Curated OER
Dream T-Shirts
Students identify places they have been or would like to travel to, people they would like to meet, or other dreams that are important to them. They design T-shirts to illustrate their dreams and use their T-shirts to make oral...
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Diwali Doorway
Students research Diwali, an important Hindu holiday in India. They identify authentic graphic designs that are common symbols used during the Diwali Festival of Lights. Afterward, they create a block-printed doorway decoration that is...
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Dogsled Adventure
Students conduct research on dog sledding and the Iditarod dog sledding competition. They conduct research and write a report, then using a variety of craft materials design and create a dogsled musher and sled dogs to present with their...
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Corn-Husk Characters
Learners examine the traditional Native American and early American craft of corn husk dolls. They conduct interviews with grandparents or other elders about corn-husk dolls, and using a variety of craft materials design and create a...
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Contour Maps
Students review various contour maps, including local ones, to identify landforms such as mountains and plains. They create a 3-D contour map of an imaginary location that shows at least 10 changes in elevation. Afterward, they write a...
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What's In a Name?
Students explore the relationship between names and certain cultures and locations. In this identity lesson, students create family migration or immigration maps. Students read excerpts from When My Name was Keoko and Lost Names: Scenes...
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Barrels and Buckets: Access to Water - What Would It Be Like to Live in Africa?
Students compare water access in the United States with that of Africa. In this water access lesson, students located Ghana and Kenya on a globe before reading Peace Corps Volunteer accounts of the difficulty of accessing clean water....
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Chinese Kites
Students identify Chinese culture and find that New Year is the most important of many Chinese holidays. Then they research many facets of the Chinese New Year celebration, and identify the symbols of the animal zodiac. Students also...
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Disposables and Deforestation
Ever think about the impact those cool disposable chopsticks have on the environment? Read about a group of students in Beijing who created a forest using nothing but tossed out chopsticks. Find out how this artistic endeavor is making a...
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Castle in the Countryside
Students research the architecture and agricultural products of European countries during the Middle Ages. Then they research the climates that are best for growing grapes or other crops. Students also sculpt a replica of a castle and...
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Cartouche Codes
Students explore ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics and cartouches. Then they develop their own written code to represent their names. Students also sculpt and use their code to create their own cartouche. Finally, they research the symbols...
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Carp Streamer
Young scholars use the internet to research Children's Day in Japan. In groups, they examine the symbols on the streamers placed outside of families homes. To end the lesson, they design their own carp streamers and hang it from the...
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Building Boats
Students research different types of boats in various time periods and cultures. Then they locate photographs and information about construction details of one type of boat. Students also use their research as the basis for designing and...
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Amish Quilters
Students research information about the Amish way of life and discuss how quilting is a necessity as well as a way for women to socialize within the Amish community. They create a diorama showing scenes related to quilting.
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Solar Energy in New York
Middle schoolers examine a variety of information for New York State including insolation data, and economic or political data, thus incorporating both science and social studies. Encouraging learners to become concerned citizens as they...
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History: Tudor Exploration
In a story format, the tale of Tudor exploration is told. Each slide contains an image and a chunk of text relating content regarding King Henry VIII's navy and his favorite ships. The last slide suggests an activity where learners...
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Whose go the Power: Checks and Balances
After introducing the three branches of US government, test the class' understanding of government powers. They are asked a series of questions regarding a federal act and then, answer which branch has the power of decision making....
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Sir Robert Peel: Second Baronet (1788-1850)
Who was the second Baronet in Great Britain, you ask? Why, it was non other than Sir Robert Peel! Learn all about Sir Peel's life, politics, and contributions to British policy. If this isn't what your class is studying in school, it...
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Life after 1930: Review Game
The Beatles, Teddy Boys, and Winston Churchill all have one thing in common. They are all part of British culture after the 1930s. Learners play an adapted version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire to answer 15 common-knowledge questions...
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Lin at Home and Abroad
What is so amazing about Jeremy Lin? Read the following New York Times article and find out. The article and 13 comprehension questions regarding this basketball super star are awaiting your eager readers.
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Arab Spring: Unrest in the Middle East, 2011-2012
The conflict in the Middle East is a hot topic that can be somewhat confusing. In order to better grasp the who, what, where, when, and why of this world affair, learners fill out a chart. They record basic facts about each country...
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Is Modern Culture Ruining Childhood?
There are a lot of different ways a learner could respond to this New York Times article discussing the effects of modern culture on childhood. After reading the article, pupils construct a thoughtful blog post. The guiding questions...
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Honoring Holocaust Remembrance Week
Examining a difficult history through contextual foundations, personal stories, and Dr. Seuss.
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Lord Shaftesbury
One of the negative effects of the Industrial Revolution was the advent of child labor. Discover the good deeds and law making powers held by Lord Shaftesbury. Each slide describes his life and his contributions to child welfare,...