Curated OER
Natural Resources and Transportation in the United States
Students study thematic maps (included with the instructional activity) to determine possible relationships. They develop three hypotheses about the relationship. Students choose one of their hypotheses to explain. The explanation is to...
Curated OER
Liquids in Bottles
Learners investigate different liquids to develop their concept of a liquid. They work at a center to tip, swirl, shake, roll, and otherwise investigate seven liquids in small, clear plastic bottles: plain water, corn syrup, liquid...
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Keep it Complex
Students consider the importance of biodiversity in the ocean layers. In this oceanography lesson plan, students use the Shannon-Weaver diversity index to analyze data. Students analyze the information collected and write a report...
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Science: Identifying Properties of Matter
Students observe a demonstration of the the three forms of matter - air, water, and solids - in plastic bags. After discussing the properties, they transfer them to a Venn diagram. Finally, students identify five items in the classroom...
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Life Cycle of the Butterfly
Young scholars observe and analyze the life cycle and metamorphosis of the Painted Lady Butterfly. They write observation journal entries three times a week and summarize what they observed. Using KidPix computer software they create...
Curated OER
Is It The Flu? What Do I Do?
Learners use the internet to research the flu. Using various websites, they identify who should get flu shots, how to protect themselves and guidelines for getting over the flu. They write a one page report on their findings to end the...
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Kundun
Students study the country of Tibet. They watch the film Kundun and explore the life of The Dalai Lama and the recent history of Tibet. As they are viewing the movie they complete a series of study guide questions and discuss them as a...
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What Can We Lose? What Do We Lose as we Gain Force With A Lever?
Third graders view a demonstration of a teeter totter as a basis for assessing pre-knowledge of a lever. They create a KwL chart. Students work in small groups to conduct a variety of experiments. The first requires students to tie books...
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The Choices You Make
In this social studies learning exercise, students examine each question and make a choice. For example, they are asked about spending the day with their mom or spending the day with a friend for a fun-filled trip. Then they write an...
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Sherman and Cyrus
In this problem solving activity, learners compute the number of steps Sherman takes to catch his pet frog, Cyrus. A detailed explanation is included with the answer of the problem.
Polk Bros Foundation
I Can Sequence Important Events
After reading any short informational or fictional text, ask your class to analyze the important events. They note down three important events on a short timeline, describing the events with either words or drawings. After this, pupils...
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Rivers and Coasts: How Do Rivers Change?
In this science and geography worksheet, students fill in a graphic organizer to explain how rivers change due to transportation, erosion, and deposition. They match a picture to each process to aid them in writing the explanation.
Curated OER
Language Arts: Character Comparison
Fourth graders, using Kidspiration, compare and contrast the two main characters from Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing. They use a teacher-created template to describe their characters. Students then create their own character analysis.
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Seasons' Journey : Putting it All Together
Third graders complete a diagram of the revolution of the earth around the sun and write a one paragraph explanation of the factors that cause seasons.
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World Religions
Seventh graders identify major tenets and the distributions of world religions. In this world religions lesson, 7th graders work with a group to research a religion using the given website. Students complete a graphic organizer for the...
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The Best Place in the United States to Live
Students, working in small groups, analyze information provided in U.S. maps to make a logical determination of the best place to live in the United States in regards to natural and human-made hazards. Then, working individually, they...
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Got Biodiversity?
Students examine the concept of biodiversity. Using the internet, they complete small activities in which they work together. Using the information they collected, they create a class book, make murals and write in their journals.
Curated OER
Listen To What I Found Out
In this research lesson, pupils complete a graphic organizer to help them organize their thoughts about a research topic. At first, students engage in a class discussion which focuses on how to frame questions, establish a topic, and...
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The Allergy Chronicles
Students discuss their preconceived ideas about allergic reactions. They assume the role of health writers preparing a special section for the school newspaper on allergies. They research information about allergies and discuss their...
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Feature Stories
Pupils are taught the basics of writing a feature story. They choose a topic for research. Students use the library and internet research skills to investigate their topic. They proofread their own writing or the writing of others,...
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Comparing Time Periods in U.S. History: The Ashford Project
Fifth graders use a "fact book" comparing periods in American history then students create a picture to illustrate their assigned periods. # # students use their pictures and concept maps to write expository paragraphs about their...
Curated OER
Putting on Mass: Just how do Trees grow?
High schoolers articulate an explanation of photosynthesis. They identify problems they have with comprehension of how a plant gains mass. Students describe a historical experiment.
Curated OER
Construct with Solids
Students discover which properties of solids lend themselves to building a tower through hands on trial and error and observation of others as they are building. They write down the steps it took them to build the tower and label an...
Curated OER
Solids in Bottles
Pupils use funnels to put the five solid materials into clear bottles with caps. They observe how the particulate materials look, sound, and move when they shake and roll the bottle. Finally, students write "sound and touch" poetry.