Curated OER
First Class Mingle
Students participate in a mingling speaking activity. They write a question for each person in the class on separate worksheets, then speak to everyone in the class to find out as much information as possible about each other.
Center for Open Educational Resources and Language Learning
Reading Activity
Ready to integrate technology into your ELL instruction? Check out this reading lesson that has language learners using the Internet and apps, joining online book clubs, and creating blogs. A fine model of what can be done.
Curated OER
Helping Verbs: Grammar for ESL/ELL
English language learners act out verbs, discuss their importance in constructing grammatically correct sentences, and then learn about helping verbs. They use helping verbs in a sentence then discuss how they are different from action...
Curated OER
Breaking News: English Athlete's Hairstyles
Practice vocabulary and speaking skills in this ESL reading comprehension instructional activity. Middle and high schoolers participate in a number of before, during, and after reading activities based on an article entitled "Footballer...
Curated OER
Capitalization
Teach your class the rules of capitalization with this fun, engaging lesson. Children participate in a learning activity, collaborate with peers, and practice their writing as they learn three specific rules: to always capitalize the...
Illustrative Mathematics
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor
What better way to engage children in a math instructional activity than by talking about ice cream? Using a pocket chart or piece of chart paper, the class works together creating a bar graph of the their favorite ice cream flavors....
iCivics
Emphasize Minimize
Encourage your class members to consider what points they are really emphasizing when they are making an argument, whether in writing or in speech. Watch out though, as this lesson may just leave your learners eager to debate you!
Curated OER
Rolling with Links
First graders explore geometry by completing a worksheet in class. In this non-standard measurement unit lesson, 1st graders discuss different techniques for measuring items without the use of a ruler. Students read several short stories...
Curated OER
Writing Skills: Fables
Use fables as a fun way for English Language Learners to gain confidence and fluency in their reading and speaking skills. After reading a fable in class, they retell their story to a group of their peers. When this jigsaw activity is...
Curated OER
Liberty for All: Voices from the Revolution
Did the Declaration of Independence really intend to grant liberty for all? Get your class thinking about historical perspective with documents relaying the experiences of women, white men, and African-Americans during the Revolutionary...
Curated OER
Cartoon Stories
All ages love to engage in cartoon writing –- little do they know that they actually learn quite a bit from it! In an instructional session focused on literacy syntax and vocabulary, your pupils work cooperatively to draw six pictures...
Curated OER
Creating a Found Poem
Teach your English learners about theme through this found poem project. Class members read two versions of O. Henry's "The Gift of the Magi": the original version and a synopsis. After learning about themes and connecting theme to their...
Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media
Yankee Doodle: How Has It Changed over Time?
Grab your feathers and your hat! And perhaps some macaroni! It's time to investigate the evolution of "Yankee Doodle Dandy." Groups do a close reading of sheet music covers, lyrics, and even YouTube videos to see how this political song...
Curated OER
Chile's Trapped Miners
Students read an article on trapped miners in Chile. In this social awareness ELL lesson, students read the details about how 33 miners had to be rescued in Chile when they got trapped underground. Activities that reinforce the...
Curated OER
Scientists Create Energy-Making Artificial Leaf (29th March, 2011)
Students read an article about alternative energy and complete the associated worksheets. In this ESL/ELL alternative energy lesson, students read or listen an article about research at MIT in which scientists designed a energy-making...
Cornell University
Constructing and Visualizing Topographic Profiles
Militaries throughout history have used topography information to plan strategies, yet many pupils today don't understand it. Scholars use Legos and a contour gauge to understand how to construct and visualize topographic profiles. This...
Curated OER
Walk Two Moons: Hook and Concept of a Frame Story
As an introduction to Sharon Creexh's Walk Two Moons, a volunteer dons a pair of boots and walks about the classroom.Observers then ponder the axiom, Don't judge a man until you've walked two moons in his moccasins. Their collaborative...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Women's Lives Before the Civil War
Women's lifestyles before the Civil War made a huge impact as a point of causation. Give middle schoolers the opportunity to view firsthand the lives of women before the Civil War. They analyze primary source documents, view photographs,...
Curated OER
Creative Writing
Learners write in their journals at the beginning of class. They create a poster of what they just wrote about in their journals. Pictures are to be labeled and dictionaries are encouraged.
Curated OER
Oh, Say Can You See...
Learners explore the meaning behind "The Star-Spangled Banner." In this music lesson, students sing the first verse of the national anthem and watch several performances of "The Star-Spangled Banner." Learners define several vocabulary...
Curated OER
Chalk and Cheese
Learners make comparisons and identify opposites. Through discussion and word identification, students working independently or in pairs, compare and contrast things that are usually thought of as opposites. They practice English...
Curated OER
Weblog Lesson Plan
Fourth graders include a brochure in a blog entry. In this blogging lesson, 4th graders design a brochure about a tourist attraction. They include the brochure in a blog and share it with the class.
Curated OER
Verb Patterns Pellmanism Game- Intermediate Version
Pupils sort verb tenses. In this English grammar lesson, students work with a partner to sort cards with verbs written on them into 3 piles including verbs with "ing," the infinitive form (meaning "want to"), and the infinitive form...
Curated OER
Biographies
Students read a biography and discuss what defines a biography. Students choose a biography of their own interest to read and write a report about one of the people in the biography. Reports are shared with classmates.