Curated OER
Lotic Environment Lesson Plans
High schoolers create and conduct experiments on a "classroom river habitat." They manipulate the biotic and abiotic factors so that they are able to compare an artificially prepared river model to a naturally occurring lotic ecosystem.
Curated OER
What is War?
Students establish what war signifies to them. They demonstrate this by voting on statements. Students are invited to ponder about how they feel about issues, their world history, and to defend their positions.
Curated OER
Virginian Contributors
Students examine the contributions of native Virginians to the United States. For each person, they read excerpts of a book about their contributions and organize the information in a chart. In groups, they become an expert on one of...
Curated OER
Gun Control and Terrorism: Laws or Loopholes?
Learners examine the Second Amendment of the Constitution. They research and organize key arguments and other fundementals of gun control. They participate in a debate defending the wording of the Second Amendment.
Curated OER
Dead Word Wall Kills Overused Words
Have your class attend a funeral for the words they overuse in their writing. They develop a list of alternate words for those overused words, and make an effort to employ alternatives whenever possible. This is a great way to improve...
Curated OER
Rates of Puberty Change
Eighth graders investigate the reasons for why individuals go through puberty at different times and rates. They conduct a personal worth role play to encourage diversity and self-acceptance. Group discussion is used for scaffolding the...
Curated OER
Microbiology Lab Safety
In this biology worksheet, students are introduced to the practices of safety as related to using a laboratory and then answer some questions as an assessment.
National Constitution Center
Fourth of July (Grades 3-5)
Bring history to life for your young scholars with a Fourth of July lesson series. After a class reading of the Declaration of Independence, students translate this pivotal document into layman's terms before working in small groups to...
Curated OER
For The Sake Of Security: U.S.A. Patriot Act & Bill of Rights
A substantive New York Times article about the U.S.A. Patriot Act, military tribunals, racial profiling, and the Bill of Rights forms the basis for a discussion of the complex interplay of fundamental American rights and the aftermath of...
Education Development Center
Extending Patterns with Exponents
Don't think negatively about exponents. Young mathematicians dissect a fictional conversation between pupils trying to evaluate an expression with a negative exponent. This allows them to understand the meaning of negative exponents.
Curated OER
Designing a Civilization for an Art Room
Students discover the ideas of civilizations by researching Gandhi's philosophies. In this art decoration lesson, students investigate Gandhi's opinions on civilizations, community and ethics. Students collaborate by decorating an art...
Curated OER
Negotiating And Resolving Conflict
High schoolers study the art of negotiation and review problem-solving strategies. They use this information to solve problems that relate to school, United States, and world issues.
Curated OER
Class With Character
Third graders participate in a variety of activities in order to promote the concept of being a good citizen. The foundation of this unit is found in the character trait of respect for self and others in society.
Curated OER
Writing Process
Fourth graders identify the benefits of using a field guide for nature observations. They then field trip to a natural setting to prepare for writing. They record their observations, and write a journal entry using the steps of the...
Foreign Policy Research Institute
Propaganda - 9/11 and the War on Terrorism
Propaganda is an important topic that most high school social studies teachers address. Here, students compare and contrast methods of public persuasion during WWII with those used in the contemporary War on Terror. Research, discussion,...
Curated OER
Explaining Factors Causing Conflict and Cooperation
Students discuss what causes conflicts amongst groups especially pertaining to Native American tribes. For this conflicts lesson plan, students have discussion questions that they verbally answer and write in a journal.
Facing History and Ourselves
What Shapes Your Identity?
Sixth graders explore their individual identities. In this personal identity lesson, 6th graders write biopoems using the provided template. Students share their poems and respond to the poetry shared.
Curated OER
Stage a Poetry Slam!
Students write and perform poetry. In this poetry presentation lesson, students learn about the concept of a poetry slam. Students plan and hold their own poetry slam.
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The Mayflower Compact
Fourth graders explore the events leading up to the Mayflower Compact. In this government instructional activity, 4th graders have a teacher-led class discussion on the importance of government, then complete a worksheet on the topic.
Curated OER
Legally Wed
Students explore the controversial topic of same-sex marriages in a fishbowl discussion. They write balanced news articles based on interviews exploring people's opinions on laws that define marriage.
Stanford University
Korean War
Learners study the cause of the Korean War. In this World history lesson, Young scholars read excerpts from two different textbooks, one from South Korea, and one from North Korea. They discuss how the cause of the war differs depending...
Curated OER
Separation of Powers: Connecting the Separate Powers
Students study the concept of separation of powers. They recognize how the Constitution provides for separation of powers and categorize public officials into one of three branches of government. Students do a role play and see if...
Curated OER
Will the Supreme Court Vouch for Vouchers?
Students investigate past Supreme Court decisions that have centered on education issues and assess the ways in which those decisions have impacted American education. They consider the controversies surrounding the issue of school...