California Department of Education
College: Plan Well and Pay Less
They say you gotta pay to play, and postsecondary education is no exception! High schoolers learn how to research and analyze the cost of postsecondary education as well as the different ways to pay for schooling. Learners then work...
Curated OER
Introduction to 18th Century Artisans
Students investigate colonial artisans. In this history lesson, students create a booklet of American Artisans and dress up in 18th century clothing for an oral presentation.
Curated OER
Coming To America
Students investigate the history of America with the help of children's literature. The story is structured as a timeline that begins at the time of Columbus and progresses to the present. The teacher reads the story with the class and...
Curated OER
The Magic School bus Inside A Hurricane
Students investigate the concept of a hurricane by using the cartoon series "The Magic Schoolbus" to simulate the fantasy of traveling through a hurricane. The lesson uses a KWL graphic organizer in order to guide student inquiry and as...
Curated OER
Children's Literature Across the Curriculum Ideas-Duke Ellington
Students read Duke Ellington by Andrea Davis Pinkney. They complete a variety of cross-curricular activities surrounding the life of the 20th century composer. Included are reading, art, math, science, writing, social studies, and...
Curated OER
The Furry News: How to Make a Newspaper
Students investigate the process of making a newspaper using children's literature to create context for the lesson plan. The readers are asked to predict the events of the story as it is read to them. Then the teacher uses guided...
Curated OER
Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt
Third graders read the story, "Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt" and discuss slavery. After answering questions about the story, 3rd graders sing "Follow the Drinkin' Gourd" and explore the clues in each verse that allowed the slaves to...
Curated OER
Lily and Miss Liberty
Pupils discuss ways to earn money and why they might need it. Students create crowns to wear all day like in the story. Pupils create a play using characters in the story. Students interview "eyewitnesses" at the unveiling of the statue....
Curated OER
Lily's Crossing
Students listen to a story, "Lily's Crossing," about life during a World War. After completing worksheets, they compare and contrast characters in the story. Using math skills, students develop a time line of the war, calculate the...
Curated OER
Minty
Students investigate, read, and discuss about other famous Afro-American leaders. Students compare/contrast slaves home, activities, etc. with that of Afro- Americans today. Students create a time line to post on the wall of Harriet's...
Curated OER
Metamorphosis Magic
Students make different motions for each stage in the butterfly life cycle and plant a garden. In this butterfly life cycle lesson plan, students can take the mini gardens home and discuss how butterflies help gardens.
Curated OER
Whitewater Canal State Historic Site
If you happen to live in Indiana, or a neighboring state, and are planning a field trip to the Whitewater Canal State Historic Site, then this lesson plan will suit your needs quite well. In it, suggestions for activities before, during,...
Curated OER
Habitat Basics
First graders get out and explore two different habitats to examine how each one meets the needs of the plants and animals that dwell there. They discuss what they've learned about animal habitats as they explore the outdoor environment....
Curated OER
Teaching Strategies: The Word Wall: A Tool for Beginning Readers and Writers
Learners participate in various activities through the school week involving the high-frequency words on their word wall in order to increase familiarity with reading and spelling the selected words. For this word wall lesson, students...
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Effects of Alcohol Use
Fifth graders identify short and long term effects of alcohol use. In this effects of alcohol lesson plan, 5th graders participate in activities to understand what it feels like to have alcohol in their system. With the teacher they make...
Curated OER
Using Descriptive Language
Students examine the use of adjectives in a product review, then write their own descriptive review. For this writing and word usage lesson, students first analyze the choice of adjectives in a New York Times article about the iPhone,...
Curated OER
Production and Trade
Young scholars discuss production and trade. In this business lesson, students read the book Ox-Cart Man and identify the traits of entrepreneurs. Young scholars discuss ways a person can improve their job performance.
Scholastic
Lesson 1: What Are Barriers?
Scholars discuss the concept of a barrier with a short passage on Jackie Robinson. The writing process begins with a paragraph and several other sentences about Robinson's unique traits that made breaking a barrier...
Curated OER
Money Versus Trade
Students discover the importance of exchanging money in a market. In this economics lesson, students discover natural resources and how one can barter with those resources. In addition, students complete worksheets and discover the...
Curated OER
Using Credit: Not for a Billion Gazillion Dollars
Fifth graders explore the concept of credit. In this consumer education lesson, the teacher uses the book Not for a Billion Gazillion Dollars to lead the class in a discussion about credit, debit, and income. Students then analyze their...
Curated OER
Government Goods and Services
Fifth graders investigate the connection between taxes and government services. In this economics lesson, 5th graders discuss the process and benefits of paying sales and income taxes. Using calculators, students compute the...
Curated OER
Schedules & Technology
Learn more about technology through matching, dictation, and word identification. English learners will participate in a variety of activities as they learn more about technology.
Curated OER
Short-Term and Long-Term Savings Goals
Fifth graders discover how saving money can apply to their lives. In this personal finance lesson, 5th graders use the book The Leaves in October, as a conversation starter on income, savings and setting goals. Students explore the...
Curated OER
Work
Students identify productive resources. For this economics instructional activity, students read the book Charlie Needs a Cloak and discuss productive resources the character used in the book. Students participate in a simulated factory...