Curated OER
Traveling Back in Time
Learners examine memories and the importance of memories to the people of all ages that make up a community. They explore the definition of philanthropy and identify an act of philanthropy in the literature. The book, 'Wilfrid Gordon...
Curated OER
B-movies and Plot: Story Elements, Writing, Media
Young scholars use old "B-Movies" as a springboard to discuss and analyze traditional plot structures. They form groups and make their own 'movie' to demonstrate their knowledge.
Curated OER
African Americans in Science
Middle schoolers examine the life of renowned African American scientists. For this science literacy lesson, students explore a website containing profiles and achievements of past and present African American scientists. They prepare a...
Curated OER
Using Artwork to Develop Personal Narratives
Students use a work or art as a springboard to a personal narrative or descriptive writing. They represent an idea in an artistic product which connects to composition.
Curated OER
Knights and Castles and Kings Galore
Fifth graders create a fairy tale story with emphasis on castles. After reading various texts featuring castles and their residents, 5th graders complete a book report project. The book report serves as a springboard to the writing...
Curated OER
Where Do Animals Come From?
Students use library search engines to research an animal and its origin. In this animal research lesson plan, students research their assigned animal using ProQuest. Students then find the country of origin of the animal using a library...
Curated OER
Putting It All Together
Students organize their daily observation logs to write a nonfiction piece. They compare and contrast Saturn to other planets or write a summary. They use this piece of writing in future lessons.
Curated OER
Calling All Units
Explore the history of the portable cell phone as a springboard to investigating other technological innovations that significantly impact our everyday lives. Identify different types of technology used in everyday life and explore how...
Curated OER
Spelling: ie and ei words
Fourth graders practice spelling "ie" and "ei" words. In this review of spelling, 4th graders discuss different "ie"/"ei" words and the old saying "i before e except after c" and it's accuracy. This lesson includes a worksheet for...
Film English
Everyday
What would you do if you got an extra day every week? Partners share some information about their routines and lives and write compositions about one another based on the information. Each partner tries to guess what the other person...
Curated OER
Be a Celebrity and Share Your Life with Us
Sixth graders discuss their likes, dislikes, hobbies, goals, and special events in their lives. They write a five paragraph autobiography focusing on style, transitions, and details. This is well-suited for either explanatory or...
Curated OER
Writing Formal and Informal Letters
Third graders write a thank-you note and a formal letter of request that included relevant information, such as a return address, date, inside address, proper salutation, body, closing, and signature. They write an imaginary letter to...
Curated OER
Frontier Life Story
Students undertake a similar (but not quite as drastic) adventure as that of Frontier House as they explore the day-to-day realities of frontier life through a Laura Ingalls Wilder story, and reflect on which time period suits them...
Curated OER
The Hobbit
Students list W.H Auden's six characteristics of a quest story. They say what is meant by a "metaphorical quest." Pupils discuss some differences between symbolism and allegory. Students indicate how Bilbo Baggins's adventures changed...
Curated OER
The Lorax Explorations
Students read and debate the purpose of Dr. Seuss' The Lorax, analyze its story elements, and write their own The Lorax II.
Curated OER
Lilting Limericks
Students discover the formula for writing limericks and use it to write their own poems.
Curated OER
Roar-Shack Poetry
Students use tempera paints to create blots. They use the blots as inspiration for poetry writing by brainstorming and organizing all words they associate with the blot. They present their poetry along with their inspiration.
Curated OER
Literature: Porgy and Bess
Students examine the various portrayals of African-Americans in literature, focusing on the opera, Porgy and Bess. They conduct Internet research on African-American culture between the two World Wars. Students write fictional or...
Curated OER
Weightlessness
Students use a coffee cup to demonstrate weightlessness. After a lecture/demo, students read an article on free-fall. They perform a simple experiment which helps them explain the concept of weightlessness.
Andrews McMeel Publishing
Charlie Brown and Friends
Charles Schulz' Charlie Brown and Friends, a collection of Peanuts comic strips, provides young readers with an opportunity to engage in full-class discussions, work in groups to examine how Schulz develops his characters, and...
Curated OER
Teaching Social Studies in English
Case studies, an examination of images, and readings of passages from the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child are used to spark conversations in ESL/ELD social studies classes about this highly-charged topic. Using a variety of...
Curated OER
Origin of the Modern Summer Games
Where did the Olympic Summer Games originate? The class takes a look at ancient origins of modern Olympic games. They research the Olympics and write a compare and contrast essay that describes how the Olympic Games have changed since...
Curated OER
Center Stage -- Focus on the Elderly
Students role play and identify the perspectives of senior citizens. They develop a plan on how to interact with the elderly successfully. They examine children's books on how to relate to the elderly.
Curated OER
An "Eggs"traordinary Sculpture
Eighth graders identify and categorize different types of animals which lay eggs, use a five step method for viewing and interpreting a piece of artwork, and use an indirect method to find the mass of a large object.