National Woman's History Museum
Helen Keller--Citizen and Socialist
Do history books tell the full story of Helen Keller? The sanitized version of Helen Keller found in most textbooks leaves out her most provocative ideas. She was a socialist, fought for workers' rights, and advocated for the use of...
American Chemical Society
Different Substances React Differently
Looks don't tell the whole story. Young experimenters explore reactions with substances that look similar. They observe the reactions that take place when combined with baking soda and use indicators to conclude they react differently...
Center for History Education
The Star-Spangled Banner: Fact or Fiction?
Is the Star-Spangled Banner an actual account of a gripping battle, or is it just a catchy tune? Young scholars compare eyewitness descriptions of the War of 1812 battle that inspired "The Star-Spangled Banner." They also examine images...
Curated OER
You Be the Critic!
Students review several pieces of art and choose one that inspires them. They research the artist and his or her contributions to art and then recreate the artwork and compare their copy to the original.
Curated OER
Springtime Flower Fun
Students study directional skills and participate in a scavenger hunt to find flowers. They compare, group and classify the flowers by their similarities and differences.
Curated OER
FREE STANDING STRUCTURE
Students demonstrate basic construction skills by building a free standing structure. They compute the cost of the structure.
Curated OER
What's Your Favorite Color?
Pupils investigate the psychology behind color choices using two sites on the Internet. They complete a worksheet and construct an Inspiration file with the data from the charts. Then they form a hypothesis and test it using the...
Curated OER
The Cause & Effect Model
Students analyze the plot of the story, "The Little Engine That Could" to provide a model for writing creatively, developing critical essays, producing themes, and making predictions.
Curated OER
TE Activity: Choosing a Pyramid Site
Students determine how engineers decide on choices for final designs and sites for construction. They look at a surveyor's report while they evaluate sites where a pyramid could be build. They consider the distance the pyramid would be...
Curated OER
Reading and Responding
Fourth graders read and respond to poetry. They identify the author's purpose and connect the literature to their personal experiences. Students critically analyze the poem and write a poem of their own.
Curated OER
We All Need Trees
In this family activity worksheet, students and parents discover our need for trees. Students explore different ways we use trees and complete 2 short answer questions as a family.
Curated OER
Worksheet 4: Vocabulary Review
Using this vocabulary practice sheet, learners identify the verb to use in the context and change it to its correct form. The 8 question activity requires some thought and helps students develop critical thinking and vocabulary...
Curated OER
Worksheet 9: Which Word Doesn't Belong?
Activities in which learners are required to use critical thinking skills are good for vocabulary and language development. This 10 question worksheet has students identify which word does not belong with the rest.
Curated OER
Study of an Underwater Voyage
Students examine the experiment of Lloyd Godson who lived 13 days underwater. For this critical thinking lesson, students predict, study and discuss various aspects of the underwater voyage. The lesson includes many cross-curricular...
Curated OER
Reading and Thinking About Evolution
Students are given a science reading assignment outside the text followed by a discussion on the content. The reading is augmented with a series of thought questions for students to consider prior to class discussion. They direst the...
Curated OER
Investigation- I've Got It
Students practice grouping skills by sorting footwear of the class as a whole group. Activity can be extended by having individual students sort a variety of colored items using a sorting mat.