Curated OER
"Me and My Family Tree"
Students explore genealogy by reading a family history book in class. In this family tree lesson, students read the story Me and My Family Tree by Joan Sweeney and discuss their own family history. Students identify what the term...
Curated OER
Getting it Straight with Latitude and Longitude Skills
Teachers can help students learn latitude and longitude skills using games and other motivating activities.
Curated OER
Exploring Philanthropic Motivations
Students understand the reasons people give to those less fortune. For this philanthropic lesson, students read Passing the Dream by Penny Caldwell. Students respond to the poem by making a list of things they would like to change...
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Rainforest (Elementary, Social Studies)
Explore the rainforest with your class. Learners study the meaning of the word endangered, choose an animal to study, gather data, and discuss why the animal is in danger of extinction. This is a motivating way to have your class discuss...
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Pre-Columbian Cultures in the Americas
Native American studies is fun, educational, and highly motivating. Fifth graders will gain a deeper understanding of the six major pre-Columbian culture areas on the North American continent. They will choose one group and conduct...
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Getting the Word Out
Discuss and generate blogs in this technology lesson. Middle and high schoolers explore examples of blogs and create their own blogs. Use this lesson throughout the year to reinforce concepts from your language arts class (or any class)....
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Priorities and Goal Setting
Students discuss their goals and the steps needed to achieve their goals. They list the internal and external forces that may help or hinder their goals. Students prioritize the forces that hinder and/or help them to achieve their goals.
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Understanding Propaganda Throughout History
The exploration of propaganda can provide a motivating way for students to learn about history.
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Intolerable Acts
Students examine the implications of North Korea's nuclear testing. They develop a K-W-L chart, read an article, write questions, conduct research on their self-generated questions, and create an exhibit of their findings.
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The Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee
Students identify and analyze the motivation behind the African-American students in organizing the sit-in if Greensboro and the formation of the SNCC. Students identify how the generational differences between members of SNCC and other...
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Explorers (Early European)
Students research and explore the past and its historical roots involving the economic motivations of early European explorers. They assess connections between the current technological advances in transportation and that of the early...
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Ask a Volunteer!
Students investigate the motivation of volunteers. In this philanthropy lesson, students interview school volunteers on why they volunteer and write thank-you letters to them
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Social Class, Social Change, and Poverty
Learners begin to explore poverty and its implications on society and future generations. They should have had experience with identifying social change that happens gradually and social change that happens quickly because of natural...
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Courage of the Heart
Students research discrimination and how people fought against for the common good. In this discrimination lesson plan, students watch a movie about Alfred Blalock and Vivien Thomas. Students generate a list of words about...
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Let's Make Lemonade
Students generate a list of needs for a community project. In this social studies and philanthropy lesson, students listen to the story The Little Red Hen and discuss teamwork. Students plan for a lemonade stand, proceeds of which will...
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Volunteering As Good Work
Students generate questions to ask volunteers. They conduct interviews to determine volunteer's motivation. They write thank you letters to volunteers.
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What We Can Learn From Oral History
Students read oral history accounts of the 1930s and 1940s from "The Greatest Generation" books. They discuss how the common good and civil society was strengthed by these men and what they did for America. They research another time...
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Looking Back to 1980
Students use clustering/mind mapping techniques to generate ideas, graphically represent inferences, organize their conclusions and write a report that presents conclusions the writer has reached, and facts substantiating those conclusions.
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The Mozart Effect
Music has been said to effect short term memory. Learners test out this hypothesis, graphing how knowledge retention in a biology classroom changes when music is played in the background. In the end, a better appreciation of the dynamics...
University of Minnesota
Mirroring Emotions
Do you ever give your class the "teacher look"? Without saying a word, they become silent and engaged (hopefully). How do they know what you're thinking? Explore the concept of nonverbal communication and how it relates to our...
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Travel Tips! A Guide for Smoother Field Trips
Suggestions for making your next field trip successful, rather than stressful.
Curated OER
Homeschooling through the Holidays
Use your unique flexibility to help your family explore the holiday traditions of various cultures.
Curated OER
Make Your Fortune in Stocks
Fourth graders participate in a stock investment activity in which they research stocks to place in an imaginary portfolio. They invest $10,000 in a variety of stocks and track their progress using the Internet or newspapers.
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Importance and History of Ecological Conservation
Discuss and analyze a variety of information regarding the history of ecological conservation and preservation, as well as its importance. Scholars work in groups to complete four different activities, then report back to the class for a...