Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary
Benjamin Franklin, Working for the Common Good
Young scholars examine Benjamin Franklin's community service in Philadelphia. In this American history famous heroes instructional activity, students make text-to-self-and-world connections between the Philadelphia community service...
Curated OER
Flowerpots and Families
Students explore the importance of family communication and cohesiveness. In this family life instructional activity, students complete activities which demonstrate the characteristics of a strong family that is committed to...
Curated OER
From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
Students listen to From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil F. Frankweiler and discuss wants and needs. In this iincome and expenses lesson, students relate the adventures of the children in the book to a real life financial...
Curated OER
Summit Meeting
Students examine various points of view regarding Muslim immigration into Europe. They view and discuss the PBS Frontline video, "Al Qaeda's New Front," read and discuss articles, and present information about their article in a jigsaw...
Curated OER
Can You Measure Up?
Students use technology to visit websites where they play interactive games, gather information to complete activity sheets, and complete online projects. One instructional activity using 'Inch By Inch' by Leo Lionni, takes students to...
Curated OER
Pizza Muffins & Podcasting
Students investigate life skills by participating in a voice recording activity. In this baking activity, students identify the ingredients needed to create pizza menu items and the steps which should be taken to bake them. Students...
Curated OER
Bureau Stats
Students explore the role of bureaucracy in United States government; they then examine the history, leadership, organization, and goals of executive agencies.
Curated OER
Bugs
Students participate in an after school program that promotes communications skills, hypothesizing, exploring, recording of data, leadership roles and making comparisons. They explore the world of insects, where they come from, how they...
Facing History and Ourselves
Eyes on the Prize Lesson 1: The Philosophy of Nonviolence
Students explore the concept of nonviolent demonstration. In this Civil Rights Movement activity, students investigate examples of injustice and discuss the philosophy of nonviolence fueled by leaders of the movement. Students apply...
Curated OER
Family History
Learners discover their family history. In this genealogy lesson, students participate in a discussion about family history and why it is important. Learners create a family tree and present the family tree to the class. Students write a...
Curated OER
Martin Luther King Day
Invite your advanced ESL learners to explore the US national holiday Martin Luther King day. Play the attached mp3 which is a description of this important holiday and facilitate the phrase match and listening gap activities...
Curated OER
Yo! Gert-making yogurt
Young scientists or chefs culture yeast to produce yogurt. The materials and a general description of how make yogurt are provided, but there is very little detail otherwise. You could use this as an activity when your biology class is...
Curated OER
Meiosis
Using yarn and chenille stems, lab groups collaborate to model mitosis and meiosis. Brief background information and a vaguely written procedure comprise this outline. More instruction needs to be provided to learners about cell division...
Curated OER
Letters, Telegrams, and Photographs Illustrating
Students research the factors that are important in winning a battle in the Civil War. In a second activity they are assigned the role of a specific type of person during the Civil War and asked to describe what it's like being that person.
Curated OER
Dr. King and the Movement
Students complete activities about Dr. Martin Luther King's Civil Rights movements. In this Civil Rights lesson, students read a quote from Dr. King and discuss several questions about the topic and may use them as writing prompts.
Historical Thinking Matters
Rosa Parks: 5 Day Lesson
What led to the success of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, and how might historians approach this question differently? This rich series of lessons includes a short introductory video clip, analysis of six primary source documents, and...
Cornell University
Electroplating
Silver pennies and copper nickels are made possible by applying some chemistry. Learners use electrolysis to coat a penny with zinc sulfate and a nickel with copper sulfate. Their investigation builds an understanding of electroplating...
Cornell University
Catapults
Ready, aim, fire! Launch to a new level of understanding as scholars build and test their own catapults. Learners explore lever design and how adjusting the fulcrum changes the outcome.
Museum of the Moving Image
Political Ads in Historical Context
Campaign ads target both timely issues and general themes. Presidential campaign ads from 1952 and 1988 provide class members an opportunity to compare how the topics ads choose to address can dramatically influence election outcomes.
Gobal Oneness Project
Sports for Social Change
After watching a short online film about a soccer player Nolusindiso Plaatje and his help with the Grassroot Soccer program, a community education effort aimed at spreading awareness about HIV/AIDS prevention, use a lesson...
Curated OER
Local Leaders and Why They are Successful
Young scholars discuss the concept of being successful. The class produces a web page that showcases leaders from their community. They describe their contributions to the community and state the qualities that led them to success.
Curated OER
The Political Dr. Seuss
Young scholars discuss the role political cartoons have played in U.S. politics and public affairs since the 1700's. They analyze some of the political cartoons Dr. Seuss drew during World War II and discuss how these cartoons conveyed...
Curated OER
A Changing of the Guard: Traditionalists, Feminists, and the New Face of Women in Congress
Students explore the role of women as Congressional leaders. In this women's rights lesson, students identify and investigate the impact of women representatives and senators in the U.S. Legislative Branch. Comprehension questions, data,...
Curated OER
Lord of the Flies
Students participate in a panel discussion to decide who was responsible for each development on the island. In this Lord of the Flies lesson, students divide into groups supporting Jack and Ralph with a third group acting as...