Curated OER
Cambodian New Year
Students compare and contrast the New Year celebration in Cambodia to the celebration in the United States. They mathematically determine the amount of beans added to the "mountain" during the three day celebration.
Judicial Branch of California
A New Constitution….Your Turn!
It's the 1700s, and while returning home from the Constitutional Convention, pupils are propelled to 2777. The United States— emerging from a period of unrest and war—needs help developing a new constitution! Using the material from the...
Curated OER
April Fool's Day
Students explore tradition and the month of April by participating in practical jokes. In this United Kingdom holiday activity, students discuss the birth of April Fool's day and what it means to the people of England. Students research...
Astronomical Society of the Pacific
Getting Ready for the All American Eclipse!
Give your pupils a front row seat at the biggest light show in the sky this year! In addition to admiring the total solar eclipse, young astronomers can explain the phenomenon with a little help from an inquiry-based lesson. The focus of...
Curated OER
Dark Days on the Prairie
Learners explore U.S. geography by researching agriculture. In this dust bowl lesson plan, students complete a cause and effect worksheet based upon the dust bowls that covered a large portion of Oklahoma and Texas in the early 1900's....
Curated OER
Just Like the Old Days
Students examine and experience roles and customs of rural Mongolians through role-playing, and they will compare unfamiliar roles from Mongolia with everyday roles in the United States. the will chart their own families and then predict...
Curated OER
Astronomy and Me: Moons Over New Haven
Third graders study the features of different moons orbiting the planets. In this astronomy lesson, 3rd graders explore the different phases of the moon using an interactive online website. They compare and contrast the features of the...
Curated OER
Lily and Miss Liberty
Students discuss ways to earn money and why they might need it. Students create crowns to wear all day like in the story. Students create a play using characters in the story. Students interview "eyewitnesses" at the unveiling of the...
US Institute of Peace
Effectiveness of Nonviolent Civic Action Simulation on Colombia
With new leadership comes new hope! After years of violence, the people of Colombia elect a new president ... could this mean an end to conflict? Civics scholars take part in a large group role-playing exercise designed to illustrate the...
Curated OER
Play House
Learners explore U.S. government by participating in a role playing activity. In this House of Representatives instructional activity, students discuss the first day of congress and the role the House plays in running the United States....
Curated OER
Crossing the Delaware with Historic, Cultural, and Personal Interpretations
Sixth graders discover the importance of information sources by researching the United States History. In this research gathering lesson, 6th graders examine a historical painting of George Washington and analyze what it means,...
Curated OER
Days of '49: "I've Been Toiling Hard for the Last Two And a Half Years"
Students trace the stages of gold mining in California. They discuss the life of a gold miner and how the discovery of gold influenced towns and cities in California during the 1949 Gold Rush.
Curated OER
It's About Time!
Students read a short tutorial and complete one or more online activities. They visit an online math dictionary to learn the value of a day, month, week, and year. In addition, they construct word problems based on a favorite month;...
Curated OER
Social Studies: St. Patrick - Symbol of Irishness
Students examine the history of St. Patrick's Day by creating characters and dialog reflecting Irish culture. A major part of the lesson is the construction of a float for a St. Patrick's Day parade. Also, students research and answer...
Curated OER
Architecture and Democracy
Fifth graders contrast and compare ancient Greece to the U.S.A. In this Greek History activity, 5th graders investigate the buildings and designs of ancient Greece, as well as their democracy and government. Students answer...
Curated OER
Mini-Economy
Third graders perform jobs in order to sustain their classroom community. After completing a brief overview of how local economies are sustained, they complete job applications for classroom jobs. Students perform their jobs throughout...
Curated OER
Cinco de Mayo
Students identify three celebration activities participated in Cinco de Mayo and explain their significance.
Curated OER
Evolution of the Virus: Teaching Macroevolution Through Microevolution
Students describe the anatomy of a virus. In this biology lesson, students compare and contrast the characteristics of bacteria and viruses. They discover the genetic adaptations of viruses over time.
Curated OER
Teaching Acting Technique and Building a Character Through Cinema
Students review the style techniques related to the American Method Acting and practice using them in groups. Using various scenes from films, they try to recreate the scene using props. In groups, they discover the proper way to get...
Smithsonian Institution
Students’ Response to 9/11—A Documentary Report
Young historians research the devastating attacks of 9/11 and use that information to script their own documentaries. The follow-up activity includes recording the documentary and conducting classmate interviews,
Curated OER
High School Mathematics Problems from Alaska:Cutting Cordwood
Students solve problems and answer questions about two young men attemtping to earn money by cutting cords of wood.
Curated OER
The Ancient Maya
Students explore the culture of the Mayans through a variety of activities. In this lesson about Maya, students analyze pictures in books and on websites, produce scale models of Maya architecture, and create Maya mosaics. Students study...
Curated OER
Fishing for El Nino
Learners explain why fish are in their usual location from the perspective of a worker on a fishing boat. They use clues clues, research, and a fake letter from their friend in North Carolina to determine the cause is El Nino.
Curated OER
The Dairy Shoppe
Fifth graders research dairy farming and learn about dairy products as well as dairy processing. In this dairy lesson, 5th graders read background information about dairy farming and processing. Students discuss running a small business...