US Institute of Peace
The Process of Negotiation
What does it take to be a great negotiator? Learners discover the factors that affect the negotiation process through group discussion and brainstorming. An installment in a series of peacebuilding activities compares the needs and wants...
US Institute of Peace
Negotiation Role-Play
War-torn Kosovo is experiencing another crisis—thousands of broken-down cars clogging the damaged highways, making travel impossible. Which local auto shop owner will get the contract to clear the road for progress? After some research,...
Ford's Theatre
How Perspective Shapes Understanding of History
The Boston Massacre may be an iconic event in American history, but perhaps the British soldiers had another point of view. Using primary sources, including reports from Boston newspapers and secondary sources from the British...
Civil War Trust
The Common Civil War Soldier
Imagine you are a soldier in the Civil War. What are you wearing? What do you need to carry with you? Examine the life of a person during the Civil War, from drummer boys to powder monkeys to musket-toting soldiers. Elementary...
Curated OER
Lesson Plan: The Net Neutrality Debate
Should Internet users who send data-heavy content pay higher fees than those who are involved in activities, like sending an email, that have less content? This question is at the heart of the Net Neutrality debate. After watching a PBS...
Peace Corps
Defining Culture
How has culture shaped you? Middle and high schoolers examine different aspects of one's culture, including religious beliefs, social customs, and family traditions, and discuss the ways that their personalities have been formed by these...
Art Institute of Chicago
Lesson Plan: A Writer’s Odyssey
Looking for a fresh approach to an end-of-unit project for The Odyssey? Check out a resource that has class members write their own hero's journey short story and then craft an illustration that depicts their tale. Apollonio di...
EngageNY
Building Background Knowledge: The Impending Fall of Saigon
Scholars read "Doc-Lap at Last" and participate in a Three Threes in a Row activity in which they answer three questions about the text in their rows. They then discuss the central idea of the text. Readers finish the lesson plan with a...
PBS
Stories of Painkiller Addiction: Commitment to Recovery
Recovery from substance addiction is an ongoing process. The final lesson plan in a series about painkiller abuse and addiction prompts learners to research various recovery options before writing a short story about a character who is...
Curated OER
What is your thing?
Seventh graders examine their own personal interests and talents. In this Social Studies lesson plan, 7th graders study an issue that is important to them. Students write about how he or she can take action in a courageous...
Curated OER
Heritage: 'And Should We Die...' Attributes of the Pio
Eighth graders use comprehension strategies after reading to reflect on, consolidate, and extend meaning. They show various attributes of the pioneers through character sketches.
Curated OER
Cinderella Stories
Students listen to the Scottish tale, The Princess and the Golden Shoes, creating a character chart. They develop a newspaper containing news stories, personality profiles, and editorials regarding The Princess and the Golden Shoes.
Curated OER
Rosie's Roses Lesson Idea: Practice Hearing the R
Students focus on the sound of the letter /r/ after listening to Rosie's Roses by Pamela Duncan Edwards. In this letter /r/ lesson plan, students identify animals in the book that contain the /r/ sound. They sort /r/ words into groups by...
Curated OER
First Nations Veterans
Students generate a list of heroic qualities of veterans. For this American veterans lesson, students research a First Nations veteran and create a poster presentation on their figure.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Family Voices In As I Lay Dying
Learners analyze William Faulkner's 'As I Lay Dying' and his use of multiple voices. For this William Faulkner lesson plan, students analyze Faulkner's use of multiple voices in narration. Learners examine the Bundren family through the...
Curated OER
Lesson Plans on the Intersection of History and Literature
Finding out about "the story behind the story" can provide a greater understanding of literature and its historical and social context.
Curated OER
Bigger Than Life
Eighth graders explore the life of Jackie Robinson. In this American History lesson, students examine different examples of courage. Students read an article about Jackie Robinson.
Curated OER
Advocacy, Recognition, Prevention Through Art and Health
Students analyze how the environment and family history impacts personal health. In this personal health lesson, students discuss cancer and survey the school community about the disease. Students create a bulletin board about...
Curated OER
Health Education: Earning Respect
Second graders explore how to earn respect. In this health lesson plan, 2nd graders summarize and demonstrate expected standards for behavior such as honesty, trustworthiness, and respect for others.
Curated OER
Twain: An American Humorist
Students examine American humor and character through analysis of works by Mark Twain. In this cross curricular lesson, students develop a definition of American humor and determine how and why some consider Twain the 'first truly...
Curated OER
Assuming Responsibility
Sixth graders examine the meaning of responsibility for sixth graders. In this responsibility lesson, 6th graders use a list of brainstormed ideas to create a definition of responsibility. They look at their own responsibility to...
Curated OER
Tuck Everlasting: UDL Team Lesson Plan
Students participate in a differentiated lesson about Tuck Everlasting. In this Tuck Everlasting lesson, students work on comprehension strategies that are leveled for their reading ability. They focus on the ability to tell the main...
Curated OER
Character & Integrity
Students brainstorm a list as a class the characteristics of someone having character and integrity. Individually, they write about how self-concept is built and preserved. To end the lesson, they discuss how self-concept is related to...
Curated OER
Palace Adventure
Young language arts learners write and illustrate a short fantasy story based on the book Corduroy. First, learners need to develop a character. Then, through their writing and illustrations, they take their characters on adventures...