Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring Photographs: Methods of Visual Analysis

For Teachers 7th - Higher Ed
Students use the methods of description, reflection, and formal analysis for a study of images. In this image analysis lesson, students work in teams to interpret and analyze an assigned work of art. Students write responses to the work...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Goddesses Are Personifications Too!

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students discover the use of personification as a way of expressing ideals.  In this Language Arts lesson, students create an allegorical depiction of a contemporary ideal.  Students write labels that clearly support the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Spiritual Space

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore Italian Renaissance artwork. In this visual arts lesson, students examine "Madonna, Saint Thomas Aquinas, and Saint Paul'" by Bernardo Daddi. Students investigate the use of space, scale, and proportion in the work prior...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fusing Furniture and Asian Art

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers design furniture. For this visual arts lesson, students examine French, Chinese, and Asian art pieces. Middle schoolers compare the lacquer art and apply the motifs to their lacquer panels and furniture pieces.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring Marine Ecosystems in the Caribbean and Maine

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students compare the marine habitats of Maine and the Caribbean using temperature, tides, ocean currents, latitude and longitude. In this marine ecosystems instructional activity, students analyze maps to complete graphic organizers that...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Landscape Painting

For Teachers 4th - 9th
Students create landscape art using five specific techniques. In this Landscape Painting lesson plan, students read the biographies of famous landscape artists. Students analyze artwork to determine which techniques were successfully...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

This Just in! Nile Network News Update

For Teachers K - 12th
Have your young reporters research contributions of the ancient Egyptians, draft scripts, and broadcast their stories live on the Nile Network News. Depending on class size and age, topics may be brainstormed or assigned. The detailed...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Customized Topographic Maps and Models

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore the information depicted on topographic maps. They construct a 3-D topographic map of a local area. They go on a field trip to the depicted area and compare the 'real world' with their models.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Little Oyster: Ceramic Lesson

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Children will love researching and then creating a bottom dwelling mollusk of their own. They watch clips describing the ocean ecosystem and how oysters fit into their environment. Next, they research what oysters eat and how they look....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Teaching with Collections

For Teachers Pre-K - 5th
Learners examine collections. In these real-world collections lessons, students examine and describe buttons and shells. Learners will then sort, classify, and graph items according to various indicated descriptors.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

When Clay speaks

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students listen as the teacher reads "When Clay Sings," by Byrd Taylor. They discuss clay, and view a variety of clay items. Students watch a video clip "Interests in One of a Kind Pots." They watch a demonstration on working with clay....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduction to the Nature Journal

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students create nature journals. In this introduction to the nature journal lesson, students discover the uses of nature journals and begin their own. Students are challenged to use vivid, concise terms in their descriptive language....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Traveler's in Time

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students analyze artifacts to become familiar with the Great Migration.  In this migration lesson plan, students read an article and answer comprehension questions. Students role play a migration scenario using an artifact to help...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Working on the Railroad

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars plan a trip on the railroad.  In this railroad creation and implementation lesson, students listen to the song "Working on the Railroad", make a map of where the track was laid and discuss the geographical...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Do We Learn From the Repartiation of Alaska Native Artifacts?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students observe and evaluate evidence of Alaska Native cultural symbols and artifacts. They research historical data from a variety of primary resources, including the Harriman expedition journals, related web sites, oral accounts,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Can We Be Both Conservationists and Consumers?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore their role as consumers and conservationists and what roles they play in today's economic climate. They explore resource allocation issues. Students analyze data and draw comparisons between historical and present-day...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Has Transportation Changed Since the 1899 Harriman Alaska Expedition?

For Teachers K
Students recognize modes of transportation. They research historical data from a variety of primary and secondary sources including the Harriman expedition journals, related web sites, and photographs from the expedition. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Study of Fossils

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders dig for fossils. In this fossil lesson, 5th graders read about the oldest found fossils and discuss the process of fossilization. They dig for their own fossils in a fossil box made of several dirt layers. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Legends of Airpower: Aviation-Then, Now and Here

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers examine the advancements made in aviation during and since WWII. They read an interview with Charles McGee, research a plane, build a model of a plane, and develop a Powerpoint presentation about aircraft.
Lesson Plan
PBS

Taking a Field Trip

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine the importance of taking a field trip. They make predictions and practice making environmentally sound decisions. They watch a video clip about enhancing historical experiences.
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Curated OER

Learning About Location: Charting the Path of the George W. Elder

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Young scholars acquire a working knowledge of the geographical concepts: absolute location, relative location, longitude and latitude. They analyze primary sources that shows the physical and human characteristics of the places along...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Assessing and Making Maps

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students evaluate maps using the TODALSIGs basic map analysis system, explained on the worksheet. They create a map of Alaska using TODALSIGs. Students brainstorm the elements of maps.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sizing Up the Supersize Croc

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine and compare traits of humans and crocodiles.  In this crocodile lesson students use a ratio to estimate the height of a person and compare that to a crocodile. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Celebrating the Smithsonian's Birthday

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students examine online objects from the Smithsonian website and use them as subjects and inspiration for creative writing exercises.