Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Poems for Every Season

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students read and explore autumn poetry. For this poetry lesson, students read Autumnblings and are introduced to different poetic forms. Lesson includes ideas for exploring the poetic forms presented in the book and cross-curricular...
Lesson Plan
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Journey and Change: The Migrant and Immigrant Experience

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young scholars look carefully at two photographs by Dorothea Lange that relate to the universal theme of a journey. They identify parallels between Lange's photographs and two poems. They write about the theme of journey as it relates to...
Lesson Plan
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Imagining China Through Words

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students create a drawing from a written description and examine and discuss how European artists from the past created images of China that combined imagination with written descriptions and limited visual imagery.
Lesson Plan
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Scale Drawings of Dinosaurs

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students, working in groups, make scale drawings of dinosaurs. The four groups then assemble their assigned parts into one composite drawing.
Lesson Plan
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A New Life

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners write a paper about how their life would be different if fractions, decimals and percents did not exist. The teacher leads a discussion after the papers are written.
Lesson Plan
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Activating Students

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students view and analyze one example of student activism in the 1960's and then apply their learning to their own situations. They work cooperatively to develop and implement their own "activist" or community service learning plan.
Lesson Plan
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The Changing Landscape

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars examine the evolution of landscape painting in France from the 17th to the 19th century. They study and compare three landscape paintings, emphasizing space, depth, and the concepts of foreground, middle ground, and...
Lesson Plan
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When Close Enough is Good Enough

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students describe the difference between an estimate and a guess. They create reasonable estimates based on observation and hands-on activities. They synthesize estimated based on interaction with online activities.
Lesson Plan
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Flags as Tools to Share Identity

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students compare flags, locate states on map with flag picture or miniature. Read a newspaper article outlining five vexillology standards for rating flags. They develop a personal flag with an essay interpreting their flag to the reader.
Lesson Plan
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The Declaration and Beyond

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students are explained that they are going to use a part of Thomas Paine's 1776 pamplet Common Sense as a starting point for exploring about argumentation, or persuasive writing. They are given a copy of the excerpt. Students discuss...
Lesson Plan
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Road To Revolution

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine events that occurred and explore the differing sentiments between the British and American colonists in the years leading up to the American Revolution. They view and discuss a video on the events then analyze quotes...
Lesson Plan
National First Ladies' Library

Finding Treasure Island; An Exciting Escape

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students read Treasure Island. They have a choice of a number of activities associated with the novel, including writing a review of the book. Students also participate in a National Geographic High Seas Adventure, going on an Internet...
Lesson Plan
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Ziplock Chemistry

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students investigate various chemical reactions when creating mixtures in ziplock baggies. In this chemistry lesson, students will recognize various chemical reactions and cite evidence. Safety and assessment strategies are included in...
Lesson Plan
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Objects of Adornment

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students identify adornments as a form of art. In this art and jewelry lesson, students view portraits of two historical princess noticing their adornments, then draw a person in their life focusing on the adornments they wear.
Lesson Plan
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The Poetry of Chinoiserie

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students study Asian works of art and Japanese haiku. They then take this knowledge and create an original haiku in response to other works of art.
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Breaking the Chains: Rising Out of Circumstances

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Study history through photographs. In this visual arts and history lesson, young scholars learn to analyze photographs to discover details about life during the Civil War era. Students write journal entries as if they are the...
Lesson Plan
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Depicting Motherhood in Family Stories

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students examine the roles of mothers and grandmothers by looking at black-and-white photographs of one American family and comparing that family's multi-generational story with their own. In this mothers and grandmothers lesson plan,...
Lesson Plan
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New Forms From Old

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners examine porcelain objects and see how their original use has been changed to create a new decorative object or an object with a new function. In this porcelain objects lesson plan, students observe the objects and then they will...
Lesson Plan
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Elements of a Mystery

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students write mystery stories. In this writing lesson, students review the definition and components of a mystery. They look at a photo and write a mystery to explain the picture. 
Lesson Plan
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Objects of Adornment

For Teachers K - 2nd
Young scholars examine the portrait of two historical princesses. In this art history lesson, students define the term "adornment" and discuss the characteristics of each painting. Young scholars compare and contrast the objects worn by...
Lesson Plan
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Depicting Motherhood in Family Stories

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students explore triptychs.  In this art history lesson, students define the terms "photograph" and "triptych".  Students discuss changes that occur between mothers and daughters and create an original triptych using...
Lesson Plan
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19th Century Chandelier

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Young scholars discuss the lines, shapes, and patterns used to decorate a 19th century chandelier. In this visual arts instructional activity, students examine the lines and identify the patterns on the chandelier. Young scholars create...
Lesson Plan
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Breaking the Chains, Rising Out of Circumstances

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students investigate a sculpture from the 17th century.  In this art history lesson, students examine Bust of a Man by Francis Hardwood and discover the meaning behind it.  Students create their own portrait bust of somebody...
Lesson Plan
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Land Use and Lawmaking in California

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students investigate the laws of using land.  In this California Government lesson, students examine the many uses of land in California and find an environmental issue they care about.  Students write a letter to a politician...