Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Changing Energy: Landforms and Dance

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders choreograph a dance to represent the changes in nature. In this dance and nature lesson plan, 3rd graders use sharp quick movements to demonstrate changes.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Visual and Number Patterns

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders develop strategies for identifying geometric and number patterns. In this mathematical patterns lesson, 4th graders use pattern blocks to make repeating patterns with numbers and shapes. Students then explore number...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Footprints

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
Students explore patterns.  In this patterns geometry lesson, students identify and extend patterns including body parts, movement, geometric shapes, noises, and footprints.  Students create and share an original pattern.
Lesson Plan
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Farming in Ancient Mesopotamia: An Ancient Civil Engineering Problem

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders identify the major obstacles in farming in Mesopotamia. They work together to design and build a model that solves these problems. They write a short essay that describes the problems and their possible solutions.
Lesson Plan
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Pocket Full of Posies: Ceramics

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
After studying the plant or flower life cycle, have the class create a basket of flowers out of clay. They hone their ceramics skills while they push, pull, then paint clay to look like flowers they've seen in nature. There are several...
Lesson Plan
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Tree Identification to Observe Diversity of a Given Nature Area

For Teachers 2nd
For this tree identification lesson, 2nd graders read A Tree is Growing, discuss what makes up a forest, brainstorm characteristics of leaves, gather samples of leaves and examine their samples. Students will sort leaves and compare them...
Lesson Plan
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From Caterpiller to Butterfly: Cycles, Circles, and Patterns

For Teachers K - 4th
Students examine art of butterflies and discuss what they know about the insect. They create their own butterfly puppets and write a story to represent its life cycle.
Lesson Plan
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The Poinsettia: Native Mexican Plant vs. U.S. Christmas

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars compare and contrast native Mexican poinsettia plants to those marketed in the United States. They watch a PowerPoint presentation, and listen to a version of the legend of the poinsettia. Students then create a paper...
Lesson Plan
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Virtual Field Trip

For Teachers 5th - 7th
This hands-on resource has future trip planners analyze graphs of mileage, gasoline costs, and travel time on different routes. While this was originally designed for a problem-solving exercise using a Michigan map, it could be used as a...
Lesson Plan
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Build a 3-d Plant Model

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders construct a three-dimensional model of a flowering plant. They examine the major plant parts and their basic functions. They demonstrate an understanding of the similarities and differences in the physical...
Lesson Plan
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WHO Wants Clean Water! Do You? Solving Conflicts Over International Water Rights Issues

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the water rights on an international scale. In this social studies lesson, students research on a specific water rights issue. They write a paper about their findings and create a PowerPoint presentation which they share...
Lesson Plan
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Mini - Lesson #5: Get To Know - Mapping

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students examine and draw landscape maps. In this mapping lesson, students investigate what a landscape map is. They draw a map showing objects on a small piece of natural landscape. Students fill in a grid sheet and a worksheet to make...
Lesson Plan
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Pecan Fingerprints

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students investigate the traits that make them individuals. They study that natural items have traits that make them unique by looking at pecans. They make fingerprint animals which they use to design fingerprint cards.
Lesson Plan
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Descriptive Writing

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students practice descriptive writing. In this unique writing lesson, students hear a story about a mitten. Then three grade levels come together to first, create a mitten on KidPix; second, describe the designed mitten; and third, try...
Lesson Plan
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Geography Made Fun with Technology

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students incorporate knowledge box into their classroom activities. In this technology integration lesson, students fill out a graphic organizer using Glossopedia to analyze a new subject.
Lesson Plan
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Gumdrop Crystal Models

For Teachers 9th - 12th
A great way to learn about molecular structures is to make a model. Gumdrops and toothpicks are used to construct crystal models. The models are based on theories of crystal shapes that occur because of positive and or negatively charged...
Lesson Plan
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African Ceremonial Masks

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders examine and discuss the purposes and traditions of African ceremonial masks. They design and create African ceremonial masks using various materials.
Lesson Plan
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Cruise Indonesia

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students work together to create a cruise package to Indonesia. They collaborate on a travel brochure and coordinate daily activities for fictitious travelers to discover the diversity among the islands that make up Indonesia.