Curated OER
Lessons from the Holocaust
Students prepare a reaction statement about what they read. In this Holocaust lesson students read several personal accounts from the Holocaust. The students answer a series of questions related to the Nazis and their concentration camps.
Curated OER
Comic Renditions
Learners explore the intersection between popular and high art by recreating comic strips in various artistic styles and then famous works of art as comics. Through this exploration, students come to conclusions about what art is and...
Curated OER
The Aftermath of Genocide
Students read and discuss articles written about the Rwandan genocide. They participate in a class discussion, and write a letter to the U.N. or a letter to the editor of their local newspaper.
Curated OER
One * Two * Three * Story
Second graders explore sequencing by drawing events of a story in order. In this sequence of events lesson, 2nd graders are read a story such as "The 3 Little Pigs", they recall the events from the fairy tale in order, visit an...
Curated OER
Comparing Family Photos
Fourth graders bring in a family photo from home. They compare their photo to the Rawding family photo. Students share their conclusions orally. They use Venn Diagrams to organize their thoughts and observations.
Curated OER
Christopher Columbus
Young scholars read about the good and bad aspects of Christopher Columbus in Jean Fritz's book, "Where do you think you're going, Christopher Columbus?" They conduct and analyze a survey about common myths and create a pop-up book.
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1930 Census and the Consitution
Young scholars read the Constitution and discuss the importance of enumeration. In this Census lesson, students complete a Census schedule and discuss the job skills of applicants. Young scholars research Census data to compare and...
Curated OER
Rooster's Night Out
Mitch Weiss and Martha Hamilton's Rooster's Night Out, a retelling of a classic Cuba folktale, launches a cross-curricular study of Cuban cultural traditions. Class members draw the characters from the book, participate in math and...
Pennsylvania Department of Education
Tell Me Again
Students demonstrate how to retell a story in sequential order. In this reading comprehension lesson plan, students listen to a suggested read aloud, such as Little Boy Blue. Additionally, students practice retelling the story by using...
Curated OER
The "Pick-Your-Favorite-Bat" Report
Students research one of the bats listed in the lesson plan. In this research activity, students write a report using Microsoft Word and draw a picture that can be shared.
Curated OER
It's My Right
Students participate in activities examining the Bill of Rights. They discover the different articles and Amendments.
Curated OER
Tunes for Bears to Dance to: Questioning Strategy, Discussion Web
Readers of Robert Cormier's Tunes for Bears to Dance to are asked to consider the morality of the central character's actions
Youth Outreach
Connecting the Separate Powers
Scholars demonstrate what they know about the separation of powers through role play. Two individuals act out a skit as the remaining class members discuss and decide whether the interaction they observed is an appropriate example...
Outdoor Learning Center
Outdoor Survival
Which of the following can you survive without for the longest time: water, food, or a positive mental attitude? The answer may surprise you. Guide learners of all ages through games, activities, and discussions about surviving in the...
Science Matters
Ring of Fire
Over a period of 35 years, earthquakes and volcanoes combined only accounted for 1.5 percent of the deaths from natural disasters in the United States. The 15th lesson in a 20-part series connects the locations of earthquakes and...
Curated OER
Technology-commected Folklife Lesson Plan: Fables
Young scholars discuss ways the stories were alike and different. The teacher demonstrate how to draw a Venn diagram using Microsoft Word. They label the two circles and enter the likenesses and differences on the diagram.
Curated OER
Hurricanes
Students study hurricanes and their patterns. For this hurricane lesson, students watch a video clip tracing Hurricane's Ivan's path in Alabama. Students discuss hurricanes and watch a 3-D video of Hurricane Ivan. Students visit a...
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Methods of Collecting Information
Third graders examine a bag or box of soil containing items that they dig for. Their task is to become detectives to make conclusions about the area from which the items came as real archaeologists do.
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Inferring Themes
Fifth graders practice making inferences on various types of reading material. As a class, they develop a definition of the word "theme" and discuss themes for some of their favorite stories. They use the context of the reading...
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Comparing Characters Across Two Short Stories
Ninth graders listen to a read aloud of two short stories focusing on literary devices. The write about the settings and realism of the stories, and decide each main character handles the conflict he faces with nature.
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Teaching Imagery with Gary Paulsen
Learners read excerpts from memoirs written by Gary Paulsen as examples of how to write a narrative piece. They identify figurative language used and then they write a memoir of their own that contains imagery and figurative language.
Curated OER
Listen to This
Seventh graders listen to a set of instructions and complete a drawing. In this listening skills activity, 7th graders listen to a set of oral directions and follow a command. Students then listen to a second set of directions to draw a...
Curated OER
Immigration: Marijana's Story
Second graders explore world geography by researching U.S. history. In this immigration lesson, 2nd graders read the book Marijana's Story and discuss the main character, her goals, and the plot. Students complete a worksheet about U.S....
Curated OER
COMING TO AMERICA: THE NEW IMMIGRANTS
Students become involved in the process of interpreting history by looking at primary source documents. This promotes critical thinking skills and comprehension of concepts and their relationships to different time periods through...