Curated OER
Fortune Cookies Motivate Writing
Fortune cookies are used as motivation for a story. In this creative writing lesson, young writers review the six traits process. They discuss interesting characters, setting, problem and solution in a story. Original stories based on...
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History of Toys and Games
Students research history of popular toys to learn when those toys were first introduced. They use measurement skills to create an accurate timeline.
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Make and Shake a Snowglobe
Young scholars make a holiday or seasonal snow globe to give as a gift. Make it, then shake it! Students use small jars with lids. They use a glue gun or silicon glue to attach a small plastic toy to the inside of the lid. When the glue...
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Moore vs. Livingston:Who Really Wrote 'The Night Before Christmas'
Students research an author and gather information that seems to support that person as author of The Night Before Christmas. They work in groups to gather the most solid evidence and they write a persuasive essay presenting their argument.
Education World
You Are the Historian: Investigating the First Thanksgiving
Students examine the facts and myths that surround the "First Thanksgiving" (the harvest celebration of 1621) at Plimoth Colony. They study the role that historians play in the collection and dissemination of history and use their...
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Will There Be a White Christmas This Year?
Young scholars examine historical weather data, and create map and color key that illustrates the likelihood of a white Christmas in different locations across the United States.
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Dancing Skeleton Puppets
Learners study the Mexican holiday known as The Day of the Dead. In this holiday activity, students study bones, listen to Tony Johnston's, Day of the Dead and learn on about the holiday. They listen to two more books before making...
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Weave a Wreath
Students follow directions to complete a multi-step process that results in an attractive holiday decoration. For this Christmas art activity lesson, students employ simple measuring and weaving techniques and experiment with the...
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Surfin' Santa Card
Students explore December climates in Southern and Northern Hemispheres, including areas close to the equator. In this surfin' Santa card lesson, students research how Christmas is celebrated in warm climates and create greeting cards to...
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Russian Star Ornaments
Students research Russian Orthodox Christmas traditions in pre-soviet Russia and in other parts of the world. Then they create a handcrafted ornament in the style of old Russia. Students also decorate their Russian Star Ornament with...
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Pumpkin and Ghost Garland
Reading scary stories on Halloween is frightfully good fun! As elementary learners read several stories for the holiday, they choose a favorite and create a decorative garland representing the characters and setting elements found...
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Mystery Christmas Carols
Students research the history of Christmas carols and find out where the practice of caroling originated. They copy the words to and then illustrate a Christmas song. Afterwards, they identify each other's favorite songs from their...
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Kwanzaa Symbol Strips
Research the African family holiday of Kwanzaa and find the symbols for the seven principles of Kwanzaa. Learners analyze the symbols and how they may relate to their own lives. They then create an original art following the designs...
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Labor Day Workers Cube
Students examine the history of celebrating Labor Day and discuss the important role blue-collar workers play in the country's economy. After discussion, they create a cube displaying drawings of various jobs they admire. Panels of cube...
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Here's My Family
Family traditions help to instill personal values, social norms, and the warmest of childhood memories. Elementary and secondary learners share their favorite family traditions with a fun diorama project. Using modeling clay, they create...
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Dreidel Card Holder
Students identify and interpret the historic background of the Jewish holiday Chanukah. Then they recognize a traditional game associated with Chanukah. Students also create a Chanukah card holder showing one of the four Hebrew letters...
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Dramatic Day of the Dead Designs
Students research customs and activities associated with the Mexican celebration of Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). Students then analyze their favorite aspects of the holiday and represent them in drawings with bilingual displays.
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Chinese New Year Dragon Parade
Students research Chinese New Year celebrations to find out about traditions such as food, music, red banners on doors, parades, and fireworks. Students then view images of traditional Chinese dragons, and create their own dragons.
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St. Patrick's Day Old School Limerick Writing
Bring in Poetry Month a little early with a little St. Patrick's Day rhythm and rhyme.
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A Touch of Green: St. Patrick's Day in the Classroom
Try these ideas to add some Irish flair to your classroom this St. Patrick's Day.
Curated OER
Chinese New Year
Students investigate the celebration of Chinese New Year. For this Chinese New Year lesson, students discuss their favorite holiday before listening to a read aloud about Chinese New Year. They make red envelopes that are filled with...
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Broken-Heart Matching Game
Learners use this fun game to practice, reinforce, or apply a wide variety of skills around Valentine's Day. Each students receives half a heart with zig-zag cuts made of pink construction paper with a piece of information. Their job is...
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A Short, Short Lesson on the Fourth Amendment
Students read text of Fourth Amendment together as class, discuss necessity of Constitutional right to be free of unreasonable searches, and analyze landmark Supreme Court cases dealing with Fourth Amendment rights.
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Mapping Your State's Role in the Vietnam War
Students recognize reasons to celebrate Memorial Day. Students create a map of victims of the VIetnam War. Using the internet, students research information about soldiers from their state who were killd in action in Vietnam. Students...