Curated OER
Teaching Ideas and Resources
In this teacher website, teachers have access to a variety of tools and resources. Teachers can utilize plans, lessons, and worksheets in all subject areas.
Desert Discoveries
How Old is Old? (And, How Much is a Million?)
Here is an interesting lesson on how old things are designed for young scientists. In it, learners compile a list of their birthdays, and the class puts them in sequential order from youngest to oldest. Then, they sequence 15 objects...
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Down by the Bay
Students listen to teacher read books about fish and participate in activities in order to explore how to identify bluefish. They count and graph the numbers of fish they find in simulated fishing activities.
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Six Insect Legs
Learners observe and discuss the sun's position in the sky. They explore the number six, read various number books, and create the number six page for a counting book.
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Dinosaurs: "If I had a Dinosaur"
First graders analyze what it would be like to own a dinosaur. In this dinosaur writing lesson, 1st graders review knowledge and key terms about dinosaurs in order to complete a one paragraph creative writing assignment. Students compile...
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Make a Dinosaur
Students estimate the size of dinosaurs and create a dinosaur model. They create bar graphs of the sizes of dinosaurs one in meters and the other in "student" units. They draw a pictures and add words or sentences about their dinosaur.
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Happy the Fish
Students explore the ways in which people's actions affect fish. They discuss pollutants that are in the water. Students define the terms chemicals, cooling pond, and pollutant. They create a book about Happy the Fish.
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How Does a Butterfly Grow?
Students explore the stages of a butterfly. They read and discuss the book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, by Eric Carle. They draw a picture of their favorite part and create a graph. They write a letter to Eric Carle and observe a...
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Lions and Tigers and Bears - Oh My!
Research animals and develop a non-fiction presentation. Young scholars will complete research on a particular animal and determine the animal's characteristics as well as habitat before choosing a differentiated project to present using...
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Will It Sink or Float?
Students perform experiments to see if items will sink or float. In this sink or float lesson, students work in groups to make predictions, and record the results. After the experiments are complete students make a book of the results.
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Beautiful Bugs
Learners investigate the life cycle of ants, ladybugs, and butterflies. They list the four stages of the butterfly life cycle, define symmetry and observe how ants make homes in dirt.
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Here Comes Winter!
Students investigate winter behaviors in animals. They describe winter and write about the characteristics of the season by drawing and labeling a winter picture. Students then conduct research on a chosen animal and create a chart. ...
NASA
Let's Investigate Mars
Take your science class on a hypothetical field trip to Mars with an engaging astronomy lesson. After first learning about NASA's Mars rover missions, young scientists plan their own scientific investigations of Earth's nearest neighbor.
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Rain, Rain, Go Away
Students conduct a number of experiments involving evaporation and condensation. They view and discuss a video about the water cycle and then design posters about the rain based on the book "Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs".
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Totem Poles -- Storytellers of Long Ago
Third graders discover the main purpose for totem poles was to communicate with others. In groups, they compare and contrast the four types of totem poles and the various symbols used. They write their own stories based off of pictures...
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Observing Weather
Students investigate the weather by reading children stories. In this weather observation lesson, students read Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs and several other stories about weather before they create a KWL chart. Students utilize...
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It Started as an Egg
Learners investigate animals that hatch from eggs. In this hatching animals lesson plan, students investigate which animals are born alive and which hatch from eggs. Learners read It Started As An Egg and practice reading comprehension...
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Leaving on A Jet Plane
Students create an airplane by listening to directions. They also to measure the pieces for the airplane and compare and contrast their test flights.
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A Recipe for Reading: Asian Style Rice and Eggs
Learners read, write about, and cook with rice in this home economics lesson plan. They reflect on the experience eating rice at home or in other ethnic foods.
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Hearing
Students explore how the sense of hearing helps us learn from each other through communication. Sound can produce patterns.
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Sight
Students discover how the sense of sight helps us recognize each other and explore color, motion and distance.
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Grocery Store
Students explore food and grocery stores. In this lesson on foods, students are introduced to the food pyramid and healthy eating through a variety of center activities. Students have to opportunity to role-play working at a grocery store.
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Let the Rain Come Down!
Second graders construct a bar graph comparing local precipitation to that of the Yucatan. In this graphing lesson, 2nd graders will use conversions and problem solving strategies.
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Cloud Watchers
Second graders read "The Cloud Book" by Tomie dePaola to jumpstart their cloud study. They offer examples of liquids, solids, and gases and chart them. They observe the making of a cloud in a demonstration. They discuss and draw...