Museum of Tolerance
Oral History Activity
Oral history has brought a multitude of lessons, stories, and factoids to our current knowledge of the past. Let us continue to use oral history traditions through a lesson that encourages pupils to discover and appreciate...
Museum of Tolerance
Artifact Research Activity
Artifacts give us the privilege of learning about the past, may it be family, culture, or traditions. Here, class members learn about their family's past with the help of an artifact, or family heirloom. Once an artifact is...
Missouri Department of Elementary
Keep Finding the Positive
Group members take on roles to create a positive classroom community. Learners perform their role—leader, recorder, presenter, timekeeper, encourager, and collector—in preparation for a formal presentation of their positive thinking...
The New York Times
The One-Question Interview
Generate interest in current events, the theme of a new unit, or a research project. Individuals select a question from the list generated by the class, conduct one-on-one interviews, analyze the responses, draw conclusions based on...
EngageNY
Grade 11 ELA Module 1: Unit 3, Lesson 7
How might two completely different texts address similar topics and themes? Using the penultimate instructional activity from the eight-part Grade 11 ELA Module 1: Unit 3 series, scholars review the central ideas they developed in a...
Chicago Botanic Garden
Meet the Naturalists
Studying plants is a full-time job—for some. After learning the ins and outs of phenology in the first three lessons in the unit, pupils explore the history of the science. The instructional activity highlights five historical...
Curated OER
Lost on a Deserted Island
Third graders practice brainstorming with their classmates as they discuss a role-play situation. In this group discussion instructional activity, 3rd graders must present ideas of ways to survive on a deserted island by discussing...
Curated OER
Learning World Languages
Young scholars brainstorm topics for a conversation to be held in the language they are studying. They generate questions and hold practice conversations. Pupils record question and answers with an iPod and a voice recorder. When they...
Curated OER
Let's Go on a Trip
Students learning the English language play a simulation game in which they pretend to travel to another country. They complete several activities starting with "Deciding Where to Go" and working through "Going on the Flight." In each,...
Curated OER
Building Communities
Students examine the ADL's Pyramid of Hate and use it to identify bullying instances they are aware of. In this character education lesson, students discuss their findings and design activities or programs to combat bullying in their own...
Curated OER
Temas contraversiales del mundo hispanohablante:Controversial Themes of the Hispanic World
Eleventh graders brainstorm controversial themes of Spanish-speaking countries. They read articles written in Spanish. They discuss the articles, practicing their Spanish speaking skills. Students conduct research and design a...
Curated OER
Literature Response for Home-School Connections: Fables
First graders participate in home and school based literacy activities in this unit. They examine fables in school and practice the literacy activities at home.
Curated OER
April Fool's Day
Learners explore tradition and the month of April by participating in practical jokes. In this United Kingdom holiday activity, students discuss the birth of April Fool's day and what it means to the people of England. Learners research...
Curated OER
Delivering a Persuasive Speech
To prepare to deliver a persuasive speech, class members examine not only how to craft a speech, but consider body language, articulation, pronunciation, pitch, pace, and volume as well.
Curated OER
Curriculum Plan for Vietnam Study Abroad Project
Learners compare and contrast the education system in Vietnam and Michigan. They study activities being addressed in changing Vietnam's education system and create presentations to demonstrate their understanding.
PBS
Master of the Airwaves: How FDR Used Radio to Ease the Public’s Fears
The political and economic climate during the 1930's was uncertain and tumultuous. But Americans' minds and hearts were eased with the reassuring words of their president, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and addresses over the radio. High...
American Chemical Society
A Catalyst and the Rate of Reaction
More than 90 percent of chemical products are made using a catalyst. Lesson demonstrates the way a catalyst changes the rate of reaction without altering the chemical reaction. A catalyst doesn't appear as a reactant or a product, yet it...
Curated OER
An Air-Powered Car
Youngsters read text about an environmentally-friendly car. They try to figure out the meaning of the vocabulary in the text and discuss issues related to alternative energy sources. This thoughtful, well-designed plan has all the...
Curated OER
Storytelling in the Classroom
What makes story telling special? Young readers demonstrate how to tell a story to others. Kindergarteners, first graders, and second graders read biographies of "Building Blocks" characters and tell a story about a character to their...
Curated OER
Discuss It
A key part of learning about different people and things is knowing how to have a constructive discussion in a respectful way. The class establishes a set of rules for their discussion and then begins a conversation about a wide array of...
Curated OER
Nervous System
Get to know the body's central nervous system through an engaging game of nervous system telephone. But this isn't your average game of telephone. Here, pupils must find a way to communicate a message to the brain without speaking....
Curated OER
Friday Forum
Middle schoolers research a variety of controversial articles to gain knowledge. They form an opinion and defend their position with supporting data. They evaluate opposing arguments and present their viewpoint both verbally and in the...
Teach Engineering
Magnetic Materials
The design challenge: develop a method to separate steel from aluminum. The first lesson plan in an eight-part series introduces the class to the grand challenge of ciming up with a method to streamline a sorting process at a...
Curated OER
My World Wide Tour of Spanish Speaking Countries
Students organize a two week travel plan through Spanish speaking countries all over the world. plan their flight schedules, accommodations, and tours of cultural events. Students compute the total cost of their trip.