Lesson Plan
National First Ladies' Library

Movies for a Nickel! The Nickelodeon

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Students identify and participate in this activity to identify and learn about the early history of the film industry, and consider the impact of movies on society ever since. Then they use the websites listed to study various aspects of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mock-Muck

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students purify water samples using various techniques. In this water treatment lesson, students complete a variety of activities to learn about the process. A data chart is included for recording results. A crossword puzzle is included...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Striking It Rich!

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders explore the California Gold Rush. They explore the lure of gold and the Wild West, how pioneers traveled to the West, and the hardships and people they encountered along the way. Activities be authentic, hands-on, and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Blood type Switch

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students read a text about blood groups and answer such questions as what, where and why regarding a scientific discovery. They complete vocabulary worksheets, comprehension exercises and utilize problem solving skills to decide who...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A World of Symmetry

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students identify lines of symmetry.  In this symmetry lesson, students create objects and identify their lines of symmetry.  They answer questions about lines of symmetry.  Students cut shapes out of cookie dough and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What's the Matter?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore the components of matter. They discover what matter is, the states of matter, and how heat and cold cause it to change states in an online format. In addition, they complete internet-based lessons, activities, and quizzes.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

An Uplifting Experience

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders research and complete a graphic organizer about the principles of flight. For this aviation lesson, 5th graders experiment to understand the work of Daniel Bernouli and his discoveries about air pressure. Students create...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Importance of Tropisms

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers investigate plant tropisms using the scientific method. In this life science lesson plan, students learn about tropisms and test the response of corn seedlings to gravity. Response questions, extensions, and an...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plant Pollination

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students investigate methods of pollination for various flowers. In this plant biology lesson, students learn the parts of a flower and form a hypothesis about the method of pollination for the flower. They determine the validity of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plant Disease Identification and Classification by Using Sterile Techniques

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders identify how to use sterile techniques when identifying plant pathogens.  For this plant diseases lesson students complete a lab activity in which they see how plant diseases are identified and classified.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Farming: It's a Fact!

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students use worksheets, food items, and computer programs to learn about the path of food from the farm to their meals. In this agriculture lesson, students use a provided worksheet to learn facts about farming. They use a bag of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Social Studies: Where I Come From

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students research the countries of their origins and examine life there today. They write family travel logs by interviewing family members about their heritages, and they visit the Xpeditions Website for online resources about their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Who’s on First? Cultural Heritage

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Young scholars explore their own heritage as they learn more about Roger Clemente. In this social studies and music lesson plan, students study cultural heritage through a study of Puerto Rican music and instruments.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Finding the Structure: Pieces of the Puzzle

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students gather information about DNA. In this biology lesson, students watch video clips of scientists discussing their contribution to the understanding of DNA, then work a puzzle correlating information to scientist. Lesson includes...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Race for the Double Helix

For Teachers 11th - Higher Ed
Students participate in an ethics-based simulation. In this ethics lesson, students role play research scientists working to decipher a code. Students work in small collaborative groups and must interact with other small groups to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hydro-Technology

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students create a design for water collection, sanitation, or supply. In this hydro-technology lesson, students learn about the global water crisis. Groups of students read water technology articles, draw or design a device or process,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Is Your Blue Really Blue? [Metamerism]

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students examine color perception and how it relates to metamerism.  In this color lesson students complete a lab activity that shows them the three basic components of color perception. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Genetic Research: Decisions to be Made

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers examine the genetics involved in the human genome. They brainstorm the advantages and disadvantages to this discovery. They research different experts opinion and write a case study which addresses an ethical dilemma.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

No Bigger Than a Minute

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students view a video clip about ideas displayed through images. They work together to analyze paintings and complete activities. They discuss how media representation of an issue can affect one's viewpoint.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Renaissance: How did it change the world?

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders identify the conditions in Medieval Europe that contributed to the beginning of the Renaissance. They find characteristics of the Renaissance in its art, economy, discoveries, and ideas. They examine the ideas of Humanism...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"My Holiday Diary"

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students participate in a variety of shared reading and writing activities related to the book "My Holiday Diary" by Jason Telford. They scan the text to locate specific information, write a statement taken from the text and change it...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Social Studies: Exploring Boston's Big Dig

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars, in a high school class for autistic children, take a virtual tour of Boston's "Big Dig" and the artifacts discovered there. During weekly lab sessions, they discover the processes involved in artifact preservation. ...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Archaeology: Digging in the Classroom

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students explore how an archaeologist works and makes discoveries. In this archaeology lesson, students participate in a simulation in which they excavate broken pottery. Students use measurement, geometry, and observation skills during...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Moving West

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students research the Westward Movement and struggles encountered by the pioneers as they moved from Nebraska, Westward along the Oregon Trail. In this Westward Expansion lesson, students read an Oregon Trail poem and visit 5 different...