Curated OER
Math and Science in a Wetland
Pupils describe safe practice when doing field and lab investigations in a estuary or wetland. They create a model of an estuary and describe their value and function. They participate in field study in which they collect and analyze...
Curated OER
Contestable Markets
Students make inquiry into the concept of contestable markets. The lesson focuses upon theory and the intention is to encourage students to move to analysis or evaluation of the market. The lesson helps to reinforce the skills of...
Curated OER
Investigating Erosion in an Outdoor Classroom
First graders observe the effects of erosion. They work in groups to simulate erosion in a streambed, participate in class discussion, read books about fossils and rocks and then go on a fossil hunt.
Curated OER
Raptor Poster Project
Students create posters about raptors. They synthesize information they read about raptors and select a raptor. They draw a picture of their raptor and include facts relating to where it lives, characteristics, feeding habits, size, name...
Curated OER
Planning a Healthy City
Ninth graders create a scaled model city. They create a blueprint that provides for the economic and cultural needs of a community. They identify where essential elements of the city should be located and explain the rationale for the...
Curated OER
Looking at the Community Tree
Third graders review the characteristics of living and nonliving organisms. As a class, they observe a tree and describe the interactions between the living and nonliving organisms surrounding it. To end the instructional activity,...
Curated OER
Prime Time Math
Seventh graders use educational software in order to practice lesson plan objectives. They define rate and ratio. Students solve distance problems given two variables. They also use a problem solving strategy that can be defended in its...
Curated OER
Compatible numbers to 20
Students practice theories dealing with equals sign used as a balance, inequality symbols and practice utilizing a box or some other geometric shape to represent an unknown number. They assess numeracy problems embedded in language-rick...
Curated OER
Telling the Stories the Past Tells Us
Students create historical stories based on factual evidence. In this Telling the Stories the Past Tells Us lesson, students write historical stories using strategies such as characters, plot, setting, and voice. Students analyze several...
Curated OER
Web Design
Using Microsoft Word, students will construct a "web page" with hyperlinks to real sites. Students will learn Internet terminology, search strategies, and design techniques. Teacher may also use TechnoLink, an external computer...
Reading Rockets
Reading Rockets: Building Background Knowledge
The importance of background knowledge is especially salient in the age of Common Core. This article offers practical classroom strategies to build background knowledge such as using contrasts and comparisons and encouraging...
AdLit
Ad lit.org: Use Easy Nonfiction to Build Background Knowledge
A Texas librarian shares his strategy of using nonfiction picture books to introduce new concepts to struggling adolescent readers and to build their background knowledge. Once students have been exposed to academic content in easy...
EL Education
El Education: Learning to Read Informational Texts: Building Background
In this comprehensive unit, students launch their learning about birds by using informational texts. As students read these texts, they build background knowledge and develop their skills as readers of informational texts. Included are...
AdLit
Ad lit.org: Teach Vocabulary by Building Background Knowledge
Students need to develop an extensive vocabulary to read with fluency. In turn, fluency in reading leads to increased comprehension. Fluency also comes from the written language of the reader since the student writes words he or she...
Austin Independent School District
Austin Independent Schools: Six Steps to Effective Vocabulary Instruction [Pdf]
Help students build vocabulary by following these six steps based on a book Building Background Knowledge by Robert Marzao. Requires Adobe Reader. [PDF]
PBS
Colorin Colorado: How to Develop a Lesson Plan That Includes El Ls
In this article, readers will learn how to develop a lesson plan that will include ELL students. This article highlights that effect lessons, that will inclusive of ELL students, will work to build background knowledge, provide explicit...
CommonLit
Common Lit: Text Sets
This is a collection of 35 Grade-Leveled text sets (4-11). They are great for social studies teachers or for building background knowledge in reading class, CommonLit's text sets cover a range of historical, cultural, and political...
Scholastic
Scholastic Instructor: 100 Years of Flight
Learn more about the first "100 Years of Flight" when you explore this article. It features resources, historical background knowledge and more.
Read Works
Read Works: Vocabulary in Context 2nd Grade Unit: Context Clues
[Free Registration/Login Required] This is a instructional activity in which students learn to use context clues in surrounding sentences to determine the meanings of unfamiliar words. The instructional activity utilizes the book The...
Scholastic
Scholastic Instructor: The Chinese New Year
How do people celebrate the Chinese New Year? Come and discover more about this fascinating holiday when you visit this comprehensive resource. This site features historical information, activities, fun facts, and more.
ClassFlow
Class Flow: Two Bad Ants
[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart correlates with the Scott Foresman Grade 3 textbook. It preteaches the main comprehension skill which is recognizing the aspects of the literary genres realism vs. fantasy; has...
ClassFlow
Class Flow: Herbie and Annabelle
[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart teaches the comprehension skill of cause and effect has web links to practice cause and effect, uses a word web to build background knowledge before reading the selection story and it...
Read Works
Read Works: Sequence Kindergarten Unit: Beginning and End
[Free Registration/Login Required] This webiste provides a instructional activity in which students identify and describe the beginning and end of a fiction story. Lesson includes ideas for direct teaching, guided practice, and...
Louisiana Department of Education
Louisiana Doe: Curriculum Hub: Ela Guidebooks: Romeo and Juliet: Setting
Students build their knowledge of a text's setting by reading background information and answering questions to prepare to read Romeo and Juliet.