Curated OER
Global Warming
First graders discover the effects of global warming on polar bears. In this life science lesson, 1st graders model the polar bear's habitat and observe what happens as they raise the temperature. They record their observation in the...
Curated OER
Milton Hershey Quilt Activity
Students extend their understanding of Milton Hershey. In this notable figures lesson, students create a paper quilt about Milton Hershey. Students use the template provided to design their own quilt square, including an illustration and...
Curated OER
Tansai Sumi Painting
First graders study Japanese art and apply the technique of Tansai Sumi (lightly colored) to create individual works of art. Painting, design, lines, and drawing techniques are covered in this 1st grade instructional activity.
Curated OER
Using Words to Work Things Out
Students explore classroom community building. In this character development and community building instructional activity, students listen to Hands Are Not for Hitting and generate a class list of positive ways to handle classroom...
Curated OER
A memorial for Ground Zero
Learners discuss memorials and design a memorial for the 9/11 victims.
Curated OER
Continuing Gandhi's Legacy of Cross-Cultural Understanding: Central Asia and the Middle East
Students investigate the lifestyle of Gandhi by creating a Venn Diagram. In this biographical lesson, students compare the philosophies of Martin Luther King Jr. and Gandhi while discussing their teaching methods. Students...
Curated OER
Charting the Weather
Students research and conduct non-experimental research, such as journals, the weather channel and the internet, to collect and record data for analysis on weather conditions in the United States and abroad. They identify, pronounce and...
Curated OER
Kindness Graffiti Wall
Students discuss acts of kindness. In this character education lesson, students use a large sheet of poster paper, tempera paint, and markers to create a graffiti wall. Students write down their ideas of kindness and share their wall...
Curated OER
The Life Cycle of the Butterfly
First graders, after listening to fictional and non-fictional literature about caterpillars, and observing caterpillars from egg to butterfly, write a "biography" of a caterpillar using appropriate vocabulary and time lines.
Curated OER
Narrative Collage
Learners use a book or passage for their inspiration to create a narrative collage. They need to illustrate the action or the setting.
Curated OER
Getting To Know You
Students listen to the book "I like me" by Nancy Carison, or a similar self-esteem book, and then create self-portraitswhile the song "Getting to Know You" is being played. This is an excellent ice-breaker for the beginning of the...
Curated OER
That's Exercise?
Learners examine a variety of ways to exercise and keep their bodies strong. They make letters of the alphabet with their bodies and listen to the book Baseball Brothers. Students watch a video clip from the PBS show Teletubbies, and...
Curated OER
How Do You Like Your Eggs?
First graders conduct a poll about how people like their eggs. In this graphing lesson, 1st graders collect data about how they like their eggs. Students use a picture of themselves to place under the type of egg they like. Students then...
Curated OER
Finding Nonfiction Features
Students review the differences between a fiction and non-fiction book. In groups, they use different non-fiction books to identify the eleven features that distinguish it from a fiction book. To end the lesson, they create a chart...
Starfall
Fun with Describing Words - Adjectives
In this grammar worksheet, learners complete sentences by describing words from a picture/word bank.
Curated OER
Cardinal Directions
First graders study cardinal directions on maps. In this geography lesson, 1st graders determine and show where North, South, East, and West are on various maps.
Curated OER
Pumpkin Carving for K-2 Students
Students carve pumpkins, draw pictures and label layers of a seed, and write steps needed to carve pumpkin.
Curated OER
Apples! Apples! Apples!
Students explore the life of Johnny Appleseed as they create a MediaBlender project of Johnny's journey through the Midwest territory, and compare and contrast items he brought on his journey with items students would bring with them on...
Curated OER
Water Works Wonders
Students examine where water is found in the world, how we use it, and the various forms it takes. They observe the refraction of light through a prism, record the day and night sky over a week's time, and create a topographic model of...
Curated OER
Family Origins and American Cultural Pluralism
Young scholars explore, analyze and discuss family origins, special legacies, and racial/cultural groups in literature and art that exposes them to positive examples in African-American history and culture. They encounter examples from...
Curated OER
Photo Scavenger Hunt
Students celebrate Earth Day by applying what they've learned about studying the natural world. In this Photo Scavenger Hunt lesson plan, students use a digital camera to capture outdoor imagery and to help them understand the...
Curated OER
How Many People Live in Your Household?
Students create a pictograph showing household size for the class.In this data collection and graphing lesson, the teacher guides students through the creation of a concrete object graph, then students analyze and summarize the results.
Curated OER
Wants Vs. Needs: The Pilgrims sail to America
Students work in groups to create a list of the items needed by the Pilgrims to bring to America. In this wants vs. needs lesson, students must agree on what should be on the list. Students create their list by order of importance....
Curated OER
Elvis
In this excellent music and history activity, 1st graders watch movies and listen to music sung by Elvis Presley, then draw and write as if they were a famous singer. This entertaining and inventive activity has a terrific assessment...