Curated OER
Fats Waller, Handful of Keys
Playing piano is great fun and playing jazz is even better. Kids watch a video of Fats Waller playing the song, "Handful of Keys," they then use either a piano key print out or Orff instruments to practice his signature stride piano...
Curated OER
Mapping the Past
Middle schoolers study historical maps to view how the world evolved from medieval times through the Renaissance. They work in groups to examine the maps and present a report on one of the listed maps.
Curated OER
Exploring Height with Abe Lincoln
Students examine a life-size count out of Abraham Lincoln to get a visual comparison of their height and Lincoln's. They work in pairs and trace each other's body and measure from head to toe in inches using a ruler. They then subtract...
Curated OER
Free Form Sculpture
Tenth graders explore abstract and non-representational art forms through research and artistic expression. They research a free form artist, their work, and abstract sculpture. They then work with pantyhose, chicken wire, plaster, and...
Curated OER
Acceleration Science
In collaborative groups, physics learners design and create a web portfolio of internet resoucres explaining poitive and negative acceleration, zero acceleration, and positive and negative velocity. This is a terrific assignment for...
Primary National Strategy
Ordering and Counting
Are you in need of a 5-day unit intended to teach little learners how to count to 20? This is a well-structured complete set of lessons which employ a variety of methods to instruct learners about various ways to count from 1 to 20. They...
Curated OER
Simile and Metaphor
Middle schoolers use context clues to find the figurative meaning of similes and metaphors in writing. They practice using figurative language to help their writing come alive. Use this activity in a lesson about poetry, figurative...
Curated OER
Developing Strategies for Addition and Subtraction
Primary graders develop strategies to assist them with addition and subtraction. They discover number combinations and numerical facts which enable them to add and subtract more effectively. Students use these techniques to complete...
Curated OER
Fabulous Felines
Students explore basic needs through discovering that pets and people need very similar things. They will play matching games, sing songs, read books, and discuss the needs of people and animals.
Curated OER
History in Literature - The House of Dies Drear
Hook your learners with a great project. They research the underground railroad and civil rights movement through literature, view the video The Underground Railroad: Escape from Slavery, and read the book House of Dies Drear in their...
Curated OER
Hershey Bar Equivalent Fractions
Fourth and fifth graders explain how to use equivalent fractions. They recognize which fractions are equivalent. Pupils find equivalent fractions.
Curated OER
The Princess's Point of View
Everyone wants to be part of a royal family. Let your pupils experience the privilege of royalty by rewriting the story The Frog Prince from the point of view of the princess. While the story line remains the same, perspective is bound...
Curated OER
"O Captain! My Captain!"
Who was Walt Whitman, and what link does he have to president Abraham Lincoln? After Lincoln's assassination, Whitman wrote "O Captain! My Captain!" This poem and "When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd" are the focus of exercises...
PBS
The Butterfly or Adult
Now that your class knows about the life cycle of a butterfly, it's time to discuss how an adult butterfly survives in the wild. The class diagrams and labels the parts of a butterfly, discusses how butterflies survive, and then make a...
Sargent Art
Rainsticks
This rainstick lesson isn't just about making art; it's about understanding Native American symbols and culture. Kids read about the use of rainsticks and why specific symbols were used to decorate them. They then make their own...
Curated OER
Introduction to Ludwig van Beethoven
"Ode to la Tortilla" and "Ode to Joy"? Sure! Use Gary Soto's poem to introduce learners to the ode format. After examining the descriptive words Soto uses, class members study a poster of Ludwig van Beethoven, suggest words that describe...
Speak Truth to Power
John Lewis: Non-Violent Activism
After comparing and contrasting non-violent and violent social movements, your young historians will take a closer look at the work and influence of John Lewis on the civil rights movement. They will then choose a current social justice...
PBS
Adding Integers
Your sixth and seventh graders deepen their understanding of a number line and adding integers in this concrete, hands-on activity. Learners play "Warehouse Puzzle" and then discuss their game strategies and the characteristics...
Arizona Department of Education
Introduction to Integers
Welcome to the backward world of negative numbers. This introductory instructional activity teaches young mathematicians that negative numbers are simply the opposite of positive numbers as they use number lines to plot and compare...
Ontario
Critical Literacy—Media Texts
Media texts convey both overt and implied messages. As part of their study of media, class members analyze the language, form, techniques, and aesthetics in a variety of media texts.
Ontario
Informed Citizenship—Civil Rights
To launch a study of civil rights, class members brainstorm rules and expectations of behaviors at home, in school, in the workplace, and in sports. They then look at civil rights cases and examine the rules embedded in these cases.
Ontario
Animation Programming—Computer Studies
Introduce high schoolers interested in animation programming to fundamental programming concepts so that they can plan and write simple programs.
Missouri Department of Insurance
Health Insurance
Confused by how health insurance works? This informational pamphlet and worksheet from the Missouri Department of Insurance offers explanations and examples to help future adults make important decisions regarding health insurance.
Channel Islands Film
Magic Isle: Lesson Plan 1
What are the factors that limit growth and expansion? As part of their study of Catalina Island, class members view the West of the West's documentary Magic Isle and research William Wrigley and the Santa Catalina Island Company. After...