National First Ladies' Library
The Education of Abigail Adams
Students read the biography of Abigail Smith Adams from the First Ladies Library web site. They work in small groups to write a description of her education. Students discuss their findings, and extend this to the education of girls in...
National First Ladies' Library
Flopsy, Mopsy, Eleanor, and Beatrix
Young scholars read "The Tale of Peter Rabbit" and view the photos of the pets that inspired Beatrix Potter to write. They then select a different book to read from the University of Pennsylvania's website or from the public library that...
National First Ladies' Library
Rosie the Riveter
Students identify and interpret the power of symbols. Then they research and identify what type of information that they can locate at the Library of Congress website and list what they learned from it in the time allotted. Students also...
National First Ladies' Library
Opening the Olympic Games
Learners examine the history of the Olympic Games, including the opening ceremonies. In small groups, they create Olympic flags using symbols that represent their country and communities. In phase two of the instructional activity,...
Curated OER
Geography: Caribbean
Students research and view a video on the geography of the Caribbean. In this Caribbean geography lesson, students go on an imaginary trip to the Caribbean and write postcards and letters telling of their trip. Students will include...
Curated OER
Sports Safety Pamphlets
Learners create pamphlets highlighting safety guidelines for specific sports. They define the word pamphlet, study safety guidelines for several sports, and create pamphlets highlighting safety guidelines for several sports.
Curated OER
Take a Tour of a Biome
Young scholars study five different biome types including aquatic, desert, forest, grassland, and tundra. They create a travel website of a simulated trip to one of the biomes.
Curated OER
Diversity: Origin Myths
Fifth graders analyze origin myths and the diversity of First Nations groups. In this history lesson, 5th graders review the geography of Canada and read various origin myths. Students illustrate one of the myths and research...
Curated OER
Time, Talent, and Treasure
Students look at how time, talent, and treasure are parts of stewardship and philanthropy. In this stewardship and philanthropy instructional activity, students complete a Time/Talent/Treasure Survey before discussing the answers in a...
Curated OER
Stamp of Courage
Students discuss the attributes that a hero can have and what it takes to be a Distinguished American, and be commemorated on a stamp. In this courage lesson, students research an everyday hero that they know about and create a...
Curated OER
Language Arts, Music, Poetry: Blues Style
This lesson focuses on how the blues both operates as poetry and informs the poetry of many prominent African American poets. Learners consider the poetic devices and recurring themes in blues lyrics and the significance of the poetry of...
Curated OER
Exploring Symmetry
Students use a software program to create artwork and to manipulate images to study mirror and rotational symmetry. They take pictures of items in their environment in which they identify symmetry.
Curated OER
Come Visit My School
Students practice basic camera skills. They create several panoramic movies. They create a virtual tour of their school.
Curated OER
You've Got Rhythm
Students study the rhythm value of a half note, quarter note, whole note, and eighth note. They stamp a rhythm pattern and create a clay animation which demonstrates note value.
Curated OER
Exploring the Galapagos
Students explore the species found in the Galapagos Islands and practice descriptive writing skills by creating a sample journal. They create a fictional journal that documents the places they visit and the species they encounter.
Curated OER
Pop-Up Pop Art, Tunnel book
Students study iconic symbols Keith Haring would make in his artwork. They invent a background for the images, and draw the characters. Students create a Tunnel Book and a Pop-Up Book based on their drawings.
Curated OER
The Amazing Maud Lewis
Students investigate cultural art from Canada by reading about Maud Lewis. In this Canadian history instructional activity, students identify the work of Lewis by visiting her magazine website. Students identify other heroes...
Curated OER
The Art of "Green" Flying
Learners create an airship that doesn't use fossil fuel. In this flying lesson, students research different types of flying machines that only use wind power. They discuss invention designs by Alexander Graham Bell and Leonardo Da Vinci...
Curated OER
Rudyard Kipling's "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi": Mixing Fact and Fiction
"Rikki-Tikki-Tavi," from The Jungle Book, offers young readers a chance to examine how Rudyard Kipling uses setting and personification to bring to life the brave mongoose who battles cobras to protect his family. Class members...
Curated OER
The Huexotzinco Codex
Students will analyze a set of pictograph documents created by native peoples of Puebla, Mexico in 1531. In this historical inquiry lesson, students take on the role of historians and study the documents. Students construct a scenario to...
Curated OER
U.S. Geography: The Midwest
Learners research agricultural products of the Midwest. For this Midwest lesson, students watch a video about the geography of the Midwest, discuss how topographical features were formed and review the agricultural products the Midwest...
Curated OER
Ocean Expedition with Jacques Cousteau
Students role play that they are on an ocean voyage with Jacques Cousteau as they study plant, and animal species and adaptation. They write a five page journal, create artwork of the expedition.
Curated OER
Paper Bag Book Report
Students read books and write a unique kind of book report. In this literature lesson, students use paper bags to construct projects about the books they read. Students present their projects to the class.
Curated OER
Let the Phone Get Them Talking! Using the Yellow Pages as a Teaching Resource
Students categorize information in the Yellow Pages. In this Let the Phone Book Get Them Talking! instructional activity, students find pictures in the Yellow Pages and thus gain a better understanding of how the book is organized....