Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Westward Expansion

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers explore the Westward Expansion Movement of U.S. history. For this Westward movement lesson, students use primary and secondary source documents research personal accounts of those who travelled west during the era....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

We Are All In This Together

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students complete a variety of activities centering around insects. In this insects education lesson, students read People by Peter Spier and discuss the similarities and differences among people. Students gather and explore materials...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Shoot for the Moon

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders distinguish the different phases of the moon. For this astronomy lesson, 2nd graders study the history of its discovery and myths about its origin. They simulate how the moon's surface is illuminated by the sun.
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

Ranging the Triple M's

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders explore collecting and analyzing data. In this mean, median and mode activity, 5th graders use real word data to determine the mean, median and mode. Students are given sets of numbers on index cards as asked to find the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Machines All Around Us

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students identify simple machines. In this physics lesson, students explore different rooms in the school building, looking for simple machines. Students use a digital camera to take pictures of the simple machines.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pick a Topic, Any Topic

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students investigate the expedition of Lewis and Clarke. In this United States history lesson, students choose a topic from the story to explore, such as the Missouri River, Sacagawea, and dugout canoes. The teacher creates a web on the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

My Very Own Washington Exhibition

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young scholars work as curators. For this George Washington lesson, students research primary and secondary sources in order to create their own exhibitions of the first president. Young scholars may visit selected Web sites in order to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Constructing a Periodic Table of Elements

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Learners create a periodic table of elements. In this chemistry lesson, students work together to build all of the different elements into a complete mini periodic table. They identify similarity and difference of the elements.
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

Earth is Round?

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders discuss how Aristotle concluded that the Earth was round. As a class, they review theories about the Earth's shape and describe how life on Earth would be different if it were flat. Individually, they make a moon book in...
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

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

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

Wonder Underground

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students classify and record objects they find "underground." In this observation lesson plan, students dig into bins filled with soil and encounter various objects such as bark, twigs, etc. Students classify their findings.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Scientific Inquiry

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students create a poster. In this recycling lesson, students discuss pollution and the ways humans negatively affect the environment. Students describe examples of litter or pollution they have experienced. Students collect litter from...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Urban Growth in America

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars examine urban growth in America. In this urbanization lesson, students watch segments of the Discovery video "Urban Growth in America." Young scholars conduct further research pertaining to the industrial revolution, New...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Origin of the Modern Summer Games

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students discover the origin of the modern summer Olympic Games. In this history lesson, students compare and contrast the modern and ancient Olympic Games as they create a timeline.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduction to Minerals

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students discover how crystal structures go together to create minerals.  In this earth science instructional activity, students work in groups to create 3-dimensional shapes of crystals that they then put together in a compact...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Digital Cloud Riddle Book

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students examine clouds. In this technology skill lesson, students identify different cloud types, observe and photograph clouds in nature, and print and write a riddle about the objects they see in the clouds.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Character Education Podcasts

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students study character traits. In this character education lesson, students create podcasts highlighting a particular character trait. Students broadcast one podcast per week.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pilgrims: The First Americans

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders become familar with the pilgrims and first Thanksgiving through essays about important people of the time.  In this Thanksgiving lesson, 5th graders choose an important figure from the time of the Pilgrims and write a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Identifying Fossils

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students create model fossils.  For this fossils lesson, students view pictures of fossils and compare and contrast these fossils.  Students read about fossils and create a database chart with the facts they learn. ...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ship of the Line

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students discover boats by researching 18th century ships.  In this Naval history lesson, students identify and describe the different components of an 18th century naval ship after researching information on the Internet....