding...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Confronting Two Challenges--One Physical, One Intellectual

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine the challenges of a new language and culture. For this cultural lesson, student read Running by Peter Hessler and discuss obstacles faced, including the language barrier. Students write an essay about a time they...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Narrative Cartoons

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students create narrative cartoons based on the activities of the Peace Corps. For this narrative cartoons lesson plan, students create comic strips where they draw and write about various activities that the Peace Corps is involved in.