Curated OER
Writing Fables
Young scholars write their own fables. In this writing fables lesson, students use handheld computers to write a fable. The class designs a spreadsheet to organize common elements of fables. Young scholars also edit each others' work.
Curated OER
SLIDE INTO A RHYME
Have your young readers practice phonetic analysis skills with onsets and rhymes. Groups of students create animations in PowerPoint to demonstrate combining beginning letters with rhyme patterns.
Curated OER
Checking Sources For Accuracy
Middle schoolers will paraphrase a resource without plagiarizing. Then rewrite after reading text. They then evaluate the site or reference they are using for accuracy. In the end, they complete a note-taking organizer.
Michigan State University
Researching and Compiling Survey Information
Bring Internet research and social issues to your language arts class in this activity. After investigating the topic "Media Violence and How It Affects Teenagers" on the Internet, middle schoolers work in groups to compile their...
Curated OER
Sequencing
Are you looking for a way to teach sequence of events in your narrative writing unit? Bring this instructional activity to your middle school class, as it prompts young writers to create a narrative sequence map of events that have...
Curated OER
Selecting the Tap: Water Safety
Examine water as a scarce natural resource instead of taking it for granted. Middle schoolers identify the traits of potable water, and research local water sources to determine if they are impaired or not.
Curated OER
The History of Mathematics
Research the interrelationship between math and science. Search the Internet to discover the history of several branches of mathematics and make text-to-world connections between the concepts covered in each branch with related...
Curated OER
Egg Carton Binary Numbers
Learners take the abstract concept of binary representation and create a more tactile and concrete approach. Using egg cartons, they create a physical representation of binary numbers. The egg cartons become a tool to assist students in...
Curated OER
The Cloud Case
Learners discover how clouds form and how air pressure and air temperature affect their formation. The instructional activity is delivered in the story of Mike Breezy, Air Detective, who tries to solve The Cloud Case.
Curated OER
For the Record
Students read a New York Times article in order to examine the importance of cultural artifacts. They create essays from the point of view of one cultural artifact to demonstrate the knowledge they gained by doing research.
Curated OER
The Internet Pizza Server - Pizza Simulation
Students simulate going to a pizza restaurant, ordering a pizza, and determining whether a small, medium, large, or family size pizza is a "better-buy." Students calculate the price/per/topping and determine whether this price is "fair"
Curated OER
Wild Horses of the Outer Banks
Students explore animal habitats. In this cross curriculum animal survival and writing lesson, students view a website about wild horses on Shackelford Island and discuss ways in which the horses have changed to this environment. ...
Curated OER
Natural Disaster
Describe how plate tectonics account for various land formations. Learners discuss different marine sanctuaries and create a poster about tectonic activity in these areas. They share their posters with the class.
Curated OER
Outstanding Women
Research the lives of famous women in this social studies lesson. Middle schoolers use various sources to research a famous woman and create a presentation about the accomplishments of the woman. They can find the central idea throughout...
Curated OER
Library Lovers Month
Share your love of libraries with students; it's sure to speak volumes.
Curated OER
Jeopardy Game Template
Oh Boy! What you have found is not just another Jeopardy game, but a template you can use to create your own. Just imagine 25 students racing to provide the question for the answer, Manifest Destiny. Complete instructions for creating a...
Institute for Humane Education
Magazine Scheme: Are We Here?
What messages are relayed through magazines? How do magazines shape ideas about people? Scholars analyze a group of magazines focused on teen girls and women. After completing reading comprehension advertisement questioning and group...
Leadership Challenge
Elvis Evolution
Future leaders engage in a modified of "Rock, Paper, Scissors" game to gain insight into their approach to leadership. At the end of the game, participants were asked to consider whether they were focused on winning the game or on...
Leadership Challenge
Know/Want To Know
What I know. What I want to know. What you need to know. These are the questions that form the basis for a displayed thinking activity that encourages future leaders to "set out with intention and purpose."
Computer Science Unplugged
Phylogenetics
Introduce your class to the concept of creating phylogenetic trees by playing a game of Telephone. Participants create a mixed-up message and through the use of distance matrices, the evolution of the message is recreated.
Minnesota Literacy Council
Adult Computer and Employment Skills
Whether you are an experienced computer user or a newcomer to technology, a packet full of computer vocabulary, tips, and guided practice is sure to enhance your technological knowledge. Learners can hone their word processing skills and...
Do2Learn
Homework Chart
Help your learners keep track of their homework and other assignments due with this chart. Kids can note down their assignments for each day of the week, including the weekend. You might fill out the entire month or mark down each class...
Student Handouts
Graphic Organizer: Reference Citations
Pupils practice researching sources and logging citation information with this graphic organizer. After posing a general topic, groups of students are asked to devise general questions about that topic, and to research sources that they...
Curated OER
Hoot: KWHL
How can we help endangered animals? Learn about which animals are endangered and what people can do to protect them with a lesson based on Carl Hiaasen's Hoot. After completing a KWHL chart to note what they already know and what they...