US National Archives
WWII: The Pacific 1939-45 – Pearl Harbor
Though December 7th, 1941 was a day "which would live in infamy," World War II had provided many infamous days, events, battles, and atrocities in the years before. So why were American forces so surprised when Japan attacked Pearl...
National Endowment for the Humanities
The Declaration of Independence in Six Parts
Everyone knows that the Declaration of Independence is important, but what does it actually say? Members of American history classes analyze the Founding Fathers' arguments against British tyranny and for a more perfect union with a...
Pace University
Water Cycle
Rain, rain, go away—wait, there it is again! Elementary scientists learn how rain works its way through the stages of the water cycle with a series of classroom lessons and hands-on activities.
Teach Engineering
Cosmic Rhythm
Young engineers turn poets with a hands-on activity that challenges them to apply the concept of rhythm to crafting a poem.
Curated OER
Mending Walls: Barriers in Communications
Students explore a literal and figurative wall. In this communication lesson, students examine and discuss barriers in communication as they analyze Pink Floyd's "The Wall" and Robert Frost's "Mending Wall".
Curated OER
Inventing and Presenting Unit 2: Effective Speeches and Building the Invention
Young scholars identify the characteristics of effective speeches. Students find elements of good speeches in the text and in the delivery of model speeches. Young scholars build a working three-dimensional model of an invention or an...
Curated OER
Make it Snow
Sixth graders investigate snow using pieces of literature, experimentation, and studying images by Wilson Bentley. They view snow from its artistic, geometric and literary expressions.
Curated OER
"De Colores"
First graders learn color words in Spanish through the use of a song. In this Spanish music lesson, 1st graders sing the song "De Colores" to help them learn their color words in Spanish.
Curated OER
Compare and Contrast the French Cinderella with Other Cultural Versions
Learners first compare and contrast the traditional French Cinderella with Cinderella stories from around the world as well as the opera synopsis. Students write their own Cinderella stories, personalizing them with aspects from their...
Curated OER
The Travels of Babar: An Adventure in Scales
Students become familiar with the musical notify that are associated with the character in Monstel's The Travels of Babar: An Adventure in Scales, so that they can listen attentively to the performance and understand and appreciate ow...
Curated OER
Ceramics - Mask making - Sculpture
Young scholars design a mask using cultural examples for inspiration - changing the meaning - conveying a special message about the times in which we live.
Curated OER
American Revolutionary War: Two Sides...Two Perspectives
Students investigate the American Revolutionary War era from the perspective of Britain and the American colonists by researching causes, effects, events and people. They compare the views of the Colonists, and the British and recognize...
Curated OER
Cooking Crepes in Ms. Stentella's French Class
Students explore eating, cooking, and life in France and identify table-setting vocabulary and restaurant conversational skills. After reviewing the crepe recipe, students pair up and do a mini WebQuest on crepes and find cultural...
Curated OER
A Shape-Note Singing Lesson
Students discover the shape-note method of singing. In this reading and notating music lesson, students learn the four shapes of the shape-note method and the tradition of Sacred Harp singers. Students sing the shapes of "Yankee Doodle"...
Curated OER
I Went to the Crossroads: The Faust Theme in Music, Film and Literature
Students analyze song lyrics and discuss Faust theme in musical history. In this thematic lesson, students view a film clip and create a song lyric, poem or short story developed around the Faust theme. Students perform or present their...
Curated OER
“And Still I Rise” Proud Black Women
Students examine the experiences of African American women. In this poetry lesson, students use their literary analysis skills to compare the poetry of Maya Angelou to rap music performed by Queen Latifah and Lauryn Hill.
Curated OER
The Life and Times of Gioacchino Rossini
Students discuss Gioacchino Rossini's life and musical culture. In this music lesson, students are introduced to "biofacts" about Rossini and listen to excerpts of his music. Students identify characteristics of Rossini's musical...
Curated OER
Contrasting Cinderellas
Students compare and contrast the traditional Cinderella to the modern-day fairy tale, Cinder Edna. In this fairy tales lesson, students read both stories and construct a Venn diagram to compare the two fairy tales. Students identify how...
Curated OER
The Egyptian Cinderella
Students create a play of their own version of the Egyptian Cinderella. In this Egyptian Cinderella lesson plan, students work in teams to produce their own videotape version of the story.
Curated OER
Use of the Simile
Fourth graders identify and write their own similes. In this literary devices lesson, 4th graders define and identify similes. The teacher scaffolds the lesson so that all students can write their own similes.
Curated OER
The Cleverest Thief
Second graders explore a folktale from India. In this folktale lesson, 2nd graders read the book The Cleverest Thief and discuss how the monks felt in the story. Students complete a cloze activity sheet. There are several extensions...
Curated OER
The I in You
Learners read, write, discuss and appreciate the autobiographical writings and statements of themselves and others. They write their autobiographical response to the question the other writers dealt with.
Curated OER
Asian, African, or Australian Inventors & Inventions
Seventh graders explore the inventors or inventions from Asia, Africa, and Australia.
Curated OER
America's Civil Rights Movement, Cubing
Students explore cubing as a graphic organizer to better explain the key concepts of the Civil Rights Movement and take positions on key concepts regarding the Movement.