Curated OER
Wiggly Spiders
Learners create "wiggly spiders" using black paint, construction paper, yarn, and their hands in this fun, messy, art lesson for the early elementary classroom. An ideal lesson for the Halloween holiday or for a lesson/unit on spiders.
Curated OER
Teaching the Holocaust through Literature
Centered on the short story "The Tenth Man" by Polish Holocaust survivor Ida Fink, here is a solid one-day resource to support study of World War II or Nazi history, short stories, or to complement any ELA unit on The Diary of Anne Frank...
Curated OER
Anti-Semitism Workshop
Originating from the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial Museum in Jerusalem, here is a resource to support your world historians in their study of World War II, the Holocaust, your cultural scholars learning about anti-semitism, or your...
Curated OER
Writing: Wall of Peace Bulletin Board
Learners discuss holidays dealing with patriotic national holidays or remembrances. After choosing a teacher-provided prompt. they write responses to it. They write their paragraphs on paper shaped like bricks and pin them to a "wall...
Curated OER
Japanese Carp Kites/Children's Day
Students listen to the story "A Carp for Kimiko" and discuss its lesson and theme. They design and create their own carp kite in celebration of Children's Day. They discuss gender discrimination and how that makes them feel.
Curated OER
Lesson 22: As constant as the Northern Star: Examining Static and Dynamic Characters in Julius Caesar
Students examine the play Julius Caesar. For this literature analysis lesson, students work in groups to identify changes in various characters from the story. They examine various aspects of the character's personality and actions,...
Curated OER
El Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)
Fifth graders describe ways in which people in the United States remember and honor the dead. They identify the similarities and differences between El Dia de los Muertos, Memorial Day, and Halloween.
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Handprint Rainbow
Students find differences in handprints in a cooperative effort to make a rainbow. In a rainbow painting lesson, students use their hands to create the different levels of the rainbow. Students may choose their colors.
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Pen Pal Letters to Soldiers Overseas
Students write letters to soldiers overseas with correct spelling, grammar, punctuation, and capitalization. They learn three facts about the geography of the area where the pen pal is located and about the pen pal.
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American Women Who Shaped the Civil Rights Movement Explored Through the Literature of Eloise Greenfield
Examine the women who contributed to the Civil Rights movement. In groups, children read excerpts of writings from Eloise Greenfield and research the women she mentions using the internet. To end the lesson, they create a timeline of...
Curated OER
Clowning Around: Drawing
Kids create a clown out of shapes. They work to show emotions while practicing their drawing skills. Pupils use circles, triangles, squares, oil pastels, and their imagination to draw, color, and decorate a sad or happy clown. Tip: Have...
Smithsonian Institution
Dia de los Muertos: Celebrating and Remembering
Help scholars understand the history, geography, traditions, and art of Dia de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead. Find background information for your reference as well as a detailed cross-curricular lesson plan. Learners compare...
Curated OER
A Salute to American Symbols
Students explore American symbols. In this reading and social studies lesson, students read literature regarding American symbols and describe the significance of the symbols as they research them in groups.
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When is a Block, not a Block?
Students use a stamped shape image to create a piece of imaginative art. In this stamped art lesson, students use a stamped shape as a starting point to create their own imaginative piece of art that incorporates the stamped shape.
Curated OER
The Unfinished Lincoln Memorial
Learners develop a list of images of President Abraham Lincoln: for example, self-taught youth, great debater, advocate of abolition of slavery and assassinated hero. They must determine if these images of Lincoln stand up under scrutiny.
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Tie Dye Eggs
Learners create "tie-dye" easter eggs in this easy elementary school activity. Materials needed include paper towels, food coloring, eggs, and rubber gloves. This Easter activity can be accomplished in 30 minutes with extra time needed...
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Hand And Foot Print Reindeer
Students create reindeer out of paper cut-outs of their own hands and feet in this fun and quick Art activity for the early-elementary classroom. The instructional activity may be accomplished as an individual or small group (partner)...
Curated OER
Saint-Gaudens, the Shaw Memorial, Art Historians, and the Critics
Students read documentary evidence and commentary regarding Saint-Gauden's sculpture Shaw Memorial. They read statements and letters, and answer analysis questions.
Curated OER
Face Study: Draw the Other Half
Build fine motor, spatial, and drawing skills by having the class complete the other half of a portrait. They choose an image of a face from a magazine, then attempt to draw the other half of the face as accurately as they can. Two book...
Curated OER
Mixing Colors with Corn Syrup and Food Coloring
Anyone who has worked with small children know that color identification and color mixing can be fun! This simple idea has a lot of potential. It suggests to mix food coloring with corn syrup to provide an opportunity for color mixing...
Curated OER
Puzzle Trees
Elementary artists use a collage and multi-media technique to create textured trees. They study the fall trees, discussing texture and what bare trees look like. They then use a variety of materials to create a textural piece.
Curated OER
Florida Blue Crab
Explore the extraordinary creatures of the ocean! Learners create Florida Blue Crabs (imitation of course) using blue paint and their hand prints. This is a cute supplementary project perfect for an ocean-themed unit or preschool...
Curated OER
Leaf People
Kids create leaf people out of sticks, glue, and leaves. They use their imagination to construct leaf people and then glue them onto construction paper. Tip: Extend this craft by incorporating writing. Have learners write a short story...
Curated OER
Paper Plate Sunflowers
A great way to recall the parts of a flower is to make one. Little learners create sunflowers out of paint and paper plates. They also discuss and label the various parts of their flowers.