University of California
Impact of the California Missions on Native Americans
While the Spanish claimed to bring civilization to California indigenous peoples, in reality, they also brought violence and forced assimilation to European values. Primary sources, such as the reports of Catholic priests and Europeans...
PBS
Season Seeking
It's a time of change. A hands-on activity engages young scientists in a lesson highlighting the change of seasons. They brainstorm indicators of season changes in nature and then look for them. Next, they record observations in a field...
Curated OER
I Am Me and Nobody Else!
Fourth graders explore writing as a way to communicate. In this writing instructional activity, 4th graders articulate how they feel about an issue in their lives. Students share their works.
Curated OER
The Changes of Puberty
Students study about the changes of puberty for boys and girls. In this health lesson, students study how the body changes during puberty and make a presentation about a significant change that can take place during puberty and how to...
Curated OER
What was Behind the Golden Door?
Students adopt the persona of an immigrant child to explore the reasons underlying why families left their homelands. They empathize with the emotional plight of immigrants through creative composition.
Curated OER
Reading Images: Maconaquah
Young scholars examine a portrait of Maconaquah and compose a list of things they observe about her. They look at her age, clothing, jewelry, and her emotions based on her facial expression. Conclusions are drawn as they "read" the...
Curated OER
Interjections
In this interjection worksheet, students brainstorm interjections showing given emotions, and add interjections to 5 sentences. Students can also complete a short writing challenge activity.
Curated OER
The Power of Empathy
Students investigate the emotion and social practice of empathy. They role play being in various situations in order to understand the feelings of others. Students pick an adult to interview who has overcome great difficulty.
Curated OER
An Exercise in Kindness
Although this resource is not a traditional lesson plan, it does explain an activity for creating a safe and supportive environment while teaching young learners the importance of being kind to one another. Start bt reading the...
Curated OER
Sexism: From Identification to Activism
High schoolers explore sexism. In this character education lesson, students define sexism and discuss individual behaviors and institutional policies that promote sexism. High schoolers determine how they can be advocates to end sexism.
Curated OER
Project Based Learing: Social Responsibility
Young scholars explore social responsibility. In this service learning lesson, students participate in 4 weekly activities that require them to research "communitarians", write poems about their contributions, and create works of...
Curated OER
Lessons in 'Little Theater' Echo in Students' Lives
Students explore the drama of real life. In this journalism lesson, students read the USA Today article titled "Lessons in 'Little Theater' Echo in Students' Lives," respond to discussion questions regarding the article, and complete an...
Curated OER
Lesson 2 - Music: A Uniting Force?
Students gain an understanding of the role music plays during a crisis such as wartime. They discuss emotions associated with war and how music connects with these feelings.
Curated OER
Lesson Plan on Landmines
Students take a look at how landmines are being used all over the world (with specific focus on Cambodia). Students identify the physical and emotional impact of the use of landmines and how the international community is working to...
Orlando Shakes
Comedy of Errors
To err is human ... and also leads to some hilarious situations. A script introduces readers to Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors, a play full of slapstick humor and other funny elements. Although lacking in activities, the text works well...
John Talavera
Autism iHelp – Sorting
Here is an app that will help kids sort objects! Sorting is an action that promotes cognitive flexibility and executive function. It is a key skill used in categorizing scientific data, making generalizations, and is foundational in...
Curated OER
Character Education - Self Respect, Respect for Others
Students respond the story of Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes and discuss the ways in which she showed respect for herself and for others.
Curated OER
Mysterious Music
Eighth graders investigate how to compose music for a detective program. The goal is for them to discover the method needed. The idea was simple, they were told to compose the music with emotional tension that climaxed and then relaxed...
Curated OER
Film Interview
Students interview each other about their film preferences, and practice using adjectives to describe emotions and -ed and -ing forms.
Curated OER
Don't Give Up
Eighth graders demonstrate perseverance. For this character education lesson, 8th graders define the word perseverance and identify difficult tasks they face regularly which require perseverance.
Facing History and Ourselves
The Power of Images
One picture but a thousand stories. As a part of a case study of how the death of Michael Brown was reported by professional news sources and on social media class members examine the reactions of various groups to a photograph taken by...
Curated OER
Bringing Attention to Autism Awareness Month
A short description of Autism Awareness Month and a few fun activities to engage your autistic learners.
Poetry Out Loud
Poems Put to Use
Why do we have to study poetry? Here is a lesson that demonstrates some of poetry's more practical and real-world applications for reluctant learners. Start by leading a brainstorming session about where poems or pieces of poems might be...
Curated OER
The Intense, Idealistic Introverted-Feeling Personality Type
Teachers need to create personal bonds with pupils in order to discover who turns out to be an introverted feeler.