Lesson Plan
Howard Hughes Medical Institute

A Lesson on the Nature of Science

For Teachers 7th - 12th
If you are looking for a great way to present natural selection in humans, look no further. This handout is intended to accompany the 14-minute video The Making of the Fittest: Natural Selection in Humans, which can be found on the...
Lesson Plan
Indiana University

British Literature Restoration Unit: The Pillow Book – Sei Shonagon

For Teachers 11th - 12th
First drafted in the year 996, The Pillow Book contains reflections of those met by a lady-in-waiting in the Japanese court. A brief summary, historical context, and discussion questions are provided on the first two pages. Then, two...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Historians Know: Investigating a Midwife's Life

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Young scholars view "A Midwife's Tale" to explain the methods historians use to study the past. They complete worksheets to identify what historians look for.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

East Asia & The World

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars discuss the relationships between East Asia and the United States. They examine the importance of trade and politics. They examine graphs and charts of certain aspects of the region and discuss.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Becoming Africa's Wildlife

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students take a "trip" to Africa. In this Africa lesson plan, students watch a National Geographic video on animals from Africa. They pick an animal to research, create a poster about, and make a field guide. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Shakespeare Crowd

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students study the life and times of Shakespeare. They read and analyze one of his plays and use the Internet and videos to gain an understanding of how Shakespeare engaged his audiences, then and still today.
Lesson Planet Article
Curated OER

Planet of the Apes

For Teachers 9th - 12th
The "Planet of the Apes" is becoming a staple in many high school classrooms and provides a way to explore a variety of topics.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Caterpillars To Butterflies

For Teachers K
Students observe the life cycle of a butterfly. They read butterfly/caterpillar themed books. They sequence the lifecycle from eggs on a leaf to an adult butterfly. They release their butterflies into a natural habitat after singing and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Waste Not Want Not

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Learners are introduced to the need to save natural resources. Through inquiry, hands-on activities, and problem solving, students increase their understanding of solid waste materials and the need to reduce, recycle, and reuse.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"Jazz is About Collaboration": Jim Crow Laws And Segregation

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore development of jazz music in the 1930s by forming imaginary jazz bands which tour several cities in Depression-era America. Jazz band members create imaginary identities for themselves, develop publicity for their tour,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"Jazz is About Freedom": Billie Holiday's Anti-lynching Song Strange Fruit

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Working in small teams, learners analyze a variety of primary source materials related to lynching (news articles, letters written to or written by prominent Americans, pamphlets, broadsides, etc.) in order to assess the effectiveness of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

DNA Scientists

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Learners navigate through information about scientists who contributed to our understanding of DNA. In this interactive lesson plan, students gain historical understanding of scientists through a web-based timeline. They complete a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Freedom to Fight

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students study the African American troop experiences in the Civil War. In this American history instructional activity, students examine primary and secondary sources regarding the experiences and contributions of African American...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

To Kill a Mockingbird Debate

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders debate issues in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird. In this debate lesson plan, 8th graders break into three groups and given a view to research and debate. Students must find text to support their ideas and others' ideas.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Looking for Lincoln's Views on Slavery

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students reflect on Abraham Lincoln's views of slavery.  In this United States History lesson, students analyze how things have changed in the United States over the course of their lifetime, then use this information as a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Songcatcher

For Teachers 10th - Higher Ed
Pupils read Sharyn McCrumb's and Maggie Greenwald's versions of "Songcatcher" and use them as a springboard to explore the heritage and traditions of Appalachian folk music. They review Internet sources, conduct research and write reports.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Birth of a Dynasty

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students view a video about the rise of the Medici family of Renaissance Italy. They complete a chart comparing Medieval Europe to Renaissance Italy.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Paper Collage With Eric Carle

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students examine the illustrating work of Eric Carle. They discuss how the illustrations are made and then decorate their room by creating artwork in the same style.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Discrimination and the Struggle for Equality: African Americans in Professional Baseball: A Reflection of the Civil Rights Movement

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students develop the ability to research individuals and summarize the basic information on that person's life. They design a logo and graphic setting for a particular set of cards and create a set of trading cards of Negro League...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Eudora Welty's "A Worn Path" in Graphical Representation

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Young scholars analyze graphical forms of Eudora Welty and interpret the shorts stories in the representations. In this graphical representations instructional activity, students analyze the short story genre in comic strips. Young...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Thornton Wilder's Our Town: The Reader as Writer

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students read a play and create their own play using Thornton Wilder's Our Townas a resource. For this play lesson, students analyze how theatrical elements contribute to a play's meanings and effects. Students recognize differences...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Jim Frankoski Lesson Plan Ideas

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Learners read about Jim Frankoski and his art to examine various elements in environmental art. In this art analysis lesson, students analyze the location of photographs and how images create illusions that capture new viewpoints.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Overthrow of the Hawaiian Monarchy

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders discover details about the overthrow of Queen Liliuokalani. In this Hawaiian history lesson, 8th graders watch "Hawaii's Last Queen," and read Hawaii's Story by Hawaii's Queen. Students reply to discussion...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Appreciating the Language and Interpreting the Meaning of Hamlet's Soliloquy

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students analyze Hamlet's soliloquy, "To be or not to be."  In this Hamlet lesson, students define unfamiliar words in the soliloquy and interpret the lines.  Students then read the lines aloud and identify descriptive words....