Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Underground Railroad

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders read about Harriet Tubman and develop vocabulary lists.  In this Underground Railroad lesson, 4th graders find similarities and differences in primary and secondary sources, create a timeline and recognize important...
Unit Plan
University of British Columbia

The Outsiders: Identity, the Individual, and the Group

For Teachers 8th - 12th Standards
S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders is the anchor text in a unit that asks readers to reflect on their own identity, their place in their family, in groups with which they identify, and in school. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Following Instructions

For Teachers 1st - 6th
Use this simple plan to teach your physical education class how to make a jump shot in basketball. It includes an introduction, objectives, methods, and more!
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Using M&M's to Teach Bar Graphs

For Teachers 1st
Motivate your class with this lesson. While not fully fleshed out, this activity is meant to be used as an introduction to the use of bar graphs. Learners sort M&M's and create bar graphs to display their information.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Taming the Wild Wiki

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Take a look at the credibility of online sources such as Wikipedia. Discussion points and handouts are included to facilitate a meaningful and informative dialogue. Tips are given on how to determine if a Wikipedia article is reliable...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Australian Aboriginal Art And Storytelling

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore Aboriginal storytelling traditions through the spoken word and through visual culture. They listen to stories of the Dreamtime told by the Aboriginal people and investigate Aboriginal storytelling in contemporary dot...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Catch-22

For Teachers 9th - 12th
During or after reading Catch-22, have your high school scholars complete this research project. First they'll brainstorm a list of people they might like to research, then they'll dive into your library's resources! There are...
Lesson Plan
California Academy of Science

Ocean Acidification Mock Conference

For Teachers 7th - 12th
In a comprehensive role playing activity, teens play the parts of different stakeholders in the realm of acidic oceans. They research, debate, and create a presentation from the perspective of either ocean organisms, the fishing...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Animal Research Pamphlet

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders perform research on an animal of choice. The reading of a novel is done prior to the research in order to establish context for the lesson. The use of the library for research is a key skill for this lesson.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Research a Poet and Explicate a Poem by that Poet

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders choose a poet to research and find a poem by that author to explicate/analyze using a variety of sources for their research that will include their textbooks, the school library, and the internet. After conducting...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

1900 America: Primary Sources and Epic Poetry

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Using Walt Whitman's Song of Myself and Hart Crane's The Bridge as models, class groups first craft their own epic poems for 1900 and, using primary sources, create a multi-media presentation that captures the sights and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Land Use

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students brainstorm lists of land uses, gather pictures of them, and create a collage. They research land uses in their communities by contacting local agencies. They make charts of the land use planning systems and their impact on...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Firefighting and Community in Colonial America

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students view two unknown historical objects and try to identify their function by looking at and asking questions of their appearance and function. They use critical thinking skills to view a number of images and objects. They make...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Stories of the American Experience

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars identify a veteran to interview. This could be a family member of one of students or someone contacted through an organization in the community. They use a storyboard to plan their movie about their subject.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Photojournalism: A Record of War

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore who has photographed war and why. They examine Mathew Brady's process for photgraphing the Civil War. Students investigate how photographic equipment has changed and improved through time. They analyze primary source war...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Puerto Rico: The 51st State?

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students explore Puerto Rico.  In this Puerto Rico current events lesson, students conduct a Webquest to answer questions about Puerto Rico's culture.  Students discuss whether Puerto Rico is a country or a state, and defend...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Summarizing with James and the Giant Peach

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Elementary readers in literature groups practice summarizing chapter-by-chapter with Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach. Focus on main idea, supporting details, and the 5 Ws. Unfortunately, a clever "peach" graphic organizer to which...
Lesson Plan
Harry S. Truman Library & Museum

Harry S. Truman And Korea

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Engage the class in researching oral histories and historical revision, in order to gain a greater understanding and appreciation for the sacrifices made by Americans in the Korean War. The inquiry process is scheduled to take one week....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cuban Missile Crisis in Thirteen Days

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders explore the Cuban Missile Crisis. In this Cuban Missile Crisis lesson, 11th graders take notes from a PowerPoint presentation regarding the topic and then watch the film "Thirteen Days". Students participate in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Examining Women's roles in education through images from the Appalachian State University Historical Photograph Collection

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders analyze images from ASU's Historical Photograph Collection.  In this American History lesson, 11th graders examine the achievements of the women's movement. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Map Readng And Giving Directions

For Teachers K - 1st
Students read a story to create the context for the lesson plan. Then they are given or create a community map. Then students use the scenario of being lost in order to role play giving directions to a partner to find a destination. The...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wildlife Fact File

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students research a specific animal. In this animal science lesson, students use a "Wildlife Fact Sheet" to take notes on their specific animal. Students use the Internet and reference books to gather information.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tales of Truman's Travels Fifty Years Ago

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders study President Truman and the Whistlestop Campaign. For this US history instructional activity, 4th graders complete a KWL about President Truman and write letters to stops on Truman's Whistlestop Campaign. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Social and Economic Impact of Wildlife and Natural Resource Management

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students develop an understanding of environmental laws and regulations.  For this research lesson, students utilize information that involves controversial issues of wildlife and society.