Facing History and Ourselves
Exploring Raphael Lemkin's Actions: The Invention of the Word "Genocide"
Learners examine the contributions of Raphael Lemkin. For this genocide activity, students consider how Lemkin defined the atrocities of the Holocaust as he coined the term "genocide." Learners discuss the definition of genocide as well...
Curated OER
Good Health
Students complete a unit with cross-curricular activities to learn about a healthy body and maintaining their health. In this health lesson, students complete 8 lessons to learn about good health, a healthy diet, healthy foods, healthy...
Curated OER
Can You Hear Me Now?
Learners explore the industry involving communication and put communication devices into activities. In this communication lesson plan, students put items into chronological order, review primary sources, compare and contrast items, and...
Curated OER
Bats
Third graders replace a common KWL with an anticipation activity. In this bats lesson, 3rd graders use radio buttons to record their answers to questions at the beginning of a bat lesson. Students view a website to read about...
Curated OER
The Three Bears
Students explore the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. In this Goldilocks and the Three Bears lesson, students study aspects of reading through the story with companion rhymes. Cross curricular activities are included.
Curated OER
The Three Billy Goats Gruff
Learners complete activities with the story The Three Billy Goats Gruff. In this literature lesson plan, students listen to the story and then participate in shared reading. This lesson plan offers three extensions which link the...
Curated OER
It Started as an Egg
Learners investigate animals that hatch from eggs. In this hatching animals lesson plan, students investigate which animals are born alive and which hatch from eggs. Learners read It Started As An Egg and practice reading comprehension...
Curated OER
Persuasive Writing
This persuasive writing handout provides tips on how to write this style of essay as well as possible topics for elementary level writers. It does not include questions or activities.
Curated OER
"A Pig is Big"
Students explore the concept of big, bigger, and biggest. They examine and classify items by size, listen to and discuss the book "A Pig is Big," complete a fill in the blank activity, and create a tri-fold that illustrates two items...
Curated OER
"Mr. Betts and Mr. Potts"
First graders listen to the book "Mr. Betts and Mr. Potts" and examine the career of being a veterinarian. They categorize animals based on whether they could be house pets or not, develop a class pet graph, and list the various...
Curated OER
The Great Body Shop - Let's Talk Teeth
While this activity could be done using the materials at hand, it is designed for use with the program The Great Body Shop. Using Inspiration, pupils create a project focused on dental hygiene.
Curated OER
Word Sorts And Story Mapping
Fourth graders engage in a lesson that covers the concept of using a storymap to increase reading comprehension. They possess the prior knowledge of parts of speech from previous lessons. Students fill in the blank storymap while working...
Curated OER
Multiplication Algorithm (1)
Third graders in a 3rd grade math class make connections from prior instruction and mastery to solve problems in new learning situations. Using logical thinking and prior knowledge to solve current math problems is the focus of this...
Curated OER
Community Quilt
Second graders use prior knowledge about the community to create a quilt. They use complete sentences to explain their block and also use oral language skills to tell about their caption for their quilt piece.
Curated OER
Nike Transitions
Students discuss the use of transitions in film and video using prior knowledge, a Nike film, and a teacher-created iMovie as examples. The lesson ends with the creation of student iMovies using transitions.
Curated OER
Seeing a World of Difference
Students read through the lyrics and listen to a song about biodiversity. Using pictures they draw, they interpret the song according to their prior knowledge. They identify the threats to different regions around the world and create...
Curated OER
Culmination of Mighty Waters
Third graders investigate the concept of bodies of water. The information is obtained from the internet while conducting research. Then students draw upon prior knowledge from a film to combine information for the purpose of creating a...
Curated OER
Healthy Tips Podcast
Pupils create a health-based podcast for peers using prior knowledge, internet research, and KWL charts. This lesson is adaptable for different health topics and age levels.
Curated OER
Getting Help, but for More Work?
Fifth graders discuss prior knowledge of slope and force. They relate steepness of slope to the force needed to get an object up the slope. Students read from their text the information about inclined planes. They answer the questions...
Curated OER
Introducing Particles
Students predict what is going to happen using prior knowledge being prepared to alter a view when faced with new evidence. They then accurately measure and record liquid volumes realizing that liquids and granular solids have...
Curated OER
Grow a Plant
Young scholars combine their prior knowledge about plants with a garden learning activity. In this science gardening lesson plan, students discuss what plants need to survive. Young scholars then plant a seed themselves and demonstrate...
Curated OER
Putting Together History Puzzle Pieces
Students attempt to put puzzle pieces together with no prior knowledge. This activity shows students at the beginning of the year that history is like a puzzle, there are often missing pieces, and many ways the pieces can turn to look...
Curated OER
Weekend With Wendell
Students discuss prior knowledge about mice, and read a mouse poem. They listen to the teacher read "A Weekend With Wendell" and discuss Wendell's possible reaction when coming to visit the school media center. Students compose a class...
Curated OER
Where Are the Dinosaurs?
Students explore what the dinosaurs were like. In this dinosaur activity, the teacher peaks student curiosity about dinosaurs. This activity would be a great starting point for a dinosaur unit since it primarily engages student interest...