National Endowment for the Humanities
The Beauty of Anglo-Saxon Poetry: A Prelude to Beowulf
Riddle me this! What do kennings, caesura, and alliteration have to do with the Nowell Codex? Introduce class members to Anglo-Saxon poetry and prepare readers for a study of Beowulf with a series of activities that...
Curated OER
Understanding Core Values Using the Frayer Model
Learners complete the Frayer Model. For this literature lesson, students review the concept of theme in literature. Learners identify major themes in books they've read. Students learn the attributes of the Frayer Model and then complete...
Shodor Education Foundation
Experimental Probability
Spin into a dicey experiment. Pupils use a spinner or a pair of dice to determine the experimental probabilities of each outcome. The interactive allows for either, one, five, or ten consecutive experiments. Using the applet, learners...
Curated OER
What's In a Name?
Introduce your language arts class to connotation, denotation, and diction. Middle schoolers identify and differentiate between the connotative and denotative meanings of words by analyzing the fictitious sports team names....
Curated OER
Ballet and Classical Music
Fourth graders explore ballet. In this dance and music humanities lesson plan, 4th graders practice ballet positions and play a card game using French ballet vocabulary. Students count beats in rhythm patterns and listen to classical...
Shodor Education Foundation
Dice Table
Convert a table to probabilities. Pupils set up the winning rules for the sums of two dice. Using the rules, the applet fills out a table showing the winners for each combination. Learners determine the probabilities of winning for each...
Shodor Education Foundation
Two Variable Function Pump
Use a function to operate on two variables. Pupils look at operating with complex numbers as a function of two variables. The interactive squares the input and adds a constant to it. Learners visualize the resulting output and its...
Shodor Education Foundation
Stem and Leaf Plotter
The key is in the leaves. Pupils enter data to create a stem-and-leaf plot. The resource then displays the plot and calculates the mean, median, and mode of the data. Using the plot and the calculated measures of spread, learners analyze...
Curated OER
Bombardier's Mission Statement
Students review a mision statement and misison essentials for the CBC . They study the Bonbardier Corppration and develop a mission statement for the company.
Curated OER
Writing Myths I
Explain a natural phenomenon in an original myth. After researching the phenomenon they have chosen, young readers use factual information to include in their myth. They find synonyms and new phrases to create vivid images as they...
Curated OER
The Dangers of Illiteracy
Students consider a fictional situation in which literacy could spell the difference between life and death. They apply their knowledge of how reading empowers people by creating a literacy program that addresses the special needs of a...
Curated OER
“Home on the Range”
Fourth graders analyze the song "Home on the Range" and identify its meaning and setting. In this timeline and retelling instructional activity, 4th graders use dictionaries to find definitions of unfamiliar words, create a...
Curated OER
Bubbles
Students observe the characteristics of bubbles. In this scientific inquiry lesson, students use a bubble solution and a wand to make bubbles and observe their characteristics. Students identify the shape and the color of the bubbles.
Curated OER
Find the Misspelled Words
Young readers are given twenty groups of words and asked to circle the misspelled word. They are encouraged to sound out the words, specifically focusing on vowel sounds.
Curated OER
Using a Database to Organize Vocabulary Words
Students use a database as a vocabulary resource during writing/reading. They preview stories and list unknown works into their reading notebooks. Students find the definitions, and enter their words into a database using a teacher...
Shodor Education Foundation
Introduction to the Concept of Probability
Acquaint mathematicians to the concept of probability with a discussion about the results of a game. Then have them play a dice, card, spinner, or coin game and recording the number of wins vs. the number of tries on an interactive web...
Curated OER
Length, Perimeter, and Area
Students explore the concepts of length, perimeter, and area. In this math lesson, students use Shape Explorer to practice finding length, perimeter, and area.
Shodor Education Foundation
Surface Area of Rectangular Prism
With this interactive instructional activity, learners compute the surface area of rectangular prisms. They visit an online investigation applet and record data on the provided handout. Pair this instructional activity with the volume...
Shodor Education Foundation
Volume of Prisms
Explore the concept of volume of prisms using an applet to perform the calculations. The link to the interactive applet is embedded into the lesson plan as well as a link to associated data sheets. Get your math class to the computer lab...
Shodor Education Foundation
An Introduction to Arithmetic and Geometric Sequences
Help your class look for patterns as they create their own arithmetic and geometric sequences. Engage learners with an introductory discussion on sequences and use the applet to let them explore how sequences are formed. Teachers might...
Shodor Education Foundation
Graphing and the Coordinate Plane
Ready to introduce your class to the coordinate plane? This website includes a detailed lesson plan that includes two interactive games to help learners practice graphing ordered pairs. The scripted discussion is a little cheesy and a...
Curated OER
Number Base Clocks
Students investigate place value in base ten. In this number sense lesson plan, students participate in an online lesson plan at www.shodor.org/interactivate/activities/NumberBaseClocks and demonstrate how to convert numbers from base...
Curated OER
Graphs and Functions
Use this series of activities to introduce learners to graphing functions. They graph both linear and quadratic equations by hand and with a Graph Sketcher Tool. Several imbedded links and handouts are included in the lesson.
Curated OER
Pascal's Triangle
Young scholars explore the concept of Pascal's Triangle. For this Pascal's Triangle lesson, students use an applet called 'Coloring Multiples' to explore Pascal's Triangle. Young scholars develop patterns starting with various numbers in...