Edgate
Discovering New Resources
What is a natural resource, and what resources did the Lewis and Clark expedition seek? After reading an article on the mapping of the west, learners get into small groups to discuss the important natural resources of the period. They...
Curated OER
Survivor!
Students play a game in physical education class to examine how a deer survives. Using nature as a guide, they discover how it is constantly changing due to weather, food, water, pollution and predators. They discuss the characteristics...
Curated OER
Orienteering - Introductory Lesson
Gain knowledge of directions and degrees while learning how to read a compass. NEWS - north, east, west, south, and everything in between. It's crucial to be accurate in reading a compass and understanding degrees and direction when...
Curated OER
Selling of the West, or The Portrayal of Emigrant Travel on the Oregon Trail
Students compare and contrast the realistic and romantic art and literature about experiences on the Oregon Trail. Using this information, they compare their viewpoints and write messages on what they believe it was like on a trip down...
Curated OER
The Inflation Game
Twelfth graders explore the goals of economic growth, stability, full employment, freedom, security, equity, and efficiency as they apply to US economic policy. They is expected to analyze how economic growth, stability, and full...
Curated OER
The Entrepreneur's Game
Twelfth graders explore the basic principles of the US free enterprise system. They examine the basic principles of the US free enterprise system including profit motive, voluntary exchange, private property rights, and competition.
Curated OER
The Good, the Bad, and the Goofy
Upper elementary learners read about jobs on a cattle drive and the lives of cowboy during U.S. Westward Expansion. They create a "Help Wanted" poster for one of the jobs. After reading primary source accounts of cowboys, they write...
Curated OER
Manifest Destiny
Students explore the Manifest Destiny. They interpret quotations, study point of view in writing, research English words that derived from Mexico, and analyze reasons why settlers moved west. After writing journal entries in first-person...
Curated OER
Through The Looking Glass
Learners examine the time period of westward expansion. In groups, they use the internet to research the reasons why people moved west during the 1800s. They write their own narratives playing the role of a member of a pioneer family...
Curated OER
USA State Tag / Mississippi River Shuffle
Students are given the opportunity to play a tag game while studing geographical sites in the U.S.A. (relative to the Mississippi River or to other geographic features you may choose).
Curated OER
Read a Map ... It's a Snap!
Students are introduced to map and globe skills. They use grids and are able to construct their own simple maps of familiar places. Students are able to define a map, globe, and symbol and use the direction words north, south, east,...
Curated OER
Being There: Exploring China And Japan
Learners discover the culture, society, geography, and history of Asia through games, food, art, and literature in this multi-day lesson about China and Japan. An exciting lesson for upper-elementary or lower-middle school classrooms.
Curated OER
Symbols of the World, Country and State
First graders understand what a symbol is and recognize symbols of the world, country, state, and local areas. In this symbols lesson, 1st graders identify symbols, and play a bingo game with traffic symbols. Students study the...
Curated OER
Capitals, Oceans, And Border States
Students investigate geography by completing games with classmates. In this United States of America lesson, students examine a map of North America and identify the borders of Mexico and Canada as well as the Pacific and Atlantic....
Curated OER
Directions, Directions
Third graders review cardinal directions, moving around the room so that they are standing in the part of the room that is nearest the north, south, east and west. They are asked what would you do if they are lost? Pupils work as a...
Curated OER
Pioneering Children on the Move
Young scholars inquire about life for pioneer children. In this pioneer period lesson, students analyze photographs of children, make information foldables, and create a covered wagon that was typical of the ones of the past. Young...
Curated OER
Field Trip to the Watsonville Wetlands
Students explore the differences between food webs and food chains. In this wetland lesson students play a food web game and go on a scavenger hunt.
Curated OER
An Age of Exploration
Young scholars investigate U.S. history by examining North American timelines. In this American exploration lesson, students research the events that led to Columbus finding America and participate in a jeopardy game regarding his...
Lakeshorelearning
Read and Write about It
Reading informational text is a skill that transcends subjects and grade levels. Practice reading about different topics in various formats with a language arts lesson that includes opportunities for writing and research as well.
Curated OER
Direction March
Learners participate in a game that explores map reading skills and intermediate directions. The teacher turns over a direction card for each player or team and announces the move, and they move towards a designated cardinal or...
Curated OER
Map Memory
Fifth graders, working in a whole class setting, label a United States map with the names of all the states that they know. They transfer the names of the states to an individual map and color it. Next, they receive directions on how to...
Curated OER
Cricket in Pakistan
Students investigate sports and recreation in other countries. In this current events lesson plan, students analyze a photograph of of people playing the game of cricket in efforts to determine what was taking place when the photograph...
Curated OER
Spanish 2 Fluxx En Espanol
Ninth graders investigate the mastering of Spanish while playing the card game of Fluxx. They follow directions in the target language, maintain a conversation, and solve problems using Spanish. Students use context clues while reading...
Curated OER
Steps to Fitness (with pedometers)
Students evaluate the fitness potential of different activities using pedometers in game/play/exercise situations.