New York State Education Department
TASC Transition Curriculum: Workshop 4
Why is it important to use precise language? Participants explore this question in the fourth activity in a series of 15 on effective instruction. Perfect for all content areas, the activity promotes appropriate language choice through...
Curated OER
"Snapshot" Exercises & Sensory Detail Word Bank
Read a sample of creative descriptive writing to your science class. Discuss how writing can be used to record and communicate observations that scientists make. Reading selections and thought-provoking questions are suggested. Also...
Twisty Noodle
Animal Action Cards Book
Can you stomp like a elephant? Or slither like a snake? Use these animal cards to get your little monkeys moving! Each card features an illustration and action word that matches the animal.
Curated OER
A Seashell Lesson: Writing for Detail and the Scientific Process
Practice descriptive language in this lesson, which prompts elementary and middle schoolers to write detailed descriptive sentences describing a seashell. They write a description of a shell, create an illustration, and other students...
abcteach
Snow Similes
The snowflakes were like diamonds, glittering on the ground and in the sky. Encourage your pupils to write their own snow-related similes with a quick exercise. Pupils write five similes and illustrate their favorite comparison.
Curated OER
Sustainability and the Recycling of Words
Recycling and green living isn't just for the environment anymore. Studying the use of metaphors and metonymies, especially in reference to environmental sustainability, this presentation provides viewers with plenty of food for thought....
Curated OER
Volcano Similes
Young writers learn about similes and read some examples using the topic of volcanoes. They write 10 similes of their own and choose one to illustrate. The graphic design of the sheet is clean, promoting focus and clarity.
PHET
Forces in 1 Dimension
A realistic simulation uses charts to show forces, position, velocity, and acceleration versus time based on how the simulation is set up. Once those concepts are mastered, scholars use free body diagrams to explain how each graph...
Curated OER
Polar Bear Literacy Activity
Students generate vocabulary words synonymous or related to "noise." In this literacy lesson, students listen to the book Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What do You Hear? by Bill Martin and Eric Carle and discuss the meaning of vocabulary words...
US Department of Agriculture
George Washington Carver Coloring and Activity Book
Learn about the interesting life of George Washington Carver and his many accomplishments with this series of worksheets for primary grade learners. From coloring pages and word searches, to non-fiction reading passages and math skills...
EngageNY
Science Talk: How do Bullfrogs Survive
Following the reading of the book Bullfrog at Magnolia Circle, the ninth activity in this unit involves emerging experts in a science talk about how bullfrogs survive. Looking back through the text, young scholars prepare for the...
Curated OER
"ART ZOO 'Blacks in the Westward Movement', 'What Can You Do with a Portrait', and 'Of Beetles, Worms, and Leaves of Grass'"
Students study black history, examine portraits and portrait making and create their own portraits, and investigate their natural environment. This humanities lesson provides a text that can be used to teach lessons in black...
Curated OER
Language Acquisition: How Babies Learn a Language
Students create a book for small children. In this literary instructional activity, students examine the qualities in children's literature that capture the attention of the child. They then work in small groups to create a book to share...
American Institute of Architects
Architecture: It's Elementary!—First Grade
Build an interest and appreciation for architecture in your young learners with this fun 10-lesson art unit. Engaging children in using their five senses, the class first observes the environment around them, paying...
Curated OER
Trees
Young scholars explore tree species based on their features. In this tree lesson, students visit a wooded area and work with a partner to describe distinctive features of trees using all of the senses except "sight." A discovery...
Curated OER
Natural Disasters: Stormy Weather in Art, Writing, and Music
Using personal experience, visual art, and music that evoke natural disasters, your older high schoolers create their own expressions of storms. Learners conduct online research about weather drama. They make their own expressive...
Water
Global Water Supply Middle School Curriculum
We take a steady shower stream and clean drinking water for granted, but in many countries around the world, the lack of water or a clean water supply is responsible for higher sickness and death rates. Taking a closer look at the water...
Curated OER
The Elements: A Visual Exploration
Have the building blocks of the universe at your fingertips! Visually intriguing and animated, this interactive periodic table may also be the most informative chemistry tool available!
Curated OER
Earth's Just Peachy!
Young scholars are introduced to the various layers of the Earth. Using fruit, they discover each layer and discover the use of similies in describing it. They watch a video to better describe each layer of the Earth and its purpose.
Curated OER
Getting the Message: What Did You Say?
Students listen to and compare the first sentence of the Gettysburg Address spoken in different languages. They also compare frequency readings for each and discuss how the brain interprets spoken words.
Curated OER
What's in the Sock?
Second graders use their sense of touch to identify a variety of objects. In this sense of touch activity, 2nd graders listen to a read aloud of Sandra Boynyon's, Fuzzy Fuzzy, Fuzzy. They talk about different textures and about the...
Curated OER
Writing Original Literary Texts - The Cuban Crab Migration
Middle schoolers explore figurative language through poetry. For this poetry lesson, students view a video segment regarding the Cuban crab migration. Middle schoolers use similes and metaphors in poetry they create based on the journey...
Curated OER
Essential Elements of Habitat
First graders compare their local area with the Belize landscape. They construct maps of the school area, adding descriptive information. They write haiku poems about their favorite outside places.
Curated OER
Using Greek and Latin Roots to Help Students Learn Vocabulary in Science Classes
You can help students confidently approach science vocabulary by teaching them about Greek and Latin roots.