Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Take It Or Leave It

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders examine the significance of the Louisiana Purchase and the journey of Lewis and Clark, and discuss "needs" versus "wants". They listen to a story, plan for a journey like Lewis and Clark, create a list of supplies, and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Where are We?

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders explore places visited by Lewis and Clark. In this geographical concepts lesson, 5th graders plot places on a map and put events in chronological order. Students find locations on a map using longitude and latitude....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

We Found It!

For Teachers 1st
First graders identify and describe landforms. They demonstrate an understanding of the compass rose and a map key using the trail of Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery. They generate a map key.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Making Friends

For Teachers 1st
First graders examine the significance of the Louisiana Purchase and the journey of Lewis and Clark. They listen to a story, analyze a map, compare/contrast the Jefferson Peace Medal and the Peace Medal nickel, and design a peace and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Laura Ingalls Wilder and Pioneer Life

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders complete a three-week unit about Laura Ingalls Wilder and pioneer life. They research the topography of Michigan in the 1870's, conduct Internet research, write journal entries, participate in polka and waltz dancing, and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"ART ZOO 'Blacks in the Westward Movement', 'What Can You Do with a Portrait', and 'Of Beetles, Worms, and Leaves of Grass'"

For Teachers 7th - 8th
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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Chinese Shadow Puppets

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students explore Chinese culture by performing a shadow puppet play. They create the puppets, develop a script, and rehearse and perform a play which illustrates an understanding of Chinese stories and traditions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Revive, Contemplate, Integrate

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students recognize flags as a symbol through writing and imagery. In this artifact lesson, students investigate Tibetan prayer flags and their significance. Students create personal prayer flags and write about their life experience of...
Lesson Planet Article
Curated OER

A Visual Connection to the Past

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Celebrate National Photo Month by engaging pupils in a community history project.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Northwest Coast Indians: Winter Celebrations Potlatch

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Upper elementary learners engage in a study about the Potlatch as a Northwest Coast Indians social custom. Groups of pupils plan their own Potlatch ceremony; incorporating activities and creating gifts much like the ones that the Indians...
Unit Plan
Oregon State

Introduction to Cinematography

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Places everyone! Action! Imagine an entire cinematography course, already designed, that includes everything you need to launch your own film studio, in one tidy 66-page packet.
Lesson Plan
Public Media for Northern California

An Educator’s Guide to Teaching Gun Control Issues | The Lowdown

For Teachers 6th - 10th
The topic of gun control is vast, controversial, and difficult to introduce to students. This gem of a resource covers both sides of the issue and provides topic background, various multimedia and print resources, analysis questions, and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Social Studies

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders explore maps and models. They discuss communities and the buildings within their community. Students construct a model of the downtown area of their town. They construct a map of their town and write facts about the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Documenting History: Photographs as Social Commentaries

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students examine photographs that make social statements. They examine content, symbolism, and their personal reactions to works of art that make expressive statements about social issues.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Colossal Structures and Sculptures

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders explore the historical, procedural, and comparative studies of colossal sculptures and structures in this six lessons unit. The cooperative efforts of many people to complete the works is emphasized.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

America in Film and Fiction

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students begin the lesson by reading a book on film study. After watching the movie "Citizen Kane", they work together to identify the issues concerning the United States before World War II. As a class, they discuss how the ideas and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hoe Down: An Integrated Unit on Social, Folk & Square Dancing

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders experience the movements required to perform social, folk and square dancing. They describe each dance movement. Students discuss the elements found in folk art, folk music, and fold dance.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Is Conceptual Art?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students research recent movements within modern art and discover how they have influenced one another. Using an artist, they examine the life and works of him or her. They define conceptual art and work together in groups to create...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Passport To the Past: A Tour of the Ancient, European and Asian Collections

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students study fourteen images of paintings from the Memorial Art Gallery's tour of culture. They study the paintings for artifacts from other cultures and periods of history.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Words/Music/Images: Interpretation and Meaning A Motivational Activity

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore popular music in its historical context. In this music instructional activity, students examine the lyrics, musicical arrangement, and video imagery of selected songs to interpret the messages and themes of the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Turn of the Century: Songs and Events from 1900 to 1920

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students research songs and events from the time period 1900 to 1920. They work in groups to create visual displays of the songs and historical references. At the conclusion of the unit, a concert will be held to perform the songs and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Goddesses are Personifications Too!

For Teachers 8th - 9th
Learners analyze the use of personification in classical Greek art and the Neoclassical period. In this Neoclassical art lesson, students discuss the cultural values reflected in classical and Neoclassical....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Son of a Gamblin' Man: The Life and Art of Robert Henri

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students bring baby pictures of themselves. They discuss composition in art and compare these to their pictures. Students discuss mood, and ways an artist creates mood. They create a triptych using their baby picture, a recent photograph...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Looking at Ritual and Ceremony

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students explore Edward Curtis' photos of a Native American ritual and practice documenting their own religious rituals. In this photography analysis lesson, students analyze an Native American ritual in Curtis' photo. Students discuss...