Curated OER
Note Cards
This is a very simple idea, learners make note cards or stationery out of their recycled art work. Note: I have done a version of this, where I've had my special needs learners paint on card stock or watercolor paper. I then cut each...
Curated OER
Invention/Innovation/Creative Thinking/Opportunities/Ideas
Students, while examining inventions and innovators, identify, differentiate and discuss five Canadian inventors/innovations. After applying creative thinking strategies to a promotional piece, students brainstorm patents.
Curated OER
Relief Foil Sculpture
A little tin foil can go a long way. Middle schoolers create relief sculptures out of card board and foil. The step-by-step procedure and materials list are included. Note: This project can be done with children as young as seven.
Curated OER
Symbols and Trading Cards
A silk rank badge was a symbolic emblem worn by high officials during the Qing Dynasty. Your class will get a chance to examine the details, symbolism, color, and design of such a badge as they make their own symbolic trading cards....
EngageNY
Clarifying Thinking on Water Management: Revisiting the Gallery Walk
One, two, three, go! Scholars gather in triads and number themselves one to three. Each number is responsible for sharing a section of the map homework completed the night before as learners discuss domain-specific vocabulary terms using...
Curated OER
Survivor Game
Learners discover competition and trickery by participating in a class game. They participate in a role-playing game called "Survivor" in which students utilize critical thinking skills to identify who is the "Bad Guy." Students win the...
Odyssey of the Mind
Odyssey of the Mind Curriculum Activity: Playing the Float
Got a rainy day and need a few fabulous activities to foster creative thinking skills? The class works to understand the three types of human power; direct, indirect, and stored. They do this by first creating a parade float like the...
Curated OER
Holiday Greeting Cards
Young scholars create holiday greeting cards using digital images and Photoshop elements in this great holiday art activity for the elementary school classroom. The lesson includes step-by-step procedures, a student example, and resource...
Curated OER
Photo Quilt Square
Build creative thinking and organization skills with a beautiful quilting project. Young photographers use a digital camera and computer to create photo transfers, which they will use to create a photo quilt square. They sew or embroider...
Curated OER
Truth and Lies Games
Students participate in a get to know you activity. In this social lesson, students write three statements about themselves. One is true and the other is false. Students read their cards and their peers decide what is true and what is not.
Curated OER
"No, You Can't Take Me!"
Students study imitation or pantomime. For this creative drama lesson, students pick an object to imitate and state the reasons why that object should not be taken out of the room pretending to be that object.
EngageNY
Mid-Module Assessment Task - Geometry (Module 1)
How do you prepare class members for the analytical thinking they will need in the real world? An assessment requires the higher order thinking they need to be successful. The module focuses on the concept of rigid transformations...
EngageNY
Putting It All Together
Shuffle 'em up and deal! Learners practice operations with polynomials using cards they pass around the room. The activity works with pairs or individuals, so it offers great flexibility. This is the fifth installment in a series of 42...
Curated OER
I Choose Card #
Students practice problem solving and creative thinking in order to develop an answer/solution for the prompt on a chosen activity card.
Curated OER
Captain's Quest
Fourth graders, in groups, participate in a game in which they are assessed on their ability to work together to gather communication skills, leadership, trust, respect and creativity.
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
What is Health?
Many indicators of health are beyond a teenager's control, but there are many changes they can make in their daily life that can improve their health. Middle schoolers think about their physical, social, and mental health status before...
Population Connection
Meeting Human Needs
How to meet the needs of people around the globe—a question many ask. The fifth in a six-part series about human population and its effects on the globe, the eye-opening lesson includes discussion, a homework activity, and an in-class...
Curated OER
Tour + Workshop = DESIGN: Presenting Information
Learners develop a business card to market them. In this developing a business card to market them lesson, students design a business card to represent them. Learners create a logo or graphic design that is professional and catchy. ...
Curated OER
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Here is a good lesson on butterflies and caterpillars. After listening to The Very Hungry Caterpillar, young learners put cards that depict the life cycle of a butterfly in the correct order. There are some good ideas for center...
Desert Discoveries
Sonoran Desert ABC's
Third graders make alphabet cards that depict the wide variety of life forms found in the Sonoran Desert. A terrific lesson that combines language arts, visual arts, and life science all into one wonderful package. Each of the cards has...
ARKive
What is an Endangered Species?
Even kids in grades two through five can start thinking about the part they play in sustaining endangered species. They consider what endangered species are, how they become endangered, and what conservationists can do to help. In small...
Curated OER
PE Back Pack
What a great idea! Young athletes take backpacks with sports equipment home so they can practice their skills. Each backpack has different equipment to practice different skills. There are task cards in each of the backpack with...
Curated OER
The Job Interview: Teacher's Notes
One of the most difficult parts of getting a job, is the interview. Learners are each given a card with personal experience and information on it. They respond to an advertisement for a chef position at a Korean restaurant. Each person...
EngageNY
Summarizing Complex Ideas: Comparing the Original UDHR and the "Plain Language" Version
The eighth lesson plan in this series continues the focus on vocabulary and increasing young readers' awareness of academic language. Pairs of learners participate in a short vocabulary review activity called Interactive Words in which...