Curated OER
Holi-Days
Learners research an event, celebration, or observance from a culture with which they are not familiar and present their information to the class in this cross-curricular look at festivals and celebrations. The lesson plan includes an...
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Water Works
Students create a "water web" to illustrate the interdependence among water users and producers. They distinguish between direct and indirect uses of water; illustrate the interconnectedness of water users in a community; and demonstrate...
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Dance Sequences and Phrases
A series of lessons about dance would be a great addition to your physical education class. Straightforward as well as creative, it teaches the basic skills of dance movement. A rubric helps guide the dancers to let them know what steps...
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Sing! Sing a Song!
Students investigate climate change. They read and listen to an environmental song or a song about change or taking action. Students write, sing, and record their own song about climate change.
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Firefighting and Community in Colonial America
Students view two unknown historical objects and try to identify their function by looking at and asking questions of their appearance and function. They use critical thinking skills to view a number of images and objects. They make...
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Aquatic Exotics
Learners identify and describe the aquatic exotic species found in Illinois. Using the internet, they research the species origins and discover their effects on native species in the area. They discuss how appropriate it is to introduce...
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Careers With an Aquatic Emphasis
Students are introduced to careers with an aquatic emphasis. They take a self-evaluation test on what they enjoy in school to determine which career is right for them. They listen to people in the field discuss what their job is like.
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Through the Eyes of an Owl
Students describe vertebrates in terms of observable body parts and characteristics and describe life cycles of familiar organisms. They identify familiar organisms as part of a food chain or food web and describe their feeding...
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Drawing From Nature
Students observe similarities and differences of natural objects. In this observation lesson, students use a magnifying glass to identify the details of objects.
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The Land is Changing: Stories from Across the North
Students explore the changing environment in their community. They interview elders about the issues, impacts and potential ways of adapting to climate change in the north. Students post pictures and information on the student...
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Leach Out and Touch Someone
Students discuss how groundwater becomes polluted. In groups, they design and create models of groundwater pollution sources. They demonstrate to the class how the water may become contaminated from local and nonlocal pollution sources.
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Scotty T-Rex: Inspiring History All Year Round
Young scholars study changes that occur in geological and historical time. They place themselves in relationship to the universe, the world, Canada, and Saskatchewan.
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Hawks Migrate
Students examine the types of hawks found in Illinois and compile a list of them. Using different species of hawks, they compare and contrast their characteristics. They work together to create their own hawk model for the classroom.
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Reservoir Activity
Students research the economic importance of the major reservoirs in Illinois. In groups, they manage a budget for one of the lakes to promote tourism in the area. They also work together to create advertisements.
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Land Issues
In this unit of lessons, students examine land issues affecting the world today. They discover what it is like for animals to live and create paper animals. They also examine parts of a tree and how to make dyes from materials found in...
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Water Quality
Students investigate the properties of oil and water by making marbleized paper. They examine fish species by making Japanese fish prints and 3-D cardboard fish. They create posters that present messages about conserving our waterways.
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Dirty Thirties: The Dust Bowl
Middle schoolers explore the events and reactions surrounding the Dust Bowl crisis during the 1930's. They discuss how the events of the Great Depression affected America's democracy and how it transformed America.
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Piggie Pie!
Students explain about their experiences on the farm and draw pictures to show what they know. Students read the recipe for the piggie pie that Gritch was going to use. Students estimate and then measure how many pigs it would take to...
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Wise Shoppers
Pupils complete several activities to learn about currency and the functions of money. In this money functions lesson, students complete activities to learn what are the functions of money. Pupils calculate item prices with percentage...