Curated OER
The Mayflower Compact
Eighth graders investigate historical documents of the United States by reading the Mayflower Compact. In this U.S. History activity, 8th graders analyze the wording of the original Mayflower Compact of the first U.S. settlers and...
Curated OER
Ancient Roman Monuments and Timeline
While a terrific idea, this lesson in which learners create a timeline showing the date that a variety of buildings and monuments were built in Ancient Rome, requires resources teachers may not have. It requires the use of a Smartboard,...
Curated OER
Energy: Power to the People
Students explore the concept of renewable energy. In this green design lesson, students research local energy issues facing their community and create policies to address the issues.
Curated OER
Every Object Tells a Story
High schoolers read the story behind objects in the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum and create a story about an object in the exhibit. In this design lesson, students explore the "Design for the Other 90%" exhibition and create a...
Curated OER
Coast-to-Coast Book Design-Part 3: Brainstorming the Book
Middle schoolers examine the process of designing a book and identify the steps necessary to publish a book. In small groups they analyze ABC books, and discuss the similarities and differences between the books. Students then brainstorm...
Curated OER
Who is the President Now?
Students discover the presidents of the United States using digital tools. In life skills lesson plan, students use PowerPoint and SMART Board technology to match presidents of the United States to their photographs.
Curated OER
The Civil War in Historical Fiction and Historical Accounts
Eighth graders examine life during the Civil War through various readings. They compare and contrast a novel they read in class to one they chose on the subject. They work together as a class to produce a newspaper displaying the...
Curated OER
Setting Goals with Benjamin Franklin
Students discuss historical accounts and accomplishments of "Benjamin Franklin" which exemplify good character traits. They create a display of paper keys which describe these traits. They relate these traits to their future goals and...
Curated OER
Use or Make a Table
For this make a table worksheet, students read real world questions and write an equation to match the equation. Next, they solve the equation. This one-page worksheet contains two problems.
Curated OER
Biomimicry: Working Together, Cooperative Design
Students explore the concept of biomimicry. In this cooperative design lesson, students consider how cooperation is connected to nature and then collaborate to create their own cooperative designs for the future.
Curated OER
Women's Brains
Students experience an example of bias in science dealing with women and gender.
Curated OER
Ellen Ochoa
Young scholars identify who Ellen Ochoa was and how she has accomplished many things in her life, such as, inventions. They demonstrate their knowledge of the invention process by creating their own invention while using problem solving...
Curated OER
Caps for Sale/Color Words
Students read the book "Caps for Sale." Students model reading a sentence and using one color cap and the color word (written in its color). They match the color word (written in its color) to the correct color hat.
Curated OER
Personal Responsibility
Students write in their journals. In this writing and responsibility lesson, students write about personal responsibility. They have three writing choices to choose from that all deal with this central theme.
Curated OER
Environmental Destruction in Vietnam
Students watch video clip on Environmental Destruction of Vietnam, select and discuss passages from essay, Resuscitation of the Dead Earth, that emphasize destruction to the land, and write essay on whether United States should have been...
Curated OER
Lesson Plan on Benjamin Franklin
Fifth graders utilize Internet research methods to gather information about the inventions of Benjamin Franklin. They prepare oral reports and present them to the class incorporating at least one visual aid.
Curated OER
Comparison of King Lear and King James
Students learn of the comparisons between Shakespeare's play, King Lear, and the actual King James. They make historical connections through internet research.
Curated OER
Pumpkin Writing Paper
In this writing worksheet, learners use the blank lined paper with a colorful pumpkin border for any kind of writing: reports, poetry, stories or letters.
Curated OER
Back To School Crossword
In this reading worksheet, pupils analyze 10 words which pertain to Back to school time. Students read clues and fit the words in the crossword puzzle.
Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD)
Ascd: Building Literacy in Social Studies: Ch 1: Reading Social Studies Texts
Article provides excellent tips and strategies for building comprehension and critical thinking skills in Social Studies. It describes some of the challenges students have with reading and understanding their textbooks.
PBS
Pbs: Academic Vocabulary in the Common Core: Disciplinary Vocabulary
This series of four video segments features a social studies teacher and a chemistry teacher demonstrating the integration of academic vocabulary into their classrooms. These segments feature the incorporation of general vocabulary (Tier...
Vocabulary University
My vocabulary.com: List of Themes for Social Studies & History
This is a list of interactive vocabulary activities for social studies and history.
Student Achievement Partners
Achieve the Core: Introduction to Literacy Shifts in Content Areas
This 1-2 hour module provides an introduction to the key shifts required by the CCSS for Literacy in the content areas: history / social studies, science, and technical subjects.
Quizlet
Quizlet: 8th Grade: Social Studies Vocabulary: Flashcards
This set of interactive flashcards focuses on social studies vocabulary terms and a fill-in-the-blank sentence using each term.