Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Down By the River

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students examine how watersheds work and determine the difference between point and nonpoint source pollution. They research management practices to reduce pollution and investigate how everyone can participate in reducing water pollution.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Interpreting Christopher Columbus

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students compare historical interpretations. In this research skills lesson, students use Internet and print resources to research the controversy regarding Christopher Columbus's work as an explorer. Students use their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Researching a Scientist/Inventor

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students research scientists and inventors. They research their figure and write notes on a Fact Card template, biographical information regarding their figure, their occupation and achievements. After citing their information and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Author Study

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students examine and identify the characteristics of the different genres of literature. After being read and reading various stories, they identify how different books by the same author carry the same story elements. They discuss how...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Flicking With Force

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders are introduced to the concept of force and how it acts upon objects. In groups, they are given a ruler, ping-pong ball and golf ball and compare and contrast the force put on the balls when flicked by the ruler. To end...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Origins of American Government

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students create an advertising campaign to persuade the Founding Fathers to adopt a particular political philosophy. Working in groups, they conduct research about a certain political philosophy. Students create a pitch to be made to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Class of Cards

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Young scholars create patterns using images of everyday objects, shapes, or colors and four logos for use in a House of Cards. In this design lesson, students examine the work of Charles and Ray Eames and become familiar with the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Comprehension-Note Taking Skills to Supprt Opinions and Panel Discussion

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders examine note taking skills in order to support opinions. In this language arts lesson, 5th graders read several newpaper articles and discuss a current issue. Students explore how to paraphrase so as not to commit plagiarism.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Changing the World: Social Entrepreneurs Part One

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Students analyze the purpose of a social entrepreneur. In this entrepreneurship lesson, students create a "help wanted" advertisement and graphic organizer to provide information on how a social entrepreneur seeks long-term change by...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Perception is Not Always Reality

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Pupils view various types of illusions. Using one of the illusions, they try to determine how a scientist might explain them. They discover a t-illusion and use their own words to analyze them. In groups, they research a different solution.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Locating Images

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students discover how to search effectively for images online using the Google Image Search engine. They distinguish between those images that are relevant and those that are not relevant to a search that they initiate and see how to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Citizen Me

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders examine what it means to be a citizen. Using the Constitution, they discover the functions and purpose of government. They compare and contrast the difference between a democracy and a monarchy. As a class, they discuss...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Changing the World: Social Entrepreneurs Part Two

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers explore the work of social entrepreneurs. In this entrepreneurship lesson, students research a specific entrepreneur and create a presentation introducing him or her to the class. High schoolers design a seminar on social...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Making a Treasure Your Own: Lesson Two

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students write an essay describing the Curtis Center and what they learned there. In this descriptive writing essay, students discuss the five paragraph essay and review sensory discoveries from their trip. Students draft an outline and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Responsibility in Leadership

For Teachers 11th - Higher Ed
Young scholars identify ways responsibility is important to productive leadership. In this leadership instructional activity, students discuss responsibilities of leaders and work in groups to create a list of do's and don'ts for being...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

We've Got the Power

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine how power can be generated and the advantages and disadvantages of each method.  In this investigative lesson students divide into groups, research the Internet and present it to the class.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

You and Me and God Make Three!

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Pupils examine the concept of Divine origin as it relates to tolerance. In this tolerance lesson, students learn to explain the creation of humanity in the Divine image. They discuss how to live with the tenet of loving your neighbor as...
Lesson Plan
Pennsylvania Department of Education

Analyzing Literary Elements in Literary Nonfiction

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders identify the literary elements of a nonfiction text. In this literary elements lesson plan, 4th graders read the text Piano Starts Here--The Young Art Tatum and fill in a chart that includes the events from the book....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Why Cladistics?

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore how biological classification is intimately associated with evolution.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

‘Pay it Forward’ Lesson Plan

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students develop their speaking skills. In this oral communication lesson, students read "One Hen" by Katie Smith Milway and work in groups to discover how making a small loan to the main character in the story had positive effects....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

American Focus on World Constitutions

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders describe essential components of a constitution and cite cultural factors affecting international law-making.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Natural Selection

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students construct a working definition of the word "evolution," and list the key points of Darwin's theory of natural selection. They create paper moths to help them explain the importance of camouflage and how it relates to natural...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Social Studies: Cultural Collage

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students define and discuss cultural aspects and family origins. By citing examples of traditions and customs from other countries, they develop an understanding of cultural influences on society. Finally, students create collages...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fate vs. Mind: A Macedonian Folk Tale

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the work of Carla Bachechi as a Peace Corp volunteer in Macedonia. Individually, they read various folktales from the country and break into groups to discuss how it is different than a novel. To end the lesson, they...