Worksheet
Curated OER

What's the Context Worksheet

For Students 9th - 11th
What is context? The class researches a family treasure carefully for its hidden significance as well as its obvious story. They interview family members to gain more insight and context clues to determine point of view and meaning...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introducing Vocabulary: Christopher Columbus (Weinberger)

For Teachers K - 3rd
The story of Christopher Columbus has fascinated young historians for centuries; use this vocabulary-in-context strategy to dive into Kimberly Weinberger's picture book about this classic explorer. Begin by introducing the new words:...
Organizer
Curated OER

Context Helps: The Wild Foundation

For Students 6th - 8th
In this Context Helps:  The Wild Foundation worksheet, students read 7 words in context and write their own sentences, read a 2 1/2 page article about The Wild Foundation, use a graphic organizer to record the details, and rewrite...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Picture This

For Teachers K - 4th
A unique writing lesson, this plan begins with learners talking about multiculturalism in small groups. Each learner will choose a picture from a newspaper, describe it to their small group, and think about how it relates to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Soldier's View of the American Civil War

For Teachers 5th - 10th
Study and research the American Civil War in this explanatory writing lesson. Middle schoolers complete six activities to learn about the American Civil War and soldiers' views of the war. The lesson includes several options to complete...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Diary of Anne Frank

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders read the Diary of Anne Frank. In this novel reading lesson, 8th graders read and analyze the story. Students do online activities and create a newspaper giving a summary of three major events in the story. Students answer...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Beowulf: Songs of Ancient Heroes

For Teachers 12th
Introduce your class to epic heroes with these activities for Beowulf. After watching a video clip, taking notes on heroes, and tracking characteristics of heroism throughout Beowulf, class members retell an episode of Beowulf using a...
Worksheet
K12 Reader

Storytelling and Folklore

For Students 2nd - 3rd Standards
Stories are passed down orally in many cultures. Learn about the ways that storytelling can shape a society with a reading passage about Native American folklore and myths. After they finish reading, kids complete five reading...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Discovering Angel Island: The Story Behind the Poems

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students watch a video titled Discovering Angel Island: The Story Behind the Poems about immigrants that came through Angel Island. In this Angel Island lesson plan, students respond with a journal entry.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pickles to Pittsburgh

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders explore the geography in the book "Pickles to Pittsburgh" by Judy Barrett. They read the story and identify the physical features of the town, discuss the elements included on a map, and create a map of the town of...
Unit Plan
Curated OER

Robin Hood: England's Man of Mystery

For Teachers 5th
Students study the tale of Robin Hood to further their knowledge of character traits, improve their vocabularies, and increase their knowledge of the Medieval Ages. In this Robin Hood lesson, students complete 14 lessons that help them...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Family: Louisiana Family Folklore

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Every family has a different story to share. Your learning community examines the checklist that applies to the lesson, share some of the teacher's family photos, and look for clues in their own family photos in order to complete a...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Cartoons for the Classroom: Berryman, Roosevelt, and the Teddy Bear

For Students 8th - 12th
Do your historians know the story behind the teddy bear? Background information clues learners in to the context of a political cartoon, which depicts Teddy Roosevelt on his famous hunting trip. They will read about renown cartoonist...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Esperanza Rising: Lesson 9

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders explore culture by reading a book with classmates. In this Hispanic history lesson, 6th graders read the story First Day in Grapes, and discuss the tough lives of migrant workers. Students answer study questions after the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Friendship

For Teachers 1st
First graders explore human psychology by reading a book in class. In this friendship lesson, 1st graders identify the benefit of friends and strong relationships while reading the book The Rainbow Fish. Students analyze the images from...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Study of the Spanish-Speaking People of Texas: Understanding Primary Sources

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers analyze Russell Lee's photo essay as a sign of segregation in Texas. They consider the differences between primary and secondary sources and how historians use these sources.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Perceiving a Culture Through Its Literature

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Students read After Seventeen Years by Kim Yong Ik and discuss the cultural, political and geographical aspects of Korea that specifically affect the events in the story.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Inquiry Lesson

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students explore the poetry of William Blake and the historical context that he presents. A story is analyzed and evaluated in order to solve a puzzle. The political commentary of the poetic piece is examined in this lesson.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Discovering Culture through Literature

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students read the story "The Last Seventeen Years". Using the story, they identify cultural clues about the country of Korea. In groups, they complete a Venn diagram comparing Korean and United States culture. They use the internet to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Draw Like an Egyptian

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students discover the cultural history of Egypt by illustrating Egyptian figures.  In this art history lesson, students analyze the Egyptian styles of figure drawings and emulate that by creating their own illustrations using an...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Through the Forest and Home Again: Maps Help Us Find Our Ways

For Teachers K - 1st
Students read Little Red Riding Hood, focusing on her path home to Grandma's house. In this language arts and geography lesson, students perform a reader's theater, re-creating the walk home and possible routes that could have been...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Referencing the Classical Past

For Teachers 7th - Higher Ed
Students discuss the sculptural group of Three Goddessesby Joseph Nollekens in a study of the classical past. In this Classical history lesson, students describe the three figures in the painting and read an excerpt for the story the art...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

My Secret War - The WWII Diary of Madeline Beck: Lesson 2

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders explore world history by reading historical fiction. In this World War II lesson, 5th graders read the story My Secret War and identify the importance of fiction when analyzing history. Students answer study questions about...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cracking Catlins's Code

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students create a chart comparing visual clues with artistic meaning. This lesson plan is designed to introduce students to the ways in which consistent patterns of gesture and pose chosen by an artist (specifically George Catlin)...