Curated OER
Community Chain
Students examine the concept of rights and responsibilities of being citizens. In this citizenship activity, students participate in a discussion of the responsibilities that are associated with the rights of citizenship. They make a...
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Unit Pricing
Students explore unit pricing to determine the best buy for their money. In this personal finance lesson plan, students calculate cost per wear examples and create a list of criteria for picking clothes. Students visit a story and use...
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The Name Game
Students identify acts of philanthropy in different works of literature. They idenify and illustrate examples in colonial America. They also read "Miss Rumphius" on how they can make the world a more beautiful place.
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Following in Their Footsteps
Young scholars discuss earlier lessons on tikkun olam. They plan their own tikkun olam project and set deadlines for its completion. They reflect on the project after it is finished.
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Making Choices With Scarce Resources
Students examine the role of scarcity and how to allocate resources. They describe examples of opportunity costs and tradeoffs. They choose a service project based on a cost and benefits analysis. They finally evaluate the impact of the...
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Art as Advocacy for Social Change
“Humanscape No.65” by Melesia Casas and Ester Hernandez’s “Sun Maid Raisins” launch a study of how works of art can advocate for social change. After examining these two works and discussing the human rights issues raised, class members...
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Compliments and Feelings
How do you feel when you get a compliment? Give a compliment? After modeling how to make explicit compliments (“I like the way . . .”) ask class members to practice saying nice things about themselves and others, and to consider how...
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Introducing New Vocabulary Words
Using context clues, synonyms, antonyms, dictionaries, and original sentences, middle schoolers work through a new list of vocabulary words. A SMART board file guides them through the process of learning and reinforcing the words. After...
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Promote Nonviolence
Take a look at the topic of violence as seen in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird. Discuss together the values that Atticus holds and brainstorm ways to combat violence in a similar manner to what he portrays in the novel. Get your...
American Battlefield Trust
Antietam 360
It was the single bloodiest day in Civil War history. Now, class members have the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of soldiers who fought in the Battle of Antietam using an interactive website. Supplemental resources include...
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Philanthropic Behavior
Youngsters create class rules by determining the environment they would like to have in their classroom. They come to a consensus about how to have a safe, fair, fun learning environment by discussing the rules in the Karla Kustin poem,...
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Community Helpers
First graders explore the different products and services provided by community helpers. In this community helpers lesson, learners participate in a role playing activity where the students transform into community helpers. They break...
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Give It All You’ve Got Heroes and Visual Art
Sure, your young artists probably know Van Gogh and Picasso, but are they equally as familiar with Frida Kahlo and Andy Warhol? Small groups examine the work of famous artists. Then, they create their own hero portraits in Cubist style...
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Furniture Defined
Students dissect and evaluate traditional definitions of furniture styles. In this furniture characteristics activity, student learn to classify different styles and types of furniture. Students create furniture sketches.
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Design a Soda Bottle Label
Students make a mind web to describe their favorite soda. They then make thumbnail sketches of their labels. Tehy create a unique font with which to write the mane of their soda.
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Character Traits
Sixth graders explore details from a story to develop ideas and opinions about character traits. Using a Smart Board, 6th graders create a chart explaining the character's action and traits. In groups, students discuss and describe...
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Work Patterned on Mondrian
Students study and describe aesthetic properties in art. They use criteria to participate in critiques.
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Spooky Analysis
Focus on building suspense as well as evaluating web sites through creative writing. After introducing the idea of suspense and holding a discussion, class members complete a WebQuest, during which they find inspiration for their own...
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Technology: Creating Introductions with Digital Cameras
Third graders discover how to use digital video cameras to record introductions of themselves for Powerpoint presentations. They decide what to say, which points to highlight, and how to interest viewers. Their Powerpoint presentations...
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Cultivating Caring - Filling Buckets of Caring Carrots
Young scholars practice compassion. In this character education lesson, student read Have You Filled a Bucket Today? by Carol McCloud. Students discuss the book as well as ways to demonstrate they care for one another. Young scholars...
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Bio-Poems and U.S. History
Learners explore U.S. History by writing poems. In this United States leader biography lesson, students identify elements needed to create a good poem, and write a Bio-Poem about themselves. Learners utilize the same form to write a...
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Upon the Clouds of Equality: King Day
Young scholars learn about equality, justice and fairness. For this equality lesson, students experience what it feels like to be treated unequally. Young scholars examine Martin Luther King, Jr.'s dream of equality and his actions to...
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Nutrition
Seventh graders investigate nutrition and nutrients. In this nutrition or diet lesson, groups of students create a poster, commercial, or skit about a nutriet which will be presented or performed to the rest of the class after...
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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. For this courage lesson, students research an everyday hero that they know about and create a 'stamp'...