Lesson Plan
Curated OER

World in the Balance

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Students explore population growth. They calculate how long it takes a country's population to double in size and to investigate factors affecting growth rate. In addition, they list of factors they think might affect growth rate
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fueling Around with Energy: A Comparative Study of Conventional and Renewable Energy Use Among Nations

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders examine the relationship between energy and society. In groups, they define energy sources as renewable or conventional and research how each method contributes to the world's energy. They write about how the patterns of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Celebrating Canada

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders investigate Canadians of diverse cultures and ethnic backgrounds. They describe the multicultural, multiracial and multi-ethnic character of Canadian society and take age-appropriate actions to demonstrate their ...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Settling Down

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students investigate the Umoja shantytown in Miami, Florida as well as other shantytowns around the world in order to create a Web site bringing awareness to the issue of slum dwelling.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

SeaWorld: Education, Entertainment, or Exploitation?

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students discuss SeaWorld, research marine animal biology, investigate one animal currently collected by SeaWorld, and decide whether they oppose or support SeaWorld's collection policy. Students then gather information relating to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Talk About the Passion

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students think critically about artistic freedom and evaluate the aims and effectiveness of censorship and education. They begin an investigation of the ongoing controversy surrounding Mel Gibson's "The Passion of Christ" by reading "New...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mending the Rift

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students determine what factors identify a country's political borders. After reading an article, they investigate questions surrounding the Great Rift Valley. On a map, they trace the valley from Asia through Africa and research the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

After the Deluge

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students witness a flood demonstration, offering hypotheses and observations throughout the demonstration. Students discuss flood prevention techniques and examine the impact of the devastating flood and mudslides in Venezuela. In small...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Off the Record

For Students 6th - 12th Standards
Music reflects culture and culture is reflected in popular music. Reading an article on how hip-hop has affected the lives of two young men of different races launches an investigation of the development and influences of various musical...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bugging Out

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore how insects behave in their natural habitats and build dioramas to create an Insect World in their classroom. They investigate various insects and the roles they play in the environment. They write creative short...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Emission Statement

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students investigate the emission of greenhouse gases by industrialized nations. They present their findings in a simulated international global warming conference. They then whether or not the United States should take part in the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Global Trek

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students investigate people, places and environments. Using the internet, students gather information about the country and culture that they visit. Students use Classport technology to collaborate and communicate with students on a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Green Genes: Genetically Modified Organisms in Our Food

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students investigate how and why genetically modified organisms are used as food crops. They identify the advantages and disadvantages of these crops through internet research then present their views and discuss them as a large group.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Quadrilaterals: Four-sided Figures

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders engage in a variety of hands-on and technology-rich activities involving the classification of quadrilaterals. They utilize protractors and rulers to investigate the characteristics of various types of quadrilaterals. They...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Is Global Warming Happening?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students investigate the probability of global warming and the effects of global warming on the environment. They conduct Internet research and collect data, transfer the data onto an Excel spreadsheet, and create a presentation that...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Falling Into Leaves

For Teachers K
Students investigate why leaves change color. In this chlorophyll lesson, students examine how chlorophyll effects the color changes in leaves. Students take pictures of changing leaves, and create a class quilt showing the changes of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Civilizations of the Ancient Near East

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders investigate ancient civilizations by creating a research project.  For this world history lesson, 6th graders investigate historic civilizations developed close to important rivers of the near East.  Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tsunami! Examining Earth's Most Destructive Waves

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Learners investigate just what a tsunami is, what causes it, how fast it travels, what it looks like, and its devastating effects upon landfall. They read the experience of a former Peace Corps Volunteer who went to Sri Lanka after it...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Topography of Africa

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students study Africa's diverse landscape and investigate how these features impact the available water supply, food sources, and population distribution of the continent. They compare topographical features and their affect on each...
Lesson Plan
National First Ladies' Library

Safety or Civil Liberty? The Trial of Sacco and Vanzet

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate the Sacco-Vanzetti trial and develop a basic understanding of the issues involved. Then they write an essay taking a stance on the Sacco-Vanzetti trial: was the trial fair? were the two men falsely accused? Finally,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reaching for the Sky

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students consider features of skyscraper using descriptive words, reflect on notion of skyscraper as orientation point in a city, and explore New York Times Building in Manhattan by reading and discussing article, "Pride and Nostalgia...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Jungle Gym Drop

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students investigate gravity, force and motion. In this motion of objects instructional activity, students drop various objects from a jungle gym and collect, measure and observe their data. Students describe the forces that affect the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Resolving Kennedy's Legacy

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders investigate the medical condition that plagued John F. Kennedy throughout his life.  In this US History lesson, 11th graders read and analyze uncovered documents in relation to Kennedy.  Students write a report...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Web of Predators and Prey

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students investigate the food chain by researching the Internet.  In this ecosystem lesson, students view the video "Competitor and Predator" and read a book from the series "The Magic School Bus."  Students utilize a worksheet...