Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Life of Lincoln

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students describe the social and political life of Abraham Lincoln with a focus on his contributions and how they changed the United States of America.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"Death To King Alcohol!" Temperance in the 19th Century

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Pupils analyze songs, drawings and stories from the 19th century temperance movement. They work together in groups to form a temperance society within their classroom and analyze strategies of campaigns during the movement.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring Zoo Animals

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students research topics related to zoos and zoo animals. They compare and contrast the size of animals, make a book of facts about bears, draw snakes, and write animal stories and poetry. They complete a series of writing and creative...
Lesson Plan
Smithsonian Institution

The Proper Gentlemen: George Washington and "The Rules of Civility"

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students read and interpret a portion of the "Rules of Civility." They describe the significance of these rules in Washington's time. They discuss how the rules might be significant in today's world. They write rules of etiquette that...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

It's a Mystery to Me

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students read a variety of mysteries to improve their reading and comprehension skills. Using a worksheet, they define and practice using new vocabulary. In groups, they read stories from Poe and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and write an...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Patterns

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders investigate the concept of patterns and how they can occur with numbers and the lesson focuses on the occurrance wiht shapes. They complete an activity investigating patterns using a story to set the tone of fun.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fantasies and Myths

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders listen to the book, THE GIVING TREE and discuss what genre category they believe the story fits into and why. They read of of the myths on the website on the computers and then come back together as a group and discuss...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Dentist

For Teachers K - 4th
Learners read a short story about visiting a dentist. Then they use toothbrushes in order to demonstrate the correct way to brush teeth. Students use the internet to investigate how some foods are healthier for teeth than others. Then...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Family Stories and Personal Narratives

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders read various stories in their literature books about families. Individually, they make a timeline showing the most important events in their lives. They bring in one artifact from their lives and write a paper about it...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Predict, Draw Conclusions

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students discuss times they predict what will happen next. They compare this to using the information given in a piece of literature to predict what will happen next in the story. Students listen as the teacher reads an excerpt from The...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Poseidon's Protectors to the Rescue

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore the concept of philanthropy. In this environmental stewardship lesson plan, students explore the Greek mythology story of Poseidon. Students write letters to Poseidon that address water pollution today and express how...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Going West: The Artist Who Painted the Way

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders study the artists and artwork of the Westward movement. In this Westward Movement lesson set, 5th graders examine the characteristics of the art of this era. They look at the lives of the artists and think about how the art...
Interactive
Curated OER

Reading Comprehension: "Greta and the Cat"

For Students 3rd - 5th
In this reading comprehension instructional activity, students read a total of 3 short stories, then answer a set of related multiple choice comprehension questions. "Test" can be scored on-line and reset, or printed.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

From Seed to Apple

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students identify the stages of apple growth. For this agricultural lesson, students read the story I Am Apple and sing the song "Round the Apple Tree." Students place pictures of the stages of an apple into the correct order. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Season of an Apple Tree

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students identify how seasonal changes affect plant growth. In this agricultural lesson, students read The Seasons of Arnold's Apple Tree and are shown pictures of how apple trees blossom through the seasons. Students match each picture...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Traveler's Trunk

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students analyze and interpret artifacts from the 1920s and explore the Great Migration. In this 1920s history lesson, students review background information about the Great Migration and use artifacts to study history of Chicago....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar System: Let's Take a Trip

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders consider outer space. In this introductory solar system lesson, 3rd graders complete a KWL chart and listen to the story The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System, by Joanna Cole & Bruce Degen. They will contribute...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Grandfather's Journey

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders explore world cultures by reading a children's story in class. In this Japanese heritage lesson, 3rd graders read the book Grandfather's Journey and identify the characters, setting and plot that takes place. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Healthy Eating, Healthy Living

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Learners describe some ways to lead a healthy life. They watch short video clips about eating healthy, ways to create healthy meals, and the benefits of exercise. They study the food groups and play indoor exercise games.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Let's Get Cooking

For Teachers 1st
First graders create food from their cultures and present food and its history with the rest of class. They read "Everybody Cooks Rice" and everyone tastes the meals brought into class. They write a paragraph describing the reason for...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bah Humbug

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students listen to two famous stories about people who do not like Christmas, and then create a Venn diagram to compare and contrast the main characters.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Great Chicago Fire Survivors

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Young scholars examine documents describing the experiences of survivors of the Great Chicago Fire, and write condolence letters.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ballad Blast

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students write epic poems, songs, or ballads to describe adventures of their own. They discover that storytellers often told stories as epic poems, songs, or ballads. They share and discuss some of Homer's Odyssey and Iliad.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pioneers On and Off the Prairie- Willa Cather and Mary Cassatt

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars examine the written work of Willa Cather and the impressionist art of Mary Cassatt. They describe parallels in the lives and work of both women and creat a Powerpoint presentation.