Curated OER
Scientific Inquiry, Episode 1
Learners look at ways to help the environment. In this recycling lesson, students watch a video on pollution and then collect trash at their school. They create posters to share with the school about the importance of recycling.
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Portrait of a Hero
Learners examine the concept and characteristics of a hero. They brainstorm and categorize a list of heroes, develop a chart checklist, discuss real-life heroes, and create a hero hall of fame display.
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Sensory Details
Students observe their environment and write detailed, sensory-specific sentences about that environment. This lesson can be extended to include the creation of a personalized story or movie of the experience (student examples are...
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The Community Forest
Fourth graders plant a tree. In this sustainable forestry lesson, 4th graders define community forest and brainstorm a location to plant a new tree on the school grounds. Students learn how to plant a tree and discuss choosing an...
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Pass-It-Back Relays: Children are aces at creating their own races.
Children participate in several relay games in small groups. For this creating outdoor relay races lesson, learners develop motor skills and engage in activities that encourage teamwork and creative thinking. Students...
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Water Paintings
Students use water to paint pictures outdoors. In this water painting activity, students paint pavement and observe how water evaporates. They compare painting in sunny versus shady locations. They also use sponges to observe the...
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Outdoor Activities: Solve It-Outdoors
Students practice problem solving skills. In this early childhood education instructional activity, students foster the ability to use creative and critical thinking to turn obstacles into bridges to greater learning as they complete...
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Adopt A Twig
Sixth graders explore leafless twigs and identify leaf buds. In this forest resources lesson plan students complete a lab activity that shows them how to identify tree and leaf identification.
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Seasons of Trees
Students examine how trees change over time. For this forestry lesson, students read the book The Seasons of Arnold's Apple Tree and choose three trees to observe over a period of time. Students record observations and seasonal changes...
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Take a Hike!
Young scholars explore the benefits of staying active by going on a hike. In this physical education lesson, students discuss the concept of a hike, where a good place to hike is and what types of foods are necessary to stay...
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Home Design
Students investigate house structures by examining photographs. In this architecture lesson, students read the book Houses and Homes, analyzing the different structures and materials. Students utilize mud to create model huts...
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The Tattle Tail Tale
Students read the story by Tandy Braid to explain the concepts of tattling and reporting, then discussing the difference between them. They play a game to determine if something is a tattle or report.
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100 Day Chick Hunt
Students investigate how to count to the number 100 with the connection to using chicks as objects. They use cutouts of chicks and place them into the counting chart and recognize the different numerals while counting at the same time.
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Sorting and Classifying Outdoors
Students use their math skills of sorting and classifying with materials they collect outdoors. In this early childhood math lesson, students participate in a treasure hunt to gather item in nature and categorize their finds.
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Make a Natural Weaving
Students use natural materials and yarn to create weavings. In this natural weaving lesson, students find large branches to act as the loom, use other natural objects to act as designs within the weave, and use fine motor skills to wrap...
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Cardinal Directions
Students discover cardinal directions through the use of digital cameras, compasses, and file folders in this technology-based lesson for early elementary students. Emphasis is placed on student practice and inquiry.
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Simple Machines-Lever
Students examine the lever. In this simple machines lesson, students construct a lever by using two pencils, three pennies, and a ruler. Students explore the uses of a lever.
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Portrait of a Hero
Students complete a series of interactive activities to explore their beliefs about heroes and heroism. In this hero analysis lesson, students define the meaning of the words hero and heroic. Students research U.S. heroes and everyday...
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Justice, Is it Fair?
Fifth graders investigate conflict resolution through the study of justice. In this justice activity, 5th graders are put in scenarios of unfair conditions. Students discuss the unfair situations and their feelings about...
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Telling Stories Through Dance
Examine the movement of characters in the story, Caps for Sale. Using the text, pupils invent gestures and movements for some of the actions and major events. They practice retelling a story by using the movements they developed. They...
Mt. San Antonio Collage
Quadratic Equations and Their Applications
Show high schoolers there is more to quadratic functions than just formulas and parabolas. Connect the math to realistic application problems with a resource that has learners consider such situations as a ball hit in the air, the...
Anti-Defamation League
Identity-Based Bullying
What is identity? What is bullying? What is identity-based bullying? After discussing these questions as a class, pupils engage in partner discussions before participating in a small group activity to act out bullying scenarios. Then,...
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Sportsmanship Rap Songs
Using this creative lesson idea, your class can explore music with a message. Upper elementary learners create their own rap song to express their feelings about physical education and sportsmanship. The resource includes an...