Curated OER
A New Word Everyday
Hobbits, dwarfs, wizards, trolls, and goblins. Readers track these fantastic creatures through J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit noting passages of character description and habitats. Using specific passages from the novel, class...
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Spirit in the Night
Eleventh graders explain terms using the CD version of The American Heritage Talking Dictionary. They give and seek information in conversations and in group discussions.
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Mini Beasts and Dialect
Discover the differences in dialect. Inquisitive minds read poems and discuss how words or phrases are different in standard English and other dialects. Using a dictionary, class members locate the definition of each word, find...
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Parts of Art
Young scholars define and use new vocabulary associated with the elements of art. As a class, they brainstorm different ways in which we communicate with one another. In groups, they view different pieces of art from the Native American...
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Choosing Words Carefully
Use literacy tools to select precise vocabulary. High schoolers respond to discussion questions that require them to consider the denotation and connotation of words. They then read non-fiction passages and identify words in the passages...
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What's Organic?
Students discuss background information presented by the teacher and read dictionary definitions for the words "organic" and "synthetic." In this gardengin lesson, students complete a worksheet on the material. Students grow and compare...
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I Wonder What Camouflague Is...
Young scholars examine the way that Manduca, other animals, and humans use camouflage. They participate in a teacher directed camouflage experiment and the creation of a camouflage collage.
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A Sample of What?
Young scholars are introduced to the connection between women and the textile industry. Using primary source documents, they complete a handout on how gender roles have changed over the years. They examine a sampler which is connected to...
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What's On Your Plate?
If you are teaching in a Christian school, Sunday School, or home school environment, then this lesson plan would be appropriate. The class discusses Biblical traditions and culture and how that related to current Christian beliefs. They...
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Transport and Dialect
Cultivating an interest in native dialects and how they differ from Standard English is an excellent introduction to the study of language. This resource looks at the dialectic words of the British Isles that are used for methods of...
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Anne Frank and Louisiana - There is a Connection!
How is Louisiana connected to the Holocaust? After reading The Diary of Anne Frank, eighth graders complete a research report about a survivor of the Holocaust who currently resides in Louisiana. Though the idea is a good way to...
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Silly Story Starters
Fifth graders brainstorm some ideas for each of the columns. As they call them out, write some on the sticky notes until each sticky note is used for each column They stay in the same groups; have each group draw one sticky note from...
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Spelling Lesson Plan
Review basic spelling rules with your elementary schoolers. Focus in on the spelling of words with a specific prefix. For this spelling lesson, learners use an interactive whiteboard lesson to learn prefixes such as de, sub, re, and pre....
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100 Questions
Gather around to play a game! Middle and high schoolers answer questions (provided here) using various reference materials. Bring encyclopedias and other reference materials to class, as each group has limited Internet access! An answer...
Teaching Tolerance
The Power of Words: Normative Sexuality
Students collect newspaper articles which discuss societies who enforce heterosexuality. They brainstorm how heterosexuality is enforced in their community. They answer questions to end the instructional activity.
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Growing Poems
Students write garden inspired poetry. In this poetry lesson plan, students go out into the garden and write poems about how they feel, what they see, and what is going on in the garden.
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Paradise Lost: Identifying Vocabulary
“The mind is its own place. . .” and Milton’s Paradise Lost is sure to expand the vocabulary (and the minds) of young readers. Assist that growth with an activity that asks individuals to first select and define five unfamiliar words,...
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Researching Using Books
Young scholars investigate researching techniques by exploring their library. In this literature references activity, students identify the different types and genres of books that are readily available at their local library as well as...
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Toilet to Tap?
Students answer the question, 'Should San Diego reclaim its water for fresh drinking water?' They make a poster explaining the position: "Yes," drink reclaimed water; or "No," don't drink reclaimed water.
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Party, Party, Party!
High schoolers explore social situations by participating in a role play activity. In this student psychology lesson, students identify the different social situations they will enjoy as they grow older including weddings, housewarming...
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Post-It Poetry
Seventh graders explore how to spice up their work using vivid words and images. Afte a lecture/demo, 7th graders try their hand at writing poetry using a lot of adjectives and vivid verbs.
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Can You Find It?
Fourth graders discover how to do an Internet search. They reviewi traditional rescources used to find answers in the classroom and are introduced to electronic sources. They discuss terminology for navigating the Internet using the...
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Unearthing The Facts
Students use agriculture related questions in order to build research skills. The questions are given and then they are expected to determine the best resource for finding the answers. The connection to the farmer is how they use...
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Favorite Activity
Students write persuasive essays about favorite activities. They present on a topic of personal interest or one that has been studied in another subject area. They write a composition of a favorite activity, describing the activity and...