Curated OER
Landforms of Illinois
Fifth and sixth graders are introduced to the primary landforms of Illinois and discover how they were created. Landform cards are made for each pupil. They use the twenty-questions format until they have identified each one. Then,...
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Leaf & Tree Identification
Young scholars discover new vocabulary associated with trees and leaves. Using a key, they practice identifying the trees on school grounds and at home. They collect leaf samples, make diagrams and label the features on the leaves.
Curated OER
Landforms of Illinois
Young scholars discover the primary landforms of Illinois. They examine how those landforms were formed as well. In groups, they research one of the landforms from their vocabulary list. They create their landform in a shoebox and...
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Section Four: How Can We Protect Biodiversity?
Look into the future with a lesson plan on biodiversity and natural habitats. Learners read articles about different perspectives when it comes to planning future development, and decide which angle is the highest priority in a group...
Curated OER
Interpreting Aerial Photographs
Students interpret aerial photographs. They view aerial photographs or satellite-produced images to locate and identify physical and human features. They study satellite images and label their images for bodies of water, clouds,...
Curated OER
Draw A Coastline
Students identify, locate and draw at least ten different geographical features on a map. Using the map, they must make it to scale and include their own legend and compass rose. They share their map with the class and answer questions.
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Aquatic Exotics
Students identify and describe the aquatic exotic species found in Illinois. Using the internet, they research the species origins and discover their effects on native species in the area. They discuss how appropriate it is to introduce...
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Prairies
students make booklets about each of the following: reptiles, birds, plants, animals and buffalo. Each was information and contained the facts covered in class. they research one specific area in which they were especially interested....
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Water: The Liquid of Life
Sixth graders complete a lesson on the properties, types and amounts of water on Earth. In groups, they travel between stations to identify water resources in Illinois and pollution sources. They complete the lesson with a field trip...
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Water, Water Everywhere
Studetns view a terrarium with water droplets on the wals. They discuss the ways the water could have got onto the wall of the terrarium. Students design an experiment to duplicate the process. They describe the patterns form their data...
Curated OER
Study Guide for the 2009 Doris Conant Lecturer on Women and Culture: Barbara Ehrenreich
Students analyze the teachings of Barbara Ehrenreich about women and culture. In this women and culture lesson, students define "joy" and "collective joy." Students do field research on these topics and write a field report and a letter...
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Social Studies: Neighborhoods of the Future
Students explore the present physical and human characteristics of their communities and predict their future appearance. In a two-paneled drawing, they depict their community as it is today and then imagine how it might change in the...
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World's Most Dynamic Force
Students explore the Earth's forces. They review an assessment task and its accompanying rubric. They classify ten items as long-term or short-term interactions of the Earth's components and rank the destructive impact of the forces. ...
Curated OER
Family Life
Students investigate the lives of families in two different centuries. They compare the 1600's to the 1800's. Students write an essay about the differences and how they developed in history. Special attention is paid to the external...
Curated OER
Island Research
Learners collaborate to gather information about the geography, history, economy, climate, culture, and other aspects of life on the island of Eleuthera.
Curated OER
The Marvelous World of OZ
Students investigate the major themes in fantasy maps, expand basic map reading skills, write imaginative narrative essays based on the OZ map, and create their own fantasy map detail based on a core map.