Smithsonian Institution
Cuban Missile Crisis
The United States—specifically John F. Kennedy—played a large role during the Cuban Missile Crisis. A history resource poses questions that encourage critical thinking as well as in-depth analysis of images from the time period.
Curated OER
Life on a Farm
Young scholars take a field trip to a farm or observe pictures of farms and animals in the classroom. They paint a mural of a farm setting with animals. They practice phonetic skills with farm stories and songs. They explain how milk...
Curated OER
Seismic Waves
Students identify the four types of seismic waves, their characteristics and effects. Then they predict the level of damage each wave might cause in a residential area and test their predictions against several computer animations. ...
Curated OER
Distribution of Active Volcanoes Exercise
Students collect and plot data, then interpret the results and answer questions about the geologic causes and the human effects of volcanic eruption. They participate in a role-play activity and a virtual field trip, as well.
Curated OER
In the Eyes of the Beholder
Students identify parts of the eye and their functions through participating in a cow's eye dissection lab. They investigate vision problems and diseases, focusing on their causes, and how abnormal vision can be aided with technology.
Michigan Sea Grant
Survival Game
Musical chairs may be a classic game, but Ruffe Musical Chairs is a unique lesson plan on invasive species! Using the time-honored game, pupils role play the behaviors of the invasive fish called Eurasian ruffe. Learning about this...
Curated OER
The West the Railroads made
Students investigate the effects of time and distance for the creation of a successful railroad. In this railroad lesson plan, students recognize the railroad's need for an exact time schedule was the cause for the creation of time...
Curated OER
The Little Ice Age - Understanding Climate and Climate Change
Fourth graders receive data about tree ring records, solar activity, and volcanic eruptions during the Little Ice Age (1350-1850). From this data, they draw conclusions about possible natural causes of climate change
Curated OER
Droughts
Students discuss a natural disaster. In this droughts lesson plan, students discover how droughts occur and how they affect the society dealing with one. They discuss how the population of Australia deals with droughts and work on...
Curated OER
Jerry Rubin, Abbie Hoffman, and the 60s Counterculture
Students identify how American society responded to the 1960's counterculture. In this 1960's America activity, students investigate multimedia sources in order to examine the movement and its impact on the country.
Curated OER
Hoosier Soldiers and the Emancipation Proclamation
Eighth graders examine the impact of Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation through the eyes of Indiana soldiers. For this American Civil War lesson, 8th graders read the proclamation and then students write essays that included letters...
Curated OER
Obesity, Eating Habits and Weight Loss
Students conduct Internet research, view film and participate in class discussion to identify the problem and causes of obesity in America. They evaluate the food pyramid and break down the nutritional components of fast food and frozen...
University of New Mexico
Lesson Plans and WebQuests
Students review an overview of mediation techniques and listening skills. They practice good listening skills which are needed for the mediation process and discuss icebreakers in pairs to better utilize good listening skills.
Curated OER
Neighborhood and Community
Young scholars research the history of North Logan, Utah. Using photographs, they identify the similiarties and differences between the past and today. They locate their home on a large map discuss ways in which different groups and...
Curated OER
Wings, Chrome, and Tailfins: Automobiles of the 1950s
Young scholars study the automobile industry. In this cultural history lesson, students explore 1950s America as they view a teacher-created PowerPoint presentation regarding the 1950s. Young scholars research how the automobile changed...
West Virginia Department of Education
Harpers Ferry Letters
Scholars write letters as if they were someone who heard the story of John Brown's raid. The resource, a standalone, covers information from primary sources that is important to West Virginian history: the Harpers Ferry Letters.
Curated OER
All About HIV and AIDS
Students use the internet to research the causes, effects and how AIDS is transmitted from person to person. In groups, they discover why women are more suseptiable to the disease. To end the lesson, they are introduced to the various...
Curated OER
ENVIRONMENT AND CONSERVATION: JAPAN
Young scholars explain conditions and motivations that contribute to conflict, cooperation, and interdependence among nations; and analyze the causes, consequences and possible solutions to resource allocation, conservation, and economic...
Curated OER
Exploring the Renaissance and Reformation
Students examine the effects of the Renaissance and Reformation on Europe. In groups, they use the internet researching their section of the project and take notes of information. They create a visual aid and present their findings to...
Curated OER
You Can't Always Get What You Want!
Students examine the concepts of supply and demand. They watch a video, research and identify the effect of fads, and complete the worksheet, Fads of the Last 100 Years.
Curated OER
Major Events Leading to the American Revolution
Students explore the causes of the American Revolution. In this taxation without representation lesson plan, students analyze political cartoons in order to gain an understanding of the efforts of the colonists to resolve conflict with...
Curated OER
The Moon Made Me Do It!
Students research about how lunar cycles affect living organisms. In this biology lesson plan, students prepare an oral presentation of their research results and analyses. They explore the forces that affect tides.
Curated OER
Cancer Research
Students participate in a class demonstration to see how many Americans are affected by cancer in their lifetime. In this public health lesson, students are placed in situations that allow them to experience how relevant cancer...
Curated OER
"I Can” Common Core! 6th Grade Writing
It is impossible to know whether one has reached a goal without first knowing the goal. Help your sixth graders reach all the Common Core writing standards by giving them a checklist written in language they will understand. As you teach...