Santa Ana Unified School District
Lord of the Flies Unit
How does a society influence and shape individuals? Class members ponder this essential question as they read Lord of the Flies, as well as primary source materials about the historical background of the novel. As a...
Curated OER
Defining Moments: Analyzing Data
Students create an annotated bibliography on writings related to Japanese internment and analyze the writings for possible bias. They view a video on the Korematsu Internment case and use the internet to find print and non-print sources...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Presenting the Water Cycle
Third graders complete a unit of study about the water cycle using both print and Internet based resources. They examine fresh and salt water and complete an online quiz before developing a multimedia presentation highlighting the phases...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Edible Cell
Young scholars identify cell parts and their function. In this animal cell lesson plan, students view a video clip and discuss cell components. Young scholars create an edible replica of an animal cell using food items.
Alabama Learning Exchange
Light Is
Young scholars explore the properties of light. In this light instructional activity, students investigate visible light by viewing a website, examining an electromagnetic spectrum chart, and observing light demonstrations. Young...
Curated OER
That's The Story!
Images can inspire powerful writing. Engage your class in narrative writing with the idea included here. Individuals each snap a digital photograph that includes action. The teacher then mixes these up and hands each class member a photo...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Introduction to the Universe
Fifth graders write descriptive imagery and identify facts about various components of the universe. They listen to the book "The Magic School Bus, Lost in the Solar System," develop a list of descriptive words from the story, compose a...
Curated OER
A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens
Students study and explore the portrayal and development of a major character in a novel from the novel, "A Christmas Carol," by Charles Dickens. They identify words and phrases that effectively describe the main character in this novel....
Curated OER
Animal Hide and Seek
Students examine how animals use their colors to their advantage. They read the book, "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?," participate in a toothpick camouflaging demonstration, explore the Camouflage Field Book website,...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Classification
Students examine why scientists classify living organisms. They list and classify items they buy at the grocery store, sort and classify leaves, explore various websites, and write a biography of Carolus Linnaeus.
Curated OER
The Declaration and Beyond
Students are explained that they are going to use a part of Thomas Paine's 1776 pamplet Common Sense as a starting point for exploring about argumentation, or persuasive writing. They are given a copy of the excerpt. Students discuss...
Curated OER
East Meets West
Students explore the influences of culture in food choices and customs. They compare and contrast information to create a menu using a Web site and Student Writing Center. Suggestions for creating an on-line graphic organizer as well as...
Curated OER
Pilgrims: The First Americans
Fifth graders become familar with the pilgrims and first Thanksgiving through essays about important people of the time. In this Thanksgiving lesson, 5th graders choose an important figure from the time of the Pilgrims and write a...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Ready, Set,...Research!
Third graders complete a research project on a weather topic using a variety of resource materials. They demonstrate the use of dictionaries and encyclopedias. They write a report using the research material and grade level appropriate...
Alabama Learning Exchange
The Solar System
Students explore the Solar System. In this cross-curriculum space instructional activity, students identify the planets, name them in order according to distance from the sun, and describe major characteristics of each planet. Students...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Scrapping the Biomes
Fifth graders investigate biomes of the earth. In this biomes lesson, 5th graders explore eight different biomes which include the tropical rain forest, deciduous forest, grasslands, and taiga. They design an artistic scrapbook that...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alabama Biographies of the 20th Century
Students research and examine the lives of famous people who have changed the history of Alabama. They write a short biographical summary and create a 3-D scan picture.
Alabama Learning Exchange
Getting to Know You
First graders go on an in-school scavenger hunt to get to know the many kinds of people that make up an elementary school community. They work in small groups and use digital cameras to take pictures of the workers they find.
Alabama Learning Exchange
Weather Word Search
Third graders search the Internet for ten weather words which they define. They use the words to design an original weather word search using a web based resource.
Alabama Learning Exchange
Solving Literal Equations
Learners solve literal equations. In this Algebra I/Algebra II instructional activity, learners view a PowerPoint presentation about solving literal equations. Learners have the opportunity to complete an interactive...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Our Restless Planet
Students examine the topic of the Earth's rotation, revolution, and orbit. They observe teacher-led demonstrations, explore various websites, write journal entries, conduct a demonstration of why Earth experiences day and night, and...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Animal Classification
Present information about the classification of animals. After participating in the teacher-led discussion about scientific names, small groups devise their own way of classifying everyday objects present in the classroom, developing...
Curated OER
Theme Map- The Rainforest
Students use graphic organizers to relate information. They read an article and insert information from the article to the theme map using a word processing program.
Alabama Learning Exchange
No More Money Trouble
Young consumers explore money identification and counting. In this cross-curricular money instructional activity, they participate in comprehension and writing activities prior to and after reading the book Money Trouble by Bill Cosby....