Curated OER
For All Time
Students explore the oldest building in their community, then if any have gargoyles. They explore the date of the buildings and what types of materials were used to build the building.
Curated OER
Volcanoes
Fifth graders study volcanoes. They watch a demonstration that represents the eruption of a volcano and discuss the similarities and differences between the model and a real volcano.
Curated OER
External Influences 1
Students discover the main objectives of the government. They apply economic data to different scenerios. They present their findings to the class.
Curated OER
The Reservations
Third graders investigate the concept of a reservation and how it effects the lives of Native American indian tribes. They conduct research with the help of guiding questions to find the correct type of information. Students take notes...
Curated OER
Auditing the Energy-Guzzlers in Your Home
Students identify the energy sources in their community as renewable or non-renewable resources. Using their homes, they identify the types of energy they use to heat and power it. They calculate the amount of electricity used by each...
Curated OER
International Summit on Asia
Students consider different aspects of Asia to determine which Asian country they think would be the best location for the American business development. They engage in a series of lessons designed to examine regions of Asia,...
Curated OER
The Artist as Entrepreneur: Do I Get a Job or Make a Job?
Pupils discover the differences in being an entrepreneurial artist and an employed artist. They explore the tax codes, copyright laws and fringe benefits of being an employee versus an independent contractor.
Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media
Immigrant Discrimination
For a class learning about Chinese and Irish immigration in America, here's a great starting lesson plan. It has your critical thinkers examining song lyrics, the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, and a political cartoon, and finally...
Curated OER
Social Studies: Exploring Japan
Fourth graders examine the culture and environment of Japan, beginning with a KWL chart. They use clay and cups of water to construct representations of the Japanese Islands. After designing flags representing farming and food, 4th...
North Carolina State University
Pipe Cleaner Towers
Small groups work together to create a tower out of 15 pipe cleaners under a set of imposed limitations. First, restrict team members to use only one arm, and then remove the use of spoken language. There is also a time limit. The...
Curated OER
Not Getting the News about the Stamp Act
How did American colonists react to the Stamp Act of 1765? Your young historians will examine primary source material by reading excerpts from a transcription of the Pennsylvania Gazette and then identifying the sentiments expressed...
Curated OER
Budget Mania
Students examine several examples of budgets to develop a facility with the components of its formation. Income, expenses, and expenditures are considered and itemized for this instructional activity.
C-SPAN
Should States Shift to Mail-In Voting during the Coronavirus Pandemic?
With the coronavirus pausing many norms in American society, officials are trying to decide how to safely hold voting in the 2020 presidential election. Using curated video clips, including speeches from Congress, journalists, and...
Curated OER
Video Game Violence: Explore Possible Impacts
Introduce middle schoolers to the issue of video game violence with a multifaceted approach. Learners complete a gaming survey, as well as read and discuss a news feature about violent video game sales and a handout on stimulus...
Curated OER
Cooking Terms
Using culinary text books, matching exercises, and an "Old Maid" style card game, classroom chefs learn and distinguish cooking vocabulary. They identify terms and techniques used in a chicken/vegetable stir fry demonstration.
Curated OER
Bridging the gap between the U.S. and Cuba
Eleventh graders examine the events that led to the strained relationship between Cuba and the United States. In this US History instructional activity, 11th graders create an illustrated timeline of Cuba-U.S. relations. ...
Curated OER
Not Just a Corny Idea
Young scholars explore ways in which ethanol can be created using alternate energy sources.
Curated OER
Ghost Towns
Fourth graders research and complete a worksheet to understand why towns in Utah became ghost towns. In this ghost town lesson, 4th graders meet with an official to explore what makes a town thrive. Students create original posters...
Curated OER
Donkeys and Elephants and Voters, Oh My!
Students celebrate party politics. In this American politics lesson plan, students discover what the 2 main political parties in the country are and discuss their functions. Students then participate in a classroom simulation that...
Curated OER
Investigation 9 - Bird Study
Fourth graders examine specific bird characteristics and become more aware of the ecosystems that support each bird. They engage in bird walks, mapping the areas where they find evidence of bird activity.
Curated OER
Comparing World Religions
Sixth graders participate in a lesson of comparing the religions of the world. They conduct research using the essential questions provided in the lesson. There is a rubric for the writing assignment for assessment.
Curated OER
High Profiles
Students research and write newspaper articles about current world leaders, using a New York Times International article as a model. They research a current world leader's personal background and political history.
Curated OER
Empire State-Building
Students explore how empires around the globe have impacted the world in which they have existed. They analyze whether or not the United States is an imperialist nation and create their own empires based on their understanding of empires...
Curated OER
Setting Boundaries
Students investigate the determination of the boundaries of various countries. They work in small groups to research a country's political history and past boundary issues and territorial disputes.