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Interactive
Curated OER

What's the Category

For Students 3rd - 8th
In this categories instructional activity, students read the group of words and put them into a category. Students complete this for 22 problems.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Japan: Images of a People

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students learn the geography of Japan and its location in reference to the United States.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Outsiders

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders participate in the Layered Curriculum that is, essentially, an opportunity for self-made choice in the process of evaluation. While reading this novel they get to choose the projects that best help apply what is read.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Art to Zoo: Celebration

For Teachers Pre-K - 3rd
Students research and develop a report on birthday rituals around the world. In this research lesson plan, students compare birthday rituals from other cultures to their own. Images and resources are included.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Playing Historical Detective: Great Grandmother's Dress and Other Clues to the Life and Times of Annie Steel

For Teachers Pre-K - 8th
Students draw conclusions about an mystery person based on documents and artifacts provided. In this drawing conclusions instructional activity, students become detectives by reading and analyzing evidence provided. This instructional...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Climate and Cultures of Africa

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students gain an understanding of the relationship between climate and culture in the sub- Saharan Africa. Students will complete short exercises pertaining to the various cultures of Africa and the climate in which they live....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dinosaurs Were Real!

For Teachers Pre-K - 3rd
Learners investigate the history of dinosaurs, as real animals. In this dinosaur lesson plan, students examine basic concepts that help them understand the history of all life. Included in this article is information on the world of the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

India: Where Remarkable Differences Are Ordinary

For Teachers 1st - 6th
Students research India and Indian culture. In this Indian research lesson plan, students research and report on the lives of Indian children. The report will be in the form of a mock interview between a journalist and an Indian child....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Minerals, Crystals, and Gems

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students discover the relationships between minerals, crystals and gems. They bring in rocks that they find at home, in the schoolyard, etc. and examine them and attempt to identify them. They set up a classroom exhibit that includes all...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Using Primary Documents: "Agreeable to His Genius"

For Teachers 10th - 11th
Students use primary sources to reconstruct events in the life of John Partidge Bull.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Heartfelt/Handmade Activities: Genre Painting

For Teachers K - 8th
Students examine genre painting. They explore the Illinois State Museum website, identify how genre paintings were composed, analyze the activities of an Illinois farm in the 1850s, and create a genre painting of current everyday...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Be a River Pioneer!

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students role-play as pioneers in Illinois river towns. They research and choose a home town and participate in the development of the town. They present their simulation in either a written report or visual presentation.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

What Makes A Community Sustainable

For Students 9th - 12th
In this environment worksheet, students read three different case studies in order to apply them to the categories of finding the best possible choices to make for helping a community flourish.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lift and Drag: Principles of Flight and the Soaring Imagination

For Teachers 2nd - 8th
Students construct models of early gas balloons and gliders. In this balloon and glider lesson, students create models of early gas balloons and gliders, discover how the forces of lift and drag effect aircraft in flight, and put on...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Teaching With the Power of Objects

For Teachers Pre-K - 3rd
Students define value of an object. In this value lesson plan, students identify reasons for collecting objects, compile a personal inventory of items they find valuable, and then define why those items are valuable to them. In step two...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

History Close to Home: Creating Your Own Special Museum

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students create their own museum exhibit. In this museum creation lesson plan, students research their local history so they can decide on a theme for their exhibit and what objects they will use in order to design a museum exhibit. A...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Learning from Letters and Other Mail

For Teachers Pre-K - 3rd
Students explore the history of our mail system. In this postal lesson plan, students evaluate mail as a means of communication, create a mail system in their classroom where they can send and receive mail. Once the students receive...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Second Time Around

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Pupils explore how items can be reused. In this recycling lesson plan, students present skits about reusing materials and brainstorm products that can be reused at home, school and in the classroom.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Discovering and Converting the Battle of Homestead

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers study and explore the Homestead strike and locate where the events took place.  In this investigative lesson students use several perspectives to write an objective newspaper article on the event. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Power Poetry

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Young scholars use poetic devices to discuss political issues. In this cultural diversity lesson, students listen to the president's State of the Union address and write poetic pieces that express their opinions about issues the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Looking at a Community

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders read Flat Stanley.  In this community instructional activity, 3rd graders discuss the town they live in, define the terms community, citizen and culture, discuss what a community is and the characteristics of a community. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Magnetic Discovery Bottle

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students examine how to conduct simple investigations and use simple equipment to gather data.  In this magnet activity students decide what types of objects are attracted to magnets. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Getting to Work and Making Money

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners explain how geography and climate play a role in the professions that are unique to their city. They explain how geography and climate influence the forms of transportation in their city.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Variables That Can Affect Making Schedule

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Learners study the variables that affect transportation of shipments and the factors that affect deterioration of a perishable product.  In this transportation lesson students discuss the pros and cons of team driving.