Curated OER
Welcome Back to the Computer Lab: Starting a New School Year
Get kids re-oriented to the computer lab for back-to-school. The constructivist approach in this session allows children to exert ownership of their behavior in the computer lab. Read aloud a few books about good and poor manners, as...
Curated OER
Speech/Language Scavenger Hunt
A good idea. To build both speech and social skills special ed students go on a scavenger hunt. They locate people around the school and say a series of words, when they say the words correctly they receive a prize. They also ask for...
Curated OER
Author's Purpose
How do you determine an author’s purpose? You ask the author, of course. Invite a local journalist into the class to respond to scripted student questions about his/her writing process. A review of basic classroom etiquette is also...
Virginia Department of Education
Elaborating with Showing, Not Telling
This engaging activity is a great change of pace for the classroom. The activity starts with a simple message on the board “The teacher is angry.” The instructor is to stomp around, drop books and glare—anything to show anger. The...
Curated OER
Habitat Choice in Woodbugs
Students investigate woodbugs. In this scientific investigation lesson, students explore the steps scientists take when conducting an investigation using live specimens. Students explore habitat preferences for woodbugs in various...
Curated OER
Classroom Museum
Students investigate various aspects of culture. They collect artifacts from various resources as an ongoing project throughout the school year. Students reflect upon the differences in cultures and subject areas as they conduct research...
Curated OER
Infusing Equity by Gender into the Classroom
Students discover the biases between the two genders by comparing males and females in different species. In this gender identity lesson, students research National Geographic Magazine and view videos demonstrating the differences...
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Scientific Inquiry Using WildCam Gorongosa
How do scientists determine what questions to ask to meet their research goals? Help your class develop an inquiry mindset with a lesson based on studies in the Gorongosa National Park. Partners create their own research questions by...
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Building Ecological Pyramids
Looking for a fresh take on traditional food/energy pyramids? Conduct an innovative activity where pupils build their own! The lesson uses research data from Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique for a real-life safari touch. Scholars...
Curated OER
Sheffield Island Adaptation Activity
You don't have to visit The Maritime Aquarium to use this plan, but you would need to find a location where a variety of bird species live, re-write the activity worksheet to incorporate the local species, and purchase field guides for...
Personal Genetics Education Project
Genetics and Reproduction
Disease prevention or designer babies? Use a set of slides to introduce the growing practice of preimplantation genetic diagnosis, or PGD. Teens read related articles and then break into groups to address different scenarios. Afterward,...
Social Skills Central
Ready, Set, Respond!
When faced with a difficult situation, do you respond selfishly, face it head on, or ignore the problem? This game encourages learners to evaluate the wide range of reactions we can have to problematic situations, and how our responses...
Curated OER
Be Strong / Live Strong Stationary Bike Program
Students participate in a Be Strong Bike Program that rewards them for exhibiting positive behavior. If a student is caught doing something good, they receive a positive behavior slip that has a written description of their positive...
Curated OER
The Life You Save...
High schoolers identify common warning signs of depression that, if not addressed, could lead to suicidal behavior. They write skits and create booklets in which they document appropriate suicide prevention techniques.
Curated OER
Is there a stone in my soup?
Students observe teacher's inappropriate classroom procedures such as tattling, pushing, or interrupting. In this showing respectful behaviors lesson, students respond to scenarios created by the teacher and address what the appropriate...
Curated OER
Bird Up
Third graders identify basic physical and behavioral characteristics of birds and how they adapt to their environments. To organize and share scientific information with peers. They discuss similarities and differences among birds....
Curated OER
Health Grade 3
Third graders understand what a friend is. In this lesson about friendships, 3rd graders analyze friend and non friend traits. Students learn about relationships through discussion in class. Students gather in groups and look at a list...
Curated OER
Inch By Inch
Learners explore the concept of measuring length using a one-inch pipe cleaner "inchworm." They listen to the story "Inch By Inch by Leo Lionni and discuss how the animals were measured by the inchworm in the book. In pairs students...
Curated OER
My Manners Matter
Students examine behavior. In this polite manners lesson, students will determine appropriate responses to different situations they may experience at school. They will listen to the story My Manners Matter by Pat Thomas and contribute...
Curated OER
Angry Feelings
Students explore how to manage angry feelings. In this behavior lesson, students discuss techniques to handle angry feelings, such as counting to ten and talking out the problem.
Learning to Give
Your Place in the Community
Learners identify their beliefs and values and compare how these values relate to those of their community. They then determine how their values affect the roles they play in different situations. A quiz about values and beliefs...
National Endowment for the Humanities
The "Secret Society" and FitzGerald's The Great Gatsby
"I have never been able to forgive the rich for being rich, and it has colored my entire life and works." This colored view is the focus of a close reading activity that asks readers of The Great Gatsby to examine the way...
California Department of Education
Workplace Skills
What skills do employers look for in potential employees? Introduce scholars to the skills that pay the bills during the second of six career and college readiness lesson plans. Once they have defined critical 21st-century skills, groups...
Missouri Department of Elementary
Using Negotiation to Settle Difficulties
Negotiating can be a win/win experience if the involved parties apply the skills and techniques offered in a lesson plan about negotiating to settle differences.