Curated OER
By the People for the People
Students explore, using discussion, writing, and data collection, how different social factors affect civic participation and equality across the country and in their own school community.
Curated OER
Kid Lit Crit
Students explore different types of student literature; they then write their own fiction pieces, in either fantasy/adventure or memoir/realism style.
Curated OER
Exploring Indiana's Natural Resources
Fourth graders complete a variety of activities as they study the European exploration of the Midwest, focusing on Indiana. They map the path explorers took, comparing the British with the French. They research why the explorers stopped...
Curated OER
Still Life Painting: Arranging Nature
Students choose meaningful objects for a still-life arrangement and paint it using watercolors and write an artist’s statement. In this still life art lesson, students identify and analyze the characteristics of a still-life...
Curated OER
Service Project
Pupils participate in a service project. In this community service instructional activity, students use their special talents to help others. Pupils draw or write about the service they've provided. The class turns this into a class book.
Curated OER
Shifting Wins
Students analyze how the outcome of the 2002 midterm elections changed the balance of power in the government. They write a news analysis and evaluation of how the nation be governed in the future.
Curated OER
The Fight for Human Rights
Students explore the concept of human rights by developing and defending their own 'Bills of Human Rights' and by writing a reflective essay that compares their notions of human rights and the protection of them.
Curated OER
It's a Mad World
Students explore the various factors leading to anger, the health risks involved in anger, and the techniques people can use to cope with it. Through writing and performing scenarios that enact different causes and coping techniques of...
Curated OER
Soldiers' Stories
Students share opinions about the conditions under which they might risk their lives for a cause. They write letters from the perspective of soldiers and family members during a tour of duty.
Curated OER
Living the Dream?
Students consider the stories of two immigrants and translate their past, present and future into original pieces of writing or artwork.
Curated OER
Casting a Wide Net
Students investigate topics that would be suitable for classroom podcasts. They read an online article, write and produce a podcast.
Curated OER
The Great Chicago Fire Survivors
Young scholars examine documents describing the experiences of survivors of the Great Chicago Fire, and write condolence letters.
Curated OER
A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words - The Caldecott Award
Students engage in a variety of activities as they study illustrators, how illustrations enhance a studenT book, and the Caldecott Award. They write a report about their favorite illustrator.
Curated OER
Playing it Safe
Learners explore the importance of an election and act as political advisers for an upcoming election. Students create platforms for various candidates, by writing a letter to their candidate with suggestions for winning the election.
Curated OER
Wall to Peace: Deconstructing Divisions Among People and Cultures
Students analyze quotes and poetry related to relationships in society. In this civics instructional activity, students participate in small group debate game and focus on communication skills that reinforce civil discussion. Students...
Curated OER
Inspection Gadgets
Young scholars examine the weapons used in past wars to prepare for a mock weapons inspection, then write a report detailing the state of weapons technology during a specific time period.
Curated OER
Education in Translation
Young scholars reflect on their own language learning experience and interests. They research language learning and brainstorm ideas in preparation for creating brochures on language learning technology.
Curated OER
Do Something Beautiful
Students recognize philanthropy in literature. In this philanthropy lesson, students read the book Something Beautiful by Sharon Wyeth and discuss how the character performed acts of philanthropy. Students write a reflection in a journal.
Beacon Learning Center
Challenging the Human Spirit
High schoolers select a theme-related essay topic from Night, by Elie Wiesel, or The Metamorphosis, by Franz Kafka, and develop an essay that relates the theme to modern-day personal experiences. The essay follows a preset rubric...
Math Learning Center
Fourth Grade Assessments and Scoring Checklists, Common Core State Standards
Find out how your class is progressing in math with a set of assessments. Learners finish a baseline assignment to assess where they are beginning the year and then work on tests with increasing difficulty as the year progresses.
E Reading Worksheets
Tone: Voice of the Speaker
Tone and mood are easy to use interchangeably—and yet they are very different elements of literature. Help middle schoolers discern between the way a speaker feels about his or her subject and the way the audience is meant to feel with a...
Curated OER
A Medal for Peace
Young scholars create a class peace medal to present to another grade/class as a symbol of friendship between the two groups of students. Then they write an explanation of what the purpose of the peace medal is and how it relates to...
Curated OER
Launching Your Ship with Citizenship Lesson 4: Hoisting the Flag
Young scholars discuss the U.S. electoral process and brainstorm solutions to increase voter turnout in their community. In this democratic citizenship lesson, students identify keywords in speech and video related to freedom of speech...
Curated OER
Step by Step
Students measure the rise and run of steps from a place that holds meaning for them. They write a reflection (in the form of a journal entry, poem, or short story) regarding this significant place.