Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Renaissance Trade and Exchange

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders map out trade routes. In this Renaissance time period activity, 6th graders complete a Christopher Columbus Map Activity, discuss and identify the parts of a map, and locate Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

You're Invited to a Ceili: Exploring Irish Dance

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Learners recognize a Ceili as an Irish dance of celebration and investigate Ireland while studying the dance.  In this Irish dance lesson, students search the geography of Ireland, read poetry, identify costumes, draw and perform a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

New Food Saves Lives, Could End Hunger

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students locate the country of Niger, then read a news article about a new type of food that is being used to fight childhood hunger in Africa. In this current events instructional activity, the teacher introduces the article with map...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rising Temperatures Threaten Penguins

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Young scholars examine the continent of Antarctica, then read a news article about the decline in the Antarctic penguin population. In this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a discussion and vocabulary...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Understanding Latitude, Longitude, and Time Zones

For Teachers Higher Ed
Students take an imaginary world tour by locating cities with latitude and longitude. They plan an itinerary and calculate the time zones from which they would call home. Then they construct word problems involving travel across time zones.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hunters and Gatherers

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders participate in mapping and other activities to understand why ancient civilizations developed as they did. In this ancient civilization instructional activity, 6th graders recognize that there were three important climate...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Why Koala Has A Stumpy Tail

For Teachers 1st
First graders read the story Why Koala Has A Stumpy Tail and complete language arts activities with it. Students have discussions, read, write, spell, and act out the story.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Letters from Rifka

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders read Letters from Rifka and discuss the feelings of people forced to leave their homes and countries.  For this migration lesson, 4th graders relate their feelings about moving from their home forever. Students trace...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Minerals and the Products of Mining

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners plot where minerals come from and have an awareness of how mineral use makes the world interdependent. They examine how to identify some sort of mineral products they use each day.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mapping West Virginia

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore West Virginia. In this Unites States geography lesson, 4th graders discuss the type of land and the cities in West Virginia. Students create two overlays, with transparencies, that show the natural land and the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Makes a Tropical Rainforest Special?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners examine the characteristics of the tropical rainforest. Using a map, they locate the rainforests found around the world, continents and the equator. Using the internet, they research the various layers of the rainforest and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Kids for Conservation: Animal Unit

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students discuss animal needs and characteristics. In this animal mini-unit, students complete three activities studying different animals, their needs, how they have evolved, and how to protect them.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Coral Reef Conservation

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers conduct discussions on current threats to coral reefs around the world and write letters to conservation organizations urging support for coral reef protection.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Well of Truth

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders explore the Egyptian folktale, The Well of Truth. For this folktale lesson, 2nd graders read the tale and discuss the events from the text. Students write a diary entry from the point of view of a character in the text....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plate Tectonics: Movin' and Shakin'

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students are introduced to the causes of plate movements and the hazards they present. They plot the location of 50 earthquakes and 50 volcanic eruptions on a map and explore the relationships between plate tectonics, earthquakes, and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pandemic Flu

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Students review the difference between viruses and bacteria, and provide examples of illnesses that each can cause. To help students comprehend how quickly an influenza infection can spread, they perform an activity. They are placed in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Operation Iraqi Democracy

For Teachers 6th - 12th
In this instructional activity, students consider various forms of government and examine the idea of political sovereignty, then prepare outlines for oral presentations on international models of government. For homework, they write...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Family Sells House to Help the Hungry

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Young scholars compare their wants and needs, then read a news article about a family that downsized their home to help African villagers. In this current events and poverty in Africa lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

History in the Making: The Tortilla

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders examine the history of the tortilla and extend the study across the curriculum. In this history of the tortilla lesson plan, 4th graders research the background of the tortilla, determine the ingredients, and work with the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

An American Spy with Money To Spend

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders use their imagination, math, reading, computer, geography, and social studies skills in this unique, innovative, and fun lesson where students pretend to be international spies!
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plate Tectonics: Recycling the Seafloor

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students classify earth's layers and plates using Ocean Seismicity data. In this plate tectonics lesson, students outline where the plate boundaries are on the world map. They then compare these predicted boundaries with USGS map of the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Treasure of the Silk Roads

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students generate world maps that act as creative writing prompts. The prompts reflect on the cultures and history of the past through their own experiences. Students create an original writing sample.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"Where In The World Am I?" Creating a Travel Brochure for Japan

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers create a travel brochure for the country of Japan.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Journey to Japan: An Elementary Geography Standards-Based Unit on Japan

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders compare and contrast Japanese customs and culture to those of Americans through research in this year long study. They determine the basic needs of all people in spite of cultural differences.