Lesson Plan
Curated OER

From the School House to the White House

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Learners recall visits to museums, then read a news article about a museum exhibit that shows what U.S. presidents were like during their childhood. In this U.S. history and current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Town on the Move

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students evaluate the moving of buildings, then read a news article about one town relocating building to save their economy. In this economics and current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a discussion and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Turn Down Music to Save Hearing

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students participate in a informal survey of their listening habits, then read a news article about the possibility of portable music players harming kids hearing. In this current events instructional activity, the teacher introduces the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Study of Alaska

For Teachers 2nd - 12th
Learners explore Alaska. This lesson is gearing mostly for students who live in Alaska.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

'No Cussing' Clubs Catching on with Kids

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students read a news article about a boy in California who wants to encourage his peers to use good language. In this current events instructional activity, the teacher introduces the article with a short rap, discussion, and vocabulary...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Family Sells House to Help the Hungry

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students compare their wants and needs, then read a news article about a family that downsized their home to help African villagers. In this current events and poverty in Africa activity, the teacher introduces the article with a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Parents Hand Out Unusual Punishments

For Teachers 2nd - 7th
Students discuss how they are disciplined at home, then read a news article about some unusual punishments given to children. In this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a discussion and vocabulary activity,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Were Rivets to Blame for Titanic Sinking?

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students answer questions about the Titanic, then read a news article about possible causes of the disaster. In this current events instructional activity, the teacher introduces the article with a discussion and vocabulary activity,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Presidential Election One Year Away

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students identify political parties, then read a news article about the 2008 election. For this current events lesson (written prior to the 2008 election), the teacher introduces the article with a discussion and vocabulary activity,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Coming Soon: Sodas with Vitamins

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students react to a series of statements about sodas, then read a news article about the addition of vitamins to sodas to increase sales. In this nutrition and current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a discussion...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Remembering Jackie Robinson

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students create a list of famous African Americans, then read a news article about Jackie Robinson. In this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a discussion and vocabulary activity, then students read the news...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Construction Starts on Freedom Tower

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students are introduced to an image of Freedom Tower, then read a news article about the construction of this building that will be completed in 2011. In this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with an...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Chips, Anyone?

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students identify how computer technology affects their lives, then read a news article about the impact of computer chips implanted under some people's skin. In this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Could a Tiny Home be the Home for You?

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students read an article about tiny homes and use the article as a springboard for discussion. In this current events activity, students evaluate the merits of tiny homes, then create a chart comparing their needs with the things they...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Football a Big Success in Small Alaska City

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students read about the creation of a football program at a small-town school in Alaska. In this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a map and vocabulary activity, then students read the news report and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Students Slide to School on Air-Powered Sled

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Learners locate the Great Lakes on a US map, then read a news article about a sled being used as a wintertime school bus in Wisconsin. In this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a map and vocabulary activity,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hot Weather, Rain Mean Fewer Pumpkins

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students share their knowledge of pumpkins, then read a news article about how hot weather and rain are affecting the pumpkin crop. In this agriculture and current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a discussion and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Stamps are Making News

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students analyze the cost of mailing a letter since 1917, then read a news article about the increasing stamp price and new Star Wars stamps that will be available. For this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Creative Can Sculptures Help Feed the Hungry

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students look at pictures of Canstruction sculptures, then read a news article about the construction of these canned food sculptures. For this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with pictures of winning sculptures...
Lesson Plan
Anti-Defamation League

10 Ideas for Teaching Black History Month

For Teachers K - 12th Standards
Celebrate Black History Month with the help of 10 ideas that delve deep into the history, major events, contributions, famous African Americans, and sheds light on how scholars today can take a proactive stance on current civil rights...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Responding to Social Crisis

For Teachers K - 12th
Students, through discussion, identify ways to cope with and process unexpected community or world crisis, such as terrorism or violent acts within a school or community.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Scientists Study Dinosaur "Mummy"

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students share ideas about how scientists know about dinosaurs, then read a news article about the recently found remains of a hadrosaur. In this dinosaur lesson plan, the teacher introduces the article with a class discussion and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Scientists Use Web Site to Report Volcano Activity

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students react to statements about volcanoes, then read a news article about scientists monitoring eruptions at Augustine volcano in Alaska. For this earth science and current events lesson, the teacher introduces the lesson with a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Scientists Breed See-Through Frogs

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students participate in a pre-reading activity, then read a news article about the breeding of transparent frogs. In this biology and current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a question and a vocabulary activity,...