Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pets are Popular with U.S. Presidents

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students discuss their pets and read about pets that have lived in the White House. In this current events instructional activity, the teacher introduces the article with a vocabulary activity and pet survey, then the students read the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

National Turkey Off to Disneyland

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Young scholars share their holiday traditions, then read about an American Thanksgiving custom. In this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the news article with a discussion and vocabulary activity, the students participate in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Parents Hand Out Unusual Punishments

For Teachers 2nd - 7th
Students discuss how they are disciplined at home, then read a news article about some unusual punishments given to children. In this current events lesson plan, the teacher introduces the article with a discussion and vocabulary...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Recycled Vegetable Oil Powers Vans, Cars

For Teachers 2nd - 7th
Students share their knowledge about fuel sources, then read a news article about vegetable oil as a cleaner alternative to gasoline. For this current events and environmental science lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Will Smog be a Problem at the Olympic Games?

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students locate China on a world map, then read a news article about pollution in Beijing. In this current events activity, the teacher introduces the article with a discussion about smog and a vocabulary activity, then students read the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Grocery Store Bans Plastic Bags

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students participate in the paper vs. plastic bag debate, then read a news article about one grocery store that is banning plastic bags. In this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the news article with a debate and a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Scientists Study Dinosaur "Mummy"

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students share ideas about how scientists know about dinosaurs, then read a news article about the recently found remains of a hadrosaur. In this dinosaur lesson plan, the teacher introduces the article with a class discussion and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Honeybees are Vanishing

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Learners decide if they agree with a series of statements about the bee population, then read a news article about the disappearance of millions of U.S. honeybees. In this biology and current events instructional activity, the teacher...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Prehistoric Discoveries

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students agree or disagree with several statements about ancient animals, then read a news article about recent prehistoric discoveries. In this earth science and current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Remembering Jackie Robinson

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Young scholars create a list of famous African Americans, then read a news article about Jackie Robinson. In this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a discussion and vocabulary activity, then students read the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Construction Starts on Freedom Tower

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students are introduced to an image of Freedom Tower, then read a news article about the construction of this building that will be completed in 2011. In this current events activity, the teacher introduces the article with an...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Turn Down Music to Save Hearing

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students participate in a informal survey of their listening habits, then read a news article about the possibility of portable music players harming kids hearing. In this current events lesson plan, the teacher introduces the article...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Chips, Anyone?

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students identify how computer technology affects their lives, then read a news article about the impact of computer chips implanted under some people's skin. For this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Write Me Two Ways

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders write numbers in standard and expanded form.  In this writing numbers in standard and expanded form lesson, 5th graders write integers up to billions in word form and standard form.  Students use number cards to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

U.S. Set to Celebrate Lincoln Bicentennial

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students use a news article about the celebration of the Lincoln Bicentennial to answer questions about Abraham Lincoln and the celebration. In this current events and US history lesson based on a news article, students participate in a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Football a Big Success in Small Alaska City

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students read about the creation of a football program at a small-town school in Alaska. In this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a map and vocabulary activity, then students read the news report and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Scientists Discover Giant Frog Fossil

For Teachers 2nd - 8th
Students examine a world map and read a news article about the discovery of a giant frog fossil. In this earth science and current event instructional activity, the teacher introduces an article with a discussion about continental drift...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

'No Cussing' Clubs Catching on with Kids

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students read a news article about a boy in California who wants to encourage his peers to use good language. In this current events instructional activity, the teacher introduces the article with a short rap, discussion, and vocabulary...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Jet Delivers Books to Kids Overseas

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students identify the function of organizations, then read a news article about an organization called Room to Read that is sending books to poor countries. In this current events lesson plan, the teacher introduces the article with a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Presidential Election One Year Away

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students identify political parties, then read a news article about the 2008 election. In this current events lesson (written prior to the 2008 election), the teacher introduces the article with a discussion and vocabulary activity, then...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Baby Animals Debut at Zoos

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students determine the names of animal babies, then read a news article about zoo's experiencing animal births. In this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with vocabulary activities, then students read the news...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Spiders Build Giant Web in Texas Park

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students make predictions about a photograph of a humongous spider web, then read a news article about thousands of spiders that worked together to build it. In this biology and current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Stamps are Making News

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students analyze the cost of mailing a letter since 1917, then read a news article about the increasing stamp price and new Star Wars stamps that will be available. In this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Planting Trees to Help the Planet

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students react to a series of statements about trees, then read a news article about the planned planning of millions of trees to celebrate Arbor Day. In this planting trees lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a discussion...