Curated OER
Communicating with "I Messages", Part 2
Third graders listen to ways they share their feelings with others. After brainstorming situations where "I messages" would be appropriate, pairs of students write messages from the lists they developed. They discuss how their messages...
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Norval Morrisseau
Students investigate the art of Norval Morrisseau and create "x-ray paintings" using styles and symbols related to his work in this one or two day art lesson for third grade through twelfth grade. Emphasis is placed upon creative...
Chicago Children's Museum
Simple Machines: Force and Motion
Get things moving with this elementary science unit on simple machines. Through a series of nine lessons including teacher demonstrations, hands-on activities, and science experiments, young scientists learn about forces, motion,...
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Farewell to the Former Library Media Specialist
Students write a letter to their former library media specialist incorporating brainstormed ideas of what they have liked about the library media center. In this way students let the teacher know about what has been done in the past and...
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I've Got News For You!
Students explore their hometown newspaper for ideas. They create their own classroom newspaper.
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Nudging Questions
Students choose one topic to write about. They brainstorm ideas about their topic or incident. They use sensory details to visualize their topic. They answer a variety of teacher directored nudging question to help them describe their...
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Free Verse
Students write free verse poems. In this poetry lesson, students use a three-step method to create a free verse poem. Students brainstorm ideas, let their ideas "incubate," and write a free verse poem.
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Equipment Ad
Students create a one-minute advertisement for a piece of sports safety equipment. They define the terms ad, advertisement, and commercial and demonstrate creative-thinking and creative-writing skills.
Poetry Society
Simile and Metaphor
Young poets use word cards to prompt a metaphor poem comparing to very dissimilar items.
Curated OER
Time Capsule Essay
Discuss your class' vision of the future. Learners create materials for use in a time capsule. They write letters to explain their contribution and provide photos. Afterwards, they use higher-level thinking skills to reflect on why...
PBS
Reading Adventure Pack: The Olympics
The mini Reading Adventure Pack takes a close look at the Olympics. After reading a fiction and nonfiction story, scholars research facts about the host country or a country of their choice participating in the games. The research...
Curated OER
Comparing Light Bulbs
An average home produces twice as many emissions as an average car. Teach your class how to reduce energy consumption by replacing standard incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs. Perform an experiment to compare...
Curated OER
Positive and Negative Conflict
Students explore the concepts of positive and negative conflict. They examine the ideas of cooperation and competition and apply the idea of win-win to global climate change. Students participate in a friendly competition.
Curated OER
Passport to Literacy
Third graders discuss with their partners what they would need to pack for an international trip and share their brainstormed ideas with the class making a web map. They then write paragraph detailing what they should take on the trip...
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My Favorite Story
Students share their pictures on an online database. As a class, they discuss their favorite books and why they like it. They review the elements of a story and brainstorm ideas for each category. To end the lesson, they complete a...
Curated OER
Outlining Essays (Grades 3-6)
Students brainstorm story idea in preparation of writing an expressive essay. They study how to outline essays to assist them in writing an expressive essay. Each students conclusion should summarize their main idea and restate their...
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It's Under Discussion
Students create brainstorming webs to facilitate discussions about writing about an informational topic. In this writing lesson plan, students do this in groups and then free write about their topic.
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Color
Students learn the effect that warm and cool colors have for those who see them used in visual art. They create a collage of variety of colors. They participate in a gallery walk to view the artwork of others.
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Clay Animal Sculptures
Students create their own clay sculpture with imaginary or realistic animal features. After drawing at least three sketches, they complete an animal sculpture brainstorming activity. They identify functions of pre-Columbian animal...
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Memorial Quilt
Students explore the significance of memorials in the creation of their own memorial for the victims of 9/11. Through brainstorming and class discussion, they identify the characteristics of a memorial. Students use construction paper...
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Creating a Clear, Accurate, Engaging Presentation
Students create a presentation that is clear, accurate, and engaging. They, as a class, develop the criteria by which their presentation be judged.
Curated OER
Indian Reservation Haiku Poem
Students examine and write about the relocation of Native Americans to Indian reservations. They view and discuss primary source photographs, brainstorm for details and emotions in a small group, and write a Haiku poem about the...
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Who Works for Nonprofits?
Learners explore career opportunities in the nonprofit sector. In this character development and career lesson, students identify job opportunities in a nonprofit organization and research the necessary skills needed for these jobs. ...
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Words Can Hurt: King Day
Students explore stereotyping. In this moral and character development lesson, students share reactions to a T-chart displaying what boys can do and girls can not do. Martin Luther King's accomplishments are discussed, and students...