California Department of Education
Transitioning to High School
How do scholars prepare to take their next big step? The second in a series of six career and college readiness activities focuses on making a smooth transition from middle to high school. Groups research the resources available at their...
Women in World History Curriculum
Women and Confucianism
Young historians consider the far-reaching effects of traditional teachings on the debates about the current attitudes toward women in society. The discussion begins with a list of New-Confucian sayings and expands to a global perspective.
Personal Genetics Education Project
Reproductive Genetic Testing: Technology, Access, and Decision Making
Explore the complexities of reproductive genetic testing respectfully in the learning space. Scientists read articles, view a slideshow, and complete a do-now about genetic technologies. A fishbowl activity allows scholars to discuss the...
Illustrative Mathematics
Logistic Growth Model, Abstract Version
Here learners get to flex some serious algebraic muscles through an investigation of logistic growth. The properties of the constant terms in the logistic growth formula are unraveled in a short but content-dense...
Cornell University
Math Is Malleable?
Learn about polymers while playing with shrinky dinks. Young scholars create a shrinky dink design, bake it, and then record the area, volume, and thickness over time. They model the data using a graph and highlight the key features of...
American Museum of Natural History
Ask a Scientist About Dinosaurs
Who doesn't want to know more about the mysterious dinosaurs? Learners read about dinosaurs and the process scientists use to continue learning more about the animals in an interview-type format. A paleontologist responds to submitted...
Serendip
Evolution of Fur Color in Mice – Mutation, Environment and Natural Selection
Most species of animals include a variety of fur or hair color, but why? Scholars watch a video about a changing environment for mice. As the rocks around them change hues, different colors of mice begin to thrive. Discussion questions...
Curated OER
We the Community
Students explore the concept of philanthropy. In this service learning lesson, students design and create informational books regarding nonprofit agencies and philanthropists in their community.
Curated OER
People Who Work
Students chart volunteers they are familiar with in school, church or in the community. In this nonprofit jobs, lesson students understand that all members of a community need to take responsibility in that community. Students vote on...
Curated OER
Just (Don't) Do It
Students create age-appropriate, informational brochures examining health topics relating to sex, after learning about federally funded abstinence-only sex education.
Curated OER
Is There a Stone in My Soup?
Students understand that people treat people differently sometimes because they are different.In this mutual respect and instructional activity, students discuss the need for positive change and how they can be a part of that. Students...
Curated OER
ADULT ESOL LESSON PLAN--Career Advancement
Students, while examining an extensive vocabulary list on the board, explore how to request job transfers as well as work for job incentives. A graphic organizer helps to assist the students in this task before them.
Curated OER
Growth and Development
Students analyze potentially stressful situations to determine the degree of control and individual has over behaviors. They provide examples of each of the following types of potentially negative thinking such as selective perception,...
Curated OER
My Kind of Friend
Second graders read "Tacky the Penguin" by Helen Lester and chart Tacky's positive qualities that would make him a good friend to have. They identify the qualities they admire in a friend and role-play these qualities for the class.
Curated OER
Self Care Goals For Health
Learners analyze potentially stressful situations to determine the degree of control an individual has over my own behaviors. They develop a behavior change plan that includes rehearsal as a means to promote frequency of replacement of...
Curated OER
Self-Control Starts With You
Young scholars develop a definition for self-control and explore how practicing self-control can lead to other positive character traits. They read and discuss examples of student behaviors that exhibit self-control and those that don't.
Curated OER
Using Words to Work Things Out
Students explore appropriate ways to communicate feelings. In this character development lesson, students listen to Hands are not for Hitting and several other books about expressing emotions appropriately. Students observe...
Curated OER
A Giraffe Debate
Learners study the life, adaptations, and habitats of giraffes. They investigate the issue of giraffe survival in the wild or in a wildlife sanctuary. They conduct a class debate and present position papers.
Curated OER
Discovering New Species
Learners identify animals observed by Lewis and Clark while evaluating the animal's habitat and describing the animal's behavior. Students construct a food web mobile to illustrate the animal's position in the food web in the 19th...
Curated OER
Self-Assessment
High schoolers take a personal inventory about behaviors. They determine if there are risky behaviors present that could be harmful. The inventory is used to help students examine how to make healthy decisions.
Curated OER
ESOL: Obtaining Employment
Students study how to present a positive image and conduct job interviews. They simulate job interviews in pairs and complete an activity sheet. They practice body language and other behaviors to communicate how to ask and answer...
Curated OER
What is cooperative negotiation?
Tenth graders differentiate between positions, interests, and values. In this current events lesson, 10th graders analyze, in a response to literature, the failure of a fictional negotiation. Students demonstrate the ability...
Curated OER
Refining Your Public Speaking Skills
High schoolers use the rubric created in the Explore Lesson to help them craft an effective oral presentation worthy of a formal governmental hearing. They polish their oral presentations that are based on their position papers through...
Curated OER
How Healthy are You?
Students determine how healthy they are. They examine health risk behaviors of adolescents and their consequences. They complete a risk factor survey and discuss why they might take risks.