Curated OER
One Person CAN Make a Difference
Students illustrate how the actions of one person can make a difference. They identify school and community issues to address and complete group projects and action plans for making changes in the school or community.
Curated OER
Classroom Guide for The Birthday Swap
Students complete activities with the book The Birthday Swap by Loretta Lopez. In this literature lesson plan, students answer pre-reading questions, locate new vocabulary, and read the story. They answer comprehension questions,...
Curated OER
WaterWeb
In this water activity, students answer 10 multiple-choice questions about the water cycle. Students also describe how they think their community is involved in sustaining water resources and write a pretend radio announcement about...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Faulkner's As I Lay Dying: Images of Faulkner and the South
Learners research one aspect of the life of Faulkner and the culture of the South. In this As I Lay Dying instructional activity, learners explore a webpage on Faulkner and write a summary. Learners analyze the images...
Curated OER
Communities
The study of types of communties is the focus of this presentation. Details are given about the differences between rural, urban, and suburban communities. Use this presentation to provoke a class discussion about the various activities...
Curated OER
Some Like it Cold: Canada's Northern Communities
Fifth graders examine cultures close to the arctic circle. In this geography lesson, 5th graders consider the impact of climate on cultural development of arctic communities. Students research a given community and present their findings...
School Improvement in Maryland
Smart Growth
New roads, new businesses, new developments, new mass transit systems. All growth has both positive and negative effects on communities. Government classes investigate the principles of Maryland's 1997 Smart Growth program and...
University of Southern California
Mastering Microbes
Small but mighty! Learners explore the role of microbes in a healthy ecosystem. An engaging lesson asks pupils to design an aquaponics system that demonstrates that healthy microbes are necessary to maintain the ecosystem.
Smithsonian Institution
Solomon G. Brown: Letter Writing
Personal correspondence in the form of letters is not as common as it once was. This resource presents an opportunity for you to introduce your class to letter writing and cover topics in social studies. Learners read a letter written in...
Curated OER
Setting the Story: Techniques for Creating a Realistic Setting
“It was a dark and stormy night.” Thus begins the 1830's novel Paul Clifford and, of course, all of Snoopy’s novels! Encourage young writers to craft settings for their stories that go beyond Edward Bulwer-Lytton’s often-mocked phrase...
Purdue University
The Represented World: Recreational STEM
How are forces and motion important to a swing set? Scholars explore the concepts of force and motion using swing sets. In preparation for their own STEM design project, individuals take surveys and data from peers, complete labs on...
American Museum of Natural History
Create a Coral Reef
Scholars create a diorama to showcase a vibrant coral reef. Six steps walk pupils through setting up the diorama box, crafting four different types of marine life, and putting it all together.
Curated OER
Making Birthday Calendars for Community Organizations and Businesses
Students create birthday calendars using The Print Shop computer program. They produce and market a product, replicating a work environment.
Curated OER
Double Exposure Lesson Plan: Eye on Your Community
Students demonstrate their knowledge of a camera by taking pictures of people, places, and things that make up their neighborhood or school. They select the photographs that tell a better story than others and explain their reason.
Curated OER
Issues Close to Home
Students discuss their role in their local government. Individually, they use various types of media to examine and take a position on a topic important to them. To introduce their position, they write a letter to the Board of...
Curated OER
Real or Painted Art -- Tromp l'oeil Art Awareness an Activities
Students are introduced to Trompe l'oeil art by a docent. Using that information, they compare and contast it with other forms of art they are familiar with and discuss their opinions with the class. They write a poem about their...
Curated OER
Compass Rose Directions
Second graders use cardinal and intermediate directions to locate places on maps and places in the classroom, school, and community. They draw a setting map of "Little Red Riding Hood." Students give five steps of cardinal or...
Curated OER
Ethics In The Science Classroom - The Landfill
Students discuss the risks a landfill may pose to a community. The setting is a school board faced with a decision about whether to close a school until the landfill is capped (a 3 year period). They are asked to determine how they would...
Curated OER
Analysis of a Historic Presidential Election
Students research the 2000 presidential elections. They explain why the presidential winner was initially too close to call, discuss how the winner was determined and predict how the 2000 election might change the process of electing a...
Curated OER
Where Do You Live?
Second graders study and compare rural, suburban, and urban communities. They play a board game, read books about communities, and complete several other activities regarding the different types of communities. Several extension and...
Curated OER
Introduction of the "We the People..." Project and Volunteer Survey
Students complete a survey about their role in volunteering. They research opportunities to volunteer in their community. They identify ways in which the community would be different if no one volunteered.
Curated OER
Neighborhood Map Machine
Second graders study building placements in a neighborhood. They discuss businesses, roads, houses, rivers, police/fire stations, and use Neighborhood Map Machine to create a new map. They complete an exploratory map and community of...
Curated OER
The Land is Changing: Stories from Across the North
Young scholars explore the changing environment in their community. They interview elders about the issues, impacts and potential ways of adapting to climate change in the north. Students post pictures and information on the student...
Curated OER
I Can See You
Second graders explore living without sight. In this senses lesson, 2nd graders review the different senses and what they use for each sense. Students discuss what it would be like to not be able to see and they read a story about a...