Curated OER
Learn Classmates' Names
Learners create a classroom book of names and photos. In this icebreaker lesson plan, students read the book Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See and create a classroom book with the same pattern using classmates' names and photographs.
Curated OER
Fighting Fake News
Fake news. Alternative facts. Internet trolls. In an age of Newspeak, it's increasingly important to equip 21st century learners with the skills needed to determine the legitimacy of claims put forth on social media, in print, and in...
Cornell University
Buoyancy
Swimmers know to float by turning their bodies horizontally rather than vertically, but why does that make a difference? In an interesting lesson, scholars explore buoyancy and the properties of air and water. They test cups to see which...
Curated OER
The Important Thing
First graders create time capsules with "The Important Thing About Me" picture and information.
Great Schools
A Questionnaire: What Do You Like to Read?
What do your fifth graders know about types of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry? Find out as they fill out this questionnaire that requires them to list authors and texts that exemplify each genre. Not only will you be able to assess what...
Curated OER
Introduction to Exponents
Problem solve using exponents. Pupils read One Grain of Rice: A Mathematical Folktale and write powers to represent amounts from the story.They compare actual solutions to their predictions and play a game to practice using exponents.
Food a Fact of Life
Back to Basics
Ratatouille, the sauce not the animated Disney film, is the focus of this foods lesson. Class groups prepare either a classic tomato ragu or a ratatouille to take home and share with their families.
Tennessee Valley Authority
Renewable Energy Sources
Not all energy sources are renewable, as learners investigate in this unit. Made up of six lessons that span a few weeks of instruction, the unit has learners examining US energy reserves and consumption, using data to draw conclusions...
Scholasic
The Magic School Bus and the Missing Tooth
We chew with our teeth every day, but how much do we really know about them? Allow Ms. Frizzle to teach your kids a thing or two about teeth. Kids complete a prereading exercise, read the book, and respond to several prompts about the...
Curated OER
Mush! Tracking Travelers on the Trail
Students get to know Alaska and the Iditarod route that is run by dogs as they track the mushers' progress on a map that they create specifically for the race. They learn about latitude, longitude, plotting on a map, checkpoints, and...
Michigan State University
Inspecting The School
Keep your eyes peeled for pests! Here, scholars inspect their campus for signs of living things such as insects and rodents. Upon observation, class members record their findings and present the information to their peers.
West Contra Costa Unified School District
Dividing Fractions
Encourage at-home assistance with a reference sheet designed to provide parents and guardians with the information they need to help their child divide fractions. Three pages offer detailed descriptions and labeled examples.
Curated OER
Common Homonym Errors Worksheet
If you're unsure of your homonyms, then this worksheet is for you. So much better than some, there are two columns of exercises, and they're fun too.
Curated OER
The Grapes of Wrath: Problematic Situation
To prepare for a reading of John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath, kids must prioritize a list of items to take with them on a journey to Texas.
Cincinnati Library
Computers for Beginner
The kids in your class are probably experts at navigating the computer, but do they know the difference between hardware and software? Teach computer skills to any level of computer user with a helpful reference sheet. It covers...
Code.org
Making Data Visualizations
Relax ... now visualize the data. Introduce pupils to creating charts from a single data set. Using chart tools included in spreadsheet programs class members create data visualizations that display data. The activity encourages...
Happy Maau Studios
Math Ref
Forgot how to multiply matrices? Well, this app can help. It is like a gigantic, well-organized reference card for all things math. Customize your personal reference material by adding your own notes and build up a personalized list of...
Virginia Department of Education
Hoppin' on the Elapsed Time Line
Time flies when you're teaching math! Okay, maybe not for everyone, but this lesson will have your young mathematicians calculating elapsed time before you know it.
West Contra Costa Unified School District
Multiplying Numbers
Provide families with the guidance needed to support their child's proficiency in multiplying numbers. Three pages offer detailed descriptions and labeled examples.
University of North Carolina
Dissertations
Bring on the coffee—it's dissertation time! As a handout on dissertations explains, over 50 percent of PhD candidates never finish their dissertations. The handout, part of a larger series on specific writing styles, helps motivate...
Concord Consortium
It's In the Mail
It's time to check the mail! The task is to determine the most cost-effective way to mail a packet of information. Young scholars write an equation that models the amount of postage as a function of the number of sheets mailed and...
Biz Kids
Understanding Business Ethics
After screening an episode by BizKids, scholars show what they know about business vocabulary, then take part in grand conversations about role models and ethical dilemmas.
California Academy of Science
Be Prepared for an Earthquake
Earthquakes can be frightening and dangerous, but being prepared can make a world of difference. Perform an earthquake simulation during which the class practices how to drop, cover, and hold on as you read a script describing what might...
Santa Clara County Office of Education
Bulletin Board Ideas
It's hard to find time to create really good bulletin boards, or stray from your year-to-year comfortable displays. Stress no more! Check out a list of monthly bulletin board ideas guaranteed to get you through the school year. With a...