Curated OER
Family Life in the 1830s
Students compare and contrast family life today with family life in the 1830s. They conduct research on Old Sturbridge Village, read primary source documents, and develop a list of generalizations comparing/contrasting families of the...
Curated OER
Manipulating Digital Images
High schoolers work with pre-loaded images as well as with a digital camera to manipulate digital images. At the end of the instructional activity, they analyze and write about their work using complete sentences, correct grammar, and...
Global Oneness Project
Clowning Around
Being a clown is hard work — no joke! Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee's Laugh Clown Laugh, a short film about German clown Reinhard "Filou" Harstkotte, asks viewers to consider the various roles played by clowns and to consider the...
Curated OER
South Asian Architecture
Seventh graders review and discuss architecture from South Asia. They then study images of various buildings from North Africa/Southwest Asia, and make comparisons
Curated OER
Indian Basket Weaving
Students explore Indian Basket designs, experiment with weaving materials and create their own baskets in this 5-day Arrt lesson for the early-elementary classroom. The lesson includes scoring guides and illustrated directions for students.
Curated OER
Indian Languages
Fifth graders explore the different types of Indian languages used today in the United States.
Curated OER
Turtle Legends
Students listen to the legend, Thirteen Moons on Turtle's Back. They create a new moon for the calendar based on this natural part of everyday life in the seasons. They illustrate it under the story using water color paints.
Curated OER
California Gold Rush
Students discover the people who lived in California before and after the gold rush. They use primary source documents to identify how the finding of gold changed the area. They also discover the discrimation that was present during the...
Curated OER
Trade in Precontact Alaska
Students explore the geography of Alaska and its effect on trade. In this ancient Alaska lesson, students participate in a simulation that requires them to trade with those in the territory and outside of it.
Smithsonian Institution
Watching Crystals Grow
Amazing science can sometimes happen right before your eyes! The class gets cozy as they watch crystals grow. They use Epsom salts, rocks, and food coloring to create crystals. They'll observe the entire process, documenting every step...
Curated OER
Minority Graduation Rates: A 50-50 Chance
Learners read the Civil Rights Project report. Students collect data from graduation rates in their school/district or city. Learners compare state and local data. Students discuss and analyze minority graduation rates. Learners compare...
Curated OER
Jack-O-Latern Lesson
Have a Happy Halloween and build strong oral language skills. Special needs Pupils functioning at a moderate level can practice sequencing, writing lists, and using oral language by explaining how they carve a pumpkin.
Curated OER
Classroom Potlatch
Elementary schoolers study the history and purpose of potlatches. The listen to two stories about potlatches, then design a potlatch that they will host for their family members. They must come up with the gifts they would give, the...
Curated OER
Weaving Traditions - Activity 1
Pupils practice the techniques of weaving and braiding in this introductory lesson on family traditions and visual art. The lesson includes a video and other resource links.
Curated OER
Sea Changes: A New England Industry
Students conduct research in order to use primary and secondary sources. They interpret and analyze information from textbooks and nonfiction books for young adults, as well as reference materials, audio and media presentations, oral...
Curated OER
Recycled Greeting Cards
Students create greeting cards from recycled products. They research how paper is recyled and the history of paper. They write free verse and create their own recycled paper. They use Microsoft Word to write their final drafts of verse...
Curated OER
Creating a Multiple Image Page
Students review basic computer skills and view images produced with multiplet images. They complete the Photo Draw Activities worksheet then create a multiple image composite page using computer graphic image programs and images found on...
Curated OER
Cracking Catlins's Code
Learners create a chart comparing visual clues with artistic meaning. This lesson plan is designed to introduce students to the ways in which consistent patterns of gesture and pose chosen by an artist (specifically George Catlin)...
Curated OER
Letters from the Frontier: Reading and Writing Primary Documents
Students examine historical documents about George Caitlin to derive meaning about his life and contributions. The lesson plan is multicultural and helps students to appreciate art and history.
Curated OER
The Three Faces of Isaac Stevens
Eighth graders examine three images of Isaac Stevens for information about the man and his activity as a US soldier, territorial governor and participant in treaty councils. Students are also shown Union Army pictures with different...
Curated OER
What Are the Seasons?
First graders explore seasons and how they are part of a continuous circle.
Curated OER
Tree Anatomy
Students learn the basic anatomy of a tree through exploration of tree centers.
Curated OER
Kwanzaa Science
Students study the parts of a plant in order to better understand the muhindi as one of the seven symbols of Kwanzaa.
PBS
Primary Sources
Students see how to use primary and secondary sources to investigate history. Whether it is a photograph, book, map, letter, postcard, newspaper, or official document, students can use sources to reconstruct and relive history.