Curated OER
How Should Our Gardens Grow?
Students examine different types of land use by humans and evaluate the ways land is used in their local community. They also consider the environmental effects of the different types of land use. Students assume the role of community...
Curated OER
Acid Rain in our State
Learners conduct internet research on acid rain, a serious environmental problem. They examine the pH levels of rainwater for their state, collect data from their community and investigate the causes and solutions for acid rain.
Curated OER
In Our Own Voice
Students, after being introduced to poetry in the language arts class, prepare to produce a product by identifying and writing a variety of different types of poetry. They utilize digital cameras, camcorders, computers and the multimedia...
Teach Engineering
Solar Water: Heat it Up!
Young engineers are instructed to design and build their own solar water heaters. Then, they calculate the efficiency and cost and compare them to commercially available models. This is a full unit for pupils to apply their knowledge.
Curated OER
Using the Tools in Your Community
Third graders research a profession in their community that uses tools to help the community. In this professions lesson plan, 3rd graders complete computer research to research the profession and present it to the class.
Curated OER
Rocks in our Backyard
Students examine igneous and sedimentary rocks. They observe and identify geological formations in their community, analyze igneous and sedimentary geological layers using a geological map, and use GPS to locate geological formations.
Curated OER
Exploring our Community
Students research Los Angeles and its surrounding communities. They create digital presentations of the information they have gathered by answering the question included in the lesson.
Intel
Composting: Why Bother?
The first STEM lesson in a group of 10 explores composting. After discussing how to make a better tomorrow, classes are challenged to track garbage in their communities, visit a local waste management facility, and conduct a survey about...
Curated OER
Sharing Our Surplus Stash: A Trick-Or-Treat Twist
Students give the gift of candy to community members. In this citizenship and giving lesson, students read Franklin's Halloween and discuss why the main characters give away part of their Halloween candy. Students brainstorm who in their...
Curated OER
Our Wonderful Stories: Lesson Plan 5
The fifth installment in a writing unit that culminates with a Hyperstudio illustrated group story project, this plan is ripe with ideas for ways to design group writing projects for elementary writers. Use the whole unit as a base from...
Curated OER
Lesson 5: Technology: Conveniences and Consequences
Students identify positive and negative impacts of technology. In this technological advancements activity, students consider how toxic pollution affects the Earth and its inhabitants. Students participate in 3 activities that allow them...
Curated OER
Sense of Place: Our School
Students explore the concept of 'sense of place' through journaling and class discussion. In this community lesson, students discuss what makes them feel like they belong. Students give three speeches that develop the sense of place...
Social Media Toolbox
A Look at Social Media Policies
Should school news publications use social media if their district is against the use of social media in school? Pupils ponder the policy, then examine their publication's plan in parts seven and eight of a 16-part Social Media Toolbox...
Curated OER
Communities in Crisis Lesson 1: Primary Source? What is That?
Distinguish between primary and secondary source documents using the theme of philanthropy. Middle schoolers discuss Anne Frank: The Diary of Young Girl as a way to study the past using a primary source. Then they investigate how to...
Social Media Toolbox
Social Media Survey
Survey says ... social media is here to stay! How do the pupils in your school use social media? Using lesson four from a 16-part series, The Social Media Toolbox, learners study surveys and create their own. The resource includes...
Curated OER
Around the World in 180 Days
Where did I come from? How did I come to be in this classroom? Using curriculum from Kidspiration, class members research the homelands of their ancestors, as well as the journeys that began from many parts of the world and ended with...
Curated OER
Political Cartoons About Community Problems
Learners research problems faced by their community and create political cartoons for the issues. In this community problems lesson, students brainstorm problems their community faces and draw a political cartoon for the problems....
Curated OER
Nonprofits in our Community and World
Students examine the role and impact of nonprofit organizations within their community and prepare to interview representatives. They identify and develop questions to ask representatives of local nonprofit organizations. Students must...
Teach Engineering
Engineers Love Pizza, Too!
Help overcome challenges in eating pizza. Scholars work in groups to design a device that assists a physically handicapped person eat pizza. They build a prototype of such a device to test their designs before building. To finish, groups...
Curated OER
Nonprofits in Our Community
Students identify nonprofit organizations within their local community. They practice using the yellow pages to locate these organizations. They use an organizer to keep all of the information they gathered organized.
Curated OER
A Toast to Our Community
Students bake bread with a dual purpose: to explore, through the metaphor of baking bread, the potential dynamics and purposes of a classroom, and to begin investigating the idea that everyday things are connected to the local/global...
Curated OER
Basics of Environmental Science
Ninth graders explore environmental concerns of the community and identify the basic needs of people, wildlife and domestic animals. Working both individually and in groups, they also define natural resources and compare and contrast...
Curated OER
Litter From Lunchtime
Students explore environmental care by participating in a litter identification activity. In this food trash lesson, students discuss the destruction litter causes in our environment and ways we can avoid littering ourselves. Students...
Teach Engineering
Service-Based Engineering Design Project
Do some good for the community while learning about engineering. Groups complete a service-based engineering design project over the course of five weeks. The resource provides guidance on how to conduct the project and help pupils get...