Curated OER
Fish Tank Optics- Learning How Light Travels
Students explore light waves, refraction, and reflection. In this light lesson, students observe how light moves by using a flashlight. Students observe refraction and reflection.
Curated OER
Early Christmas Tree Decorations
Learners use a slice of bread to create a christmas decoration. They use glue and glitter to make the decoration their own. They are encouraged to give their decoration to someone they care about.
Channel Islands Film
First Contact: Lesson Plan 4 - Grades 5-6
After watching Treasure in the Sea, a documentary about Channel Islands National Park and the video First Contact, about the voyage of Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo to the Channel islands, groups research and then compare the...
K20 LEARN
Going on a Paper Hunt: Nouns, Adjectives, Letter Writing and Science - Properties of Paper
A lesson plan introduces scholars to nouns and adjectives. After listening to a short story and practicing creating adjectives with a card sort, pupils go on a paper hunt to locate different types of paper, complete a chart with...
Curated OER
Step by Step
Students explore agriculture by creating a food production diagram. For this farming lesson, students read assigned text about the entities that assist in food production companies such as farmers, truckers and supermarkets. Students...
Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media
European Explorers
To compare how the Spanish, French, and English approached the exploration of North America, class groups examine primary source documents and become experts on one of four explorers: Francisco Coronado, Robert LaSalle, Samuel de...
Smithsonian Institution
George Washington: A National Treasure
Take a closer look at the life and presidency of George Washington with this great set of lesson plans and worksheets. The resource includes a timeline of the president's life and multiple opportunities for primary source and...
Crafting Freedom
Harriet Jabocs and Elizabeth Keckly: The Material and Emotional Realities of Childhood in Slavery
Through the journals written by Harriet Jacobs and Elizabeth Keckly, young readers gain insight into the lives of two enslaved children on nineteenth-century plantations.
Curated OER
Settling in the Midwest
Fourth graders search a database for pictures of home that early Midwestern settlers lived in. They create a class presentation using the pictures.
Curated OER
Career Investigation Project
Students explore a career of their choice to learn about a career that interests them. In this career exploration activity, students research a variety of careers and select one in particular. Students create a project to tell others...
Curated OER
Discover the History of Melody
Students connect to music resources. In this music lesson, students visit the websites of the Handel House Museum, the Horniman Museum, Reid Concert Hall, and the National Center for Early Music. Students...
Curated OER
Name That Place: Cultural Place Names in the United States
Students examine the origin of the people that settled in the United States. In this United States History lesson, students work in small groups to complete several activities that explore early settlement, such as a worksheet, a...
Curated OER
Let's Play Hide and Seek
Students simulate dinosaurs. They discuss dinosaurs and listen to a story. They play a game of Hide and Seek simulating dinosaurs with their parents. They complete activity pages and draw pictures of dinosaurs. They discuss follow-up...
Curated OER
Africa: What's in a Name?
Students research the Yoruba Tribe and names. In this names lesson, students read the story 'Don't Call Me Names' and discuss how people get their names. Students discuss the importance of names and learn about the Yoruba Tribe. Students...
National First Ladies' Library
Movies for a Nickel! The Nickelodeon
Students identify and participate in this activity to identify and learn about the early history of the film industry, and consider the impact of movies on society ever since. Then they use the websites listed to study various aspects of...
Curated OER
Pilgrims: The First Americans
Fifth graders become familar with the pilgrims and first Thanksgiving through essays about important people of the time. In this Thanksgiving lesson, 5th graders choose an important figure from the time of the Pilgrims and write a...
Curated OER
African Americans Seen Through the Eyes of the Newsreel Cameraman
Fifth graders learn about this history of jazz music. In this musical influences instructional activity, 5th graders read God Bless the Childand listen to a recording of it. Students create a KWL chart on jazz and early 1900s music and...
Curated OER
Barter Day
Fourth graders understand the process of bartering. In this barter day instructional activity, each student barters an item in their desk with another student. All items are returned at the end of the activity and it is important to tell...
Curated OER
The Impact of the IWW on the Nation or Who were the Wobblies?
Students evaluate the role labor groups had on the U.S. Government in the early 1900's. In this teaching American history instructional activity, students complete several activities, including response writing and listening to...
Curated OER
Meet the Underground Railroad
Students research and learn about the Underground Railroad. In this Underground Railroad lesson plan, students take 2 weeks to research an individual, complete journal writings, read passages in small groups, list major events, and more.
Curated OER
The Age of Exploration
Young scholars apply computer skills to gain further insight into early exploration. They analyze the role of each explorer and evaluate their importance. Students comprehend the Chronology of Discovery and Trade of early explorers. ...
Curated OER
Colonial History: Fearless and faaithful
Students discuss reasons why early europeans immigrated to North America. Working in groups, they complete Internet activities on the PBS Website. They take a simulated voyage to the new world and rercord their actions on worksheets. ...
Curated OER
19th Century Settlement Houses
Students will take notes on 19th century settlement houses using a four-door book of foldable notes. In this lesson on Settlement Houses, students will analyze the Hull House through a variety of primary sources, then create a list of...
Curated OER
Pioneer America: Pioneer Living
Fourth graders research pioneer life. In this pioneer lesson, 4th graders read the book Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder and discuss what life was like for early pioneers. They research pioneers and show what they...