Curriculum Corner
May Writing Ideas
From Cinco de Mayo to Endangered Species day to National Hamburger Month, May is full of ideas to write about. Give young writers prompts that have everything to do with the month of May. Topics include writing a story, conducting...
Center for Civic Education
To Amend or Not to Amend, That's Been the Question...Many Times
Looking for some ideas for how to celebrate September 17, Constitution Day? Check out a packet that focuses on the factors that are considered in the amendment process. Class members examine the amendment process and the types of...
Kelly's Kindergarten
March Daily Activities
There's a pot of gold at the end of the school year! Use a month's worth of reading, writing, and counting activities to keep kids learning through the month of March.
Curated OER
A Look at the History of Book Banning in America
Why do books end up on the banned book list? How do these banned books contribute to the literary canon? Start by showing the photo slide show, and discussing notably banned books. Then focus on some of the most popular objections:...
Wordly Wise 3000 Online
Viva Cinco de Mayo
Many people think Cinco de Mayo is the celebration Mexican independence, but they're incorrect. Learn about the battle of Puebla and the victory of General Zaragoza with a short reading passage that includes comprehension and vocabulary...
Curated OER
Chinese New Year's Firecrackers Lesson
Students make 'firecrackers' out of rolled cardboard tubes to simulate Chinese New Year's firecrackers.
Curated OER
Hindu Festival - Let's Celebrate Diwali
Students explore characteristics, roles and cultural expressions of Indian community in New Zealand. They describe traditional practices of Diwali Festival, collect and record information, design open-ended questionnaire, create Diwali...
Curated OER
Olympics (World Celebrations)
Students recognize the meanings and symbolism of the Olympic Flag and Torch and apply this to their own feelings of the classroom by creating their own symbol/flag to represent these feelings.
Curated OER
Celebrating Benjamin Franklin
Young scholars explore various websites featuring the life and achievements of Benjamin Franklin. They investigate Franklin's roles in colonial society as well as pictures of his various inventions. They view excerpts of historical...
Scholastic
We Are Moving on Up
Celebrate your class's achievements with this collection of reflective, rewarding activities. In a lesson plan designed to help your pupils transition to the next grade, students take part in up 13 activities that celebrate the end of...
Curated OER
El calendario notes guide
A comprehensive note-taking guide for days of the week, months, seasons, dates, and holidays. Either design your lessons around this guide (so that learners fill it out as you teach), or consider distributing this as a review guide...
Center for Civic Education
Matching Game with the US Constitution
In September we celebrate Constitution Day. Begin the celebration with a grand conversation about the US Constitution. Follow up the in-depth discussion with a learning game in which scholars match terms to images such as the...
Curated OER
Holiday Poetry and Music
Students discuss Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays and family traditions. After brainstorming how holidays are celebrated, students write a poem about a chosen holiday and create their own hand-made instrument. They share their poems...
Curated OER
Fireworks
Fireworks are the focus of this presentation. The history of fireworks, types of fireworks, uses of fireworks, and safety guidelines for fireworks are all included in this interesting PowerPoint. This would be useful for older students...
Curated OER
Finding My Voice
Have your class learn the essentials of public speaking. They compose a speech for their fifth grade celebration using iPods and presentation software. This would be a great end of the year activity for any grade level.
Curated OER
Time and Seasons
Here is an engaging crossword puzzle which focuses on time and the seasons of the year. Learners determine the answers to 17 clues using words that are associated with time and seasons. They complete sentences about months, holidays,...
Curated OER
Sam and the Lucky Money
Third graders read the story Sam and the Lucky Money. In this reading lesson, 3rd graders discuss the story. Students write in a reader's response journal as they read the story.
Curated OER
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month
Pupils explore Spanish speaking countries. In this multi-cultural literacy activity, students research a country in which Spanish is the official language, and create a related travel brochure on the computer.
Curated OER
The End of Shopping as We Know It
Students explore trends in consumerism. In this current events lesson, students examine e-commerce as they browse selected websites to learn more about the phenomenon.
Curated OER
South Africa After Ten Years of Freedom
Learners see how events in South Africa have affected other areas of the world both through the use of economic sanctions and truth and reconciliation commissions. They analyze significance of this election in light of South Africa's...
K12 Reader
Understanding the Context: The Mayflower Compact
Scholars obtain a brief background of the Mayflower Compact, read its contents, and answer two questions that look at the passage's context to enhance reading comprehension.
Curated OER
Lesson Learned: Creating a Life Reports Project
Tap into the wisdom and knowledge of older members of the community with this New York Times plan. To warm up, learners write about and discuss advice they have been given. After reading "The Life Report," an op-ed column that asks older...
Playbooks
Reader's Theater Exercise
Here's a great idea for your Parent/Family Night—host a Reader's Theater! Everything you need to organize the night, as well as a K-3 and a 4-7 script, is provided in the packet.
Curated OER
The Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe, Christmas, and Dia de los Tres Reyes
Students examine the holiday celebrations in the United States and fiestas in Latin American countries. In this holiday celebration lesson, students research the similarities in the celebrations for Christmas and those for the day of the...