Curated OER
Decoys: Fair or Foul?
Learners discover and articulate reasons for cultural change and public policy through study of historic artifacts and testimony using the waterfowl decoys collections in Harvesting the River Online exhibit.
Curated OER
Making Connections: Exploring Four Themes through Art: Class Collage from Print Sources
Learners explore the art themes of form, content, ornament, and decoration. They explore the Illinois State Museum website, view the online Theme Galleries, and create a collage that reflects a theme.
Curated OER
Mussel Identification Activity
Students identify given species of animals, such as various
mussels, by sets of physical characteristics as they use a key. They also read about mussels on the Illinois River and look at mussel species in the online database. Finally,...
Curated OER
Cast of characters -- Lost in Space Lesson
Pupils examine how artists use the picture plane to depict two and three dimensions. They view online images, discuss how space is used to depict three-dimensional space, and create a painting.
Curated OER
Keeping Us in Stitches Activity: Whole Cloth Quilt Design
Students examine how decorative motifs are adapted to other types of objects by craftsmen and artists. They examine photos on the Illinois State Museum website, discuss design elements, adapt a motif to a line drawing, and transfer a...
Curated OER
Theorem Painting
Students examine the many types of folk art at a museum. They create their own theorem painting by following the steps given to them.
Curated OER
Forest Activity: Interpreting a Graph
High schoolers research forest growth online. They analyze the parts and contents of a graph, then summarize in narrative form the changes in the forest over time.
Alabama Wildlife Federation
Wildlife Habitat Checklist
Take a walk on the wild side with a project about animal habitats. After kids observe a chosen animal in its home, they describe the animal's food and water sources, shelter, and how it raises its young. They then write a short fictional...
Smithsonian Institution
Vietnam
What do Dwight D. Eisenhower, Lyndon B. Johnson, and communism have in common? They all have something to do with the Vietnam War. Scholars engage in readings, view related images, and read about important artifacts on the website.
Annenberg Foundation
Analyzing Artifacts
If only a mask could talk! Using the interactive tool along with historical thinking skills, pupils uncover the meaning behind the various materials the resource presents. History becomes more relevant as the artifacts tell their stories...
Curated OER
Symbolism in Sculpture
Students use criteria developed in class to evaluate which of their own sketches would make the best symbolic sculpture. In this sculpture symbolism lesson, students work in pairs to create a sculpture and define its symbolic meaning....
Curated OER
The ABC's of Artifacts
Students create their own ABC book about artifacts. In this artifact lesson, students read ABC History Mystery and review the artifacts pictured in the book. They create their own ABC book with each student working on a letter.
Curated OER
Whitewashing the History of the South
Students research online a variety of different plantation museums across the South to ascertain how realistically, if at all, slavery is portrayed. This is a very interesting way for students to see how history can be presented in many...
Curated OER
The Legacy of Currier & Ives
Young scholars read the work of a 19th-century American author. The use
representative lithographs from the Currier & Ives collection at the Springfield Museum
of Fine Arts (available online at http://www.springfieldmuseums.org) to...
Curated OER
Swords, Arrows, and Eggs
Students enjoy hands-on learning experiences. In this current events lesson, students may visit the Lulworth Castle, Roald Dahl Museum, Glasgow Science Centre, Salts Mill, or the Sherwood Forest online or in-person to discover details of...
Curated OER
Get Your Skates On
Students enjoy winter activities. In this field trip opportunities lesson, students may visit the Royal Botanic Gardens, Bocketts Farm, Clapham Common, or the Dinosaur Museum online or in-person.
Curated OER
Exploring Minerals
I love this geology lesson plan. Third and fourth graders look at the connections, and the differences, between rocks and minerals. Learners are charged with identifying specific rocks and minerals, learning how to properly use...
Curated OER
Igneous Rocks
High schoolers focus on a study of igneous rocks. They see how igneous rocks are formed, and how to distinguish them from other types of rocks. A crystal-growing activity is present, and learners create drawings that show where each...
Curated OER
How Old Is Illinois?
High schoolers use fossils found in rocks to determine the age of the strata between Rock Island and Chicago. Pupils pretend they are geologists. They must determine the age of all rock layers between the Mississippi River and Lake...
Curated OER
The Rocks Under Illinois
The goal of this fine geology instructional activity is to have learners create a map that shows how the rock layers are arranged far underground where they can't be seen. The ambitious lesson plan requires high schoolers to learn the...
Curated OER
Three Dimensional Geology
Here is a fine lesson plan on geology designed for high schoolers. Learners use rocks, fossils, and other geological clues to determine the geology of an area. Then, they make recommendations to a fictitious city council about the...
Curated OER
Spiraling Through the Guggenheim: Exploring 20th Century Masterpieces
Students experience original works of art through an online tour of the Guggenheim Museum in New York City. They assess the value and unique architecture of the building as well as develop an awareness of its design and relationship to...
Curated OER
War and Remembrance
Students explore the controversy surrounding the ban of Nazi memorabilia and other hate-related artifacts from online auction sites.
Curated OER
Curious Curators
Students write a theme statement for a collection of diverse objects. Using the internet, they research and write descriptions of various artifact. They role play the role of a museum curator and produce a museum style exhibition. ...