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Curated OER

Shange's Novel Betsey Brown & Jazz

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students read a work of fiction and investigate literary values and structure of the work. They demonstrate understanding of the family values, cultural and historical context of the novel;
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Curated OER

Behind the Music 2000

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students discuss copyright issues and how technological advancements have affected music.
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Life of a Chinese Emperor Through Art

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners create an invitation to the Chinese Emperor Qianlong's birthday party using historical knowledge of the Emperor and customary practices of the time. This lesson suggests using Microsoft Publisher for creation of invitations.
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Illuminated Text

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students examine the technique of ancient decorative gilding used to support literature. They begin by tracing letters onto double tack release paper, then place onto cardstock before burnishing with a Simple Leaf sheet. Opaque Blick...
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Curated OER

Earth Day - Bursting Beans

For Teachers K - 6th
Students fill jars with dried beans and water, cover the jars, and wait to see what happens in this excellent Science experiment ideal for Earth Day (April 22nd). Emphasis is placed on discovering the reactions of seeds to water.
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Mary, Queen of Scots: Heroine or Harlot?

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students explain how international politics, religion, and cultural beliefs influenced the life of Mary Queen of Scots. They watch a film about Mary, Queen of Scots and participate in a discussion and variety of extension activities.
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Vincent Van Gogh: A Stroke of Genius

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine the tragic life and career of Vincent Van Gogh. Plagued by madness and depression, Van Gogh nevertheless produced revolutionary works of art that are worth millions today.
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ARTQUARIUM

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars identify different underwater creatures, explain the importance of recycling in the community, plan preliminary sketches on paper, and construct and sculpt with chosen materials to create creature in paper mache.
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The Extra Place Lesson

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students take up the challenge of deciding what to do when confronted by a difficult and awkward situation. They read the story and highlight sentences or phrases that have particular meaning to them and think about and discuss a...
Lesson Plan
National First Ladies' Library

The Education of Freedmen...and Women and Children

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Pupils examine political debate surrounding Freedmen's Bureau, use primary sources to explore trials and successes of effort to educate newly-freed slaves of all ages, research reasons for creation of Freedmen's Bureau, discuss President...
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Methods of Mystery

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Students utilize the scientific method to discover the age of an item.  In this historical dating instructional activity, students compare and contrast a 400 year old cabinet to one made within a few years by using carbon dating....
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Mesoamerican Codex Books

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders recreate Mesoamerican Codex Books using brown paper bags, paints, glue, an iron, and books on Mesoamerican Glyphs in this 5th grade lesson in the Art classroom. Resource links and book references are provided for lesson...
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A Kids Guide to...

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students look into their community's historical changes. In this community activity, students see what draws  people to their community and research important buildings or national historic sites. They look at local architecture and...
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Fossil Fantastic

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students collect found objects, including leaves, twigs, and buttons, and create hand-made "fossils" in this 2-day lesson for the 7th and 8th grade Science or Art classroom. This is a great cross-curricular exploration of fossils and...
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Life Science- Useful Waste

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore the topic of waste and recycling. In this useful waste lesson plan, 4th graders classify objects and sort them into most usable and least usable categories. Students complete an activity sheet and have a discussion...
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Scarecrow Recycled

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students create their own scarecrows. In this recycling instructional activity, students discuss the purpose of scarecrows and discuss how they are constructed. Students make their own scarecrows out of recycled materials.
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The Need for Family and Home

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students read and analyze the novel, 'Homecoming.' They create a word web, analyze the theme of family and home, complete a writing assignment, research and develop a chart listing the needs of Students, and conduct research on foster care.
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Primary Structural Forms: Post and Beam

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students examine the three primary structural forms of architecture. They view photos, take a walking tour of their community, conduct strength tests of post, beam, and arch construction, and analyze the test results.
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Female Adolescent Identity Formation: Am I Powerful or Powerless?

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students explore the "coming of age" process experienced by adolescent girls on their journey from children to adulthood. They focus on the middle years or limbo period in which girls decide who they want to become as women or rather,...
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The Black Plague

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students participate in a simulation game to experience the societal effects of the Black Plague during the Medieval Period. Information garnered during the game is used to discuss the current state of communicable diseases in our world...
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The Giver

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars read the novel The Giver and complete six tasks. They identify vocabulary that they did not recongize, create a different ending for the book, produce character cards and pick important events and objects from the novel.
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What is a Treaty?

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students examine the notion of terra nullius, the idea under which Australia was settled. Then they compare the economic and social outcomes for Australia's indigenous people under terra nullius with those of other indigenous peoples...
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Vincent's Flowers

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students become acquainted with Vincent Van Gogh and examine how pastels can be used to create a variety of lines and textural effects.
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Flowers Galore

For Teachers K - 6th
Students examine the work of Georgia O'Keefe and observe the shapes and lines that make up a flower. They create a flower drawing or painting.