Academy of American Poets
Teach This Poem: "The Shapes of Leaves" by Arthur Sze
Arthur Sze's poem, "The Shapes of Leaves," encourages young scholars to notice and speak for others who "do not speak." The activity begins with pupils writing about a tree that they really like. The class then examines an image of...
Academy of American Poets
Teach This Poem: “In This Place (An American Lyric)” by Amanda Gorman
Amanda Gorman, the United States's first National Youth Poet Laureate, is featured in a resource from the Academy of American Poets. Class members first read Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have A Dream" speech and note what King wanted...
EduGAINs
Coureurs de Bois, First Nation Peoples, and the Fur Trade
The interactions between the Coureurs de bois (runners of the woods) and the First Nation Peoples as they engaged in the fur trade are the focus on this Canadian history exercise. Kids select learning centers based on their learning...
Curated OER
Teaching Reading Comprehension through Social Studies Readings
Examine how immigrants have changed the environment of the United States. Individually, middle schoolers will take a pre- and post-test to assess their reading comprehension. In groups, they compare and contrast the religions of...
Curated OER
Essential Strategies for Teaching Phonemic Awareness
Although designed for those new to teaching phonemic awareness, the strategies and activities included in this 25-page packet are sure to engage kids and help them develop these essential skills.
Curated OER
Teaching “Level of Difficulty” through Close Reading, Reflection, and Performance
What makes a poem difficult? Explore that topic and more with your class as you work through the lesson plan detailed here. Using materials from Poetry Out Loud, a national recitation contest, individuals or small groups examine poems...
Curated OER
The United Nations
Students are introduced to the role of the United Nations. Using the internet, they research its history and its influence on politics and peace. In groups, they create a timeline of significant United Nations conventions since World...
Curated OER
Making Your Own National Park Geologic Tour
Middle schoolers research national parks. In this geology lesson plan, students identify the geological features of selected national parks and create PowerPoint presentations that feature their findings.
Curated OER
Discovering National Parks
Students work to preserve American National Parks. In this environmental activism lesson, students research the history of the national parks and determine why they were created. Students then focus on protecting the land, using it for...
Curated OER
National Handwriting Day
In this National Handwriting Day worksheet, students complete activities such as reading a passage, phrase matching, fill in the blanks, choose the correct word, multiple choice, spelling, sequencing, scrambled sentences, asking...
Library of Congress
Stars, Stripes and Symbols of America: Comparing Our Flag, Past and Present
Your young historians will compare and contrast the details of the American flag today with an an image of the nation's flag from the post-Civil War era, and identify the flag's importance as a national symbol through analysis worksheets...
Curated OER
Aggressors Invade Nations: WWII
What makes a World War? As it sounds, it's a war in which the world is involved. This presentation really defines the struggles, invasions, and conflicts that occurred all over the globe at the dawn of the Second World War. It describes...
American Psychological Association
A Silent National Crisis: Violence Against Teachers
School violence is becoming an epidemic in America. How can schools protect their teachers—and teach them how to protect their students? Read an important brochure about how violence affects teachers personally, emotionally, financially,...
National Park Service
Teaching with Historic Places: Discover the Jackie Robinson Ballpark
Can sports and popular culture change public opinion? That's the essential question asked by a lesson plan that looks at the role Jackie Robinson's appearance at City Island Ballpark in Daytona Beach, Florida played in the desegregation...
Curated OER
First Nations Veterans
Students generate a list of heroic qualities of veterans. In this American veterans instructional activity, students research a First Nations veteran and create a poster presentation on their figure.
Curated OER
Nationalities 2
In this social studies worksheet, learners consider where people of different nationalities come from. Students read 20 terms of nationality and write the country where that person would live. Example: A Finn comes from (Finland).
Curated OER
First Nations Contributions
Ninth graders examine the contributions made by the First Nations to Canada. In this Canadian history lesson, 9th graders compare and contrast First Nation creation stories to migration theories. Students then research the...
Curated OER
General Music: Star Spangled Banner
"The Star Spangled Banner" became our country's national anthem, but why? Second and third grade musicians read about the song, analyze the lyrics, and discuss patriotism. They then complete a related word search.
Curated OER
Stereotypes
Students analyze then sort a given list of words by selected categories about stereotypes. They complete a list of activities then write their opinion about national stereotypes to present to the class.
Curated OER
Using the Library for More than Research Papers
Use the repository of resources that modern libraries hold to your advantage during National Library Week.
NOAA
Introduction to the Ocean Sciences
Engage your class with a mock National Ocean Sciences Bowl. The first installment of a 23-part NOAA Enrichment in Marine sciences and Oceanography (NEMO) program provides an introduction to the ocean sciences, as well as to the rules of...
Academy of American Poets
Teach This Poem: "When Giving Is All We Have" by Alberto Ríos
What makes giving meaningful? Class members discuss this question, then listen to Alberto Rios reading his poem, "When Giving Is All We Have." Finally, the class considers what the poet says about the question.
Academy of American Poets
Teach This Poem: "Instructions on Not Giving Up" by Ada Limón
What do the myth of the phoenix bird and Ada Limón's poem "Instructions on Not Giving Up" have in common? Young scholars create a list of what they notice about both the myth and poem, then consider what the similarities might indicate...
Academy of American Poets
Teach This Poem: "somewhere i have never travelled,gladly beyond" by E. E. Cummings
Scholars engage in a role-play exercise, compare their demonstration to a time-lapse video, and to a poem by E.E. Cummings. The ensuing discussion asks learners to consider the similarities among the three.