Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Globe Lesson- The Revolutionary War

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students discover using globes. In this geography lesson, students use a globe to outline the original 13 colonies. Students also use a globe to measure the distance from London to New York City and determine how many days it would have...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Gold Rush

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Learners identify the routes involved in the Gold Rush on a map. In this map skills lesson, students use a United States map to locate the routes used to travel to California during the Gold Rush. Learners demonstrate how to use the map...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Correlation Between Human Population Growth and Dwindling Natural Resources

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders predict human population growth.  In this lesson, 8th graders discuss the length of time needed to double the human population, work in groups to chart population growth and predict population growth in the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson Plan for Scaffolding Complex Texts

For Teachers Pre-K - 2nd Standards
Enhance a class read-aloud of the children's story Hi! Fly Guy with this reading comprehension lesson. Children first listen as the teacher reads the story, stopping along the way to discuss any unfamiliar vocabulary. The book...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Big Not So Easy

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore, analyze and discuss statistics regarding the conditions in New Orleans since the flooding caused by Hurricane Katrina. They predict the rate of rebuilding and research and compare statistics about their own community...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Urban Concentration and Racial Violence

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students research one of the many urban race riots in U.S. history, from the New York City riots during the Civil War to the "Red Summer of 1919" or the hate-strikes of 1943. They present their findings in the form of a newspaper's front...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Investigation So What's The Difference?

For Teachers 1st
First graders investigate the differences between shapes.  In this block characteristics lesson, 1st graders work in groups to explore blocks, group the blocks by different characteristics, discuss the block attributes and record...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

I'm The Taxman!

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students develop an understanding of how federal revenues are gained by taxes. This foundation enable students to decipher changes in federal tax policy. Groups of students study different types of taxes and prepare presentations on each...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Calculating the Cost of a "Sound Basic Education"

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students state their opinions about school funding and the use of monetary resources by school districts and use reasons, facts, and examples to support their ideas. They compare sets of data related to school funding and draw...
Lesson Plan
National First Ladies' Library

Save the Animals: The Creation of the ASPCA

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students read Black Beauty and study the history of the founding of the ASPCA and learn about endangered species today. Then they write a short paper about the book, or on some aspect of the history of the ASPCA, and, after exploring the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Shadow

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students identify career areas which are nontraditional for their gender. They tak a self-assessment survey type instrument that indicates the primary type of intelligence as based on the Multiple Intelligence Theory (Howard Gardner).
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Muckrakers Interdisciplinary Unit

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders complete an Interdisciplinary Unit on the Muckrakers and the Progressive Movement. Students describe life in America and how Progressive Reformers changed it. identify specific problems and propose solutions. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Are Our Common Values?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students make a poster. In this values lesson, students read the Preamble to the Constitution and discuss the core democratic values that are found there and in the Declaration of Independence. Students are each assigned a core...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Pentagon Papers

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers examine national security issues. In this Vietnam lesson, students research the background and controversy surrounding the Pentagon Papers. High schoolers discuss press rights in light of maintaining national security.
Lesson Plan
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For the Birds

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders explore biology by creating birdhouses. In this bird identification lesson plan, 2nd graders discuss the different types of birds that live in their environment and what characteristics each type of bird has. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Harlem Renaissance

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students investigate the African American culture in the 1920's and the Harlem Renaissance. They read and analyze poems written by poets of the Harlem Renaissance, listen to jazz music and identify the characteristics of the music, and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Rise of U.S. Business and Industry

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders examine the industrialization of post-Reconstruction America. In this 20th century American history lesson, 11th graders listen to a lecture about the industrial age and then conduct their own research to determine the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

WWI and Twenties & Thirties

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students study economics and timelines of events to understand changes in America.  In this Twenties and Thirties activity, students navigate Internet sites to research famous reformers.  Students recognize the economic changes...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mixing Metaphors with Politics

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Students discuss different literary devices and use them to write summaries of New York Times articles dealing with international news. They reflect on the effectiveness and appropriateness of sports metaphors in the political arena.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Poll Positions

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students analyze and graph the results of a nationwide New York Times poll about race in the United States. They poll people in their community regarding their views and experiences, and compare and contrast local and national poll data.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"Julie of the Wolves"

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders research life in Alaska and compare life there to their lives in this lesson. They read "Julie of the Wolves." They research through the novel and other reference books facts about the Alaskan climate and geography. They...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Separate Lives

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students read a New York Times article to explain apartheid and its legacies. They examine prejudice in their own lives by looking a the perception of discriminatory traits.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mixed Plate

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students locate a sample restaurant review in a newspaper or magazine. They examine the review to find the opinion of the reviewer and discuss reviews that convey mixed opinions. They compose an original review in a similar style to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Coup-Operation in Pakistan

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students, using a New York Times Article as a springboard for discussion, investigate the 1999 military coup in Pakistan. They generate further questions and research their answers.