Heritage Foundation
The House of Representatives
The House of Representatives has a lot of responsibility in the United States government. But how did it all begin, and why is it the way it is now? A comprehensive instructional activity answers all of these questions about the US...
American Chemical Society
Temperature Changes in Dissolving
Alia-Seltzer tablets cause a very obvious chemical change, but do they also cause a temperature change? Each class member explores hot/cold packs, discussing how these temperature changes occur. Groups then design and carry out their own...
Facing History and Ourselves
A Scene from a Middle School Classroom
Citizens in the modern world can't imagine making the same social choices made by many Germans in the 1920s and 1930s, but they don't realize that they actually do it every day by ostracizing others. A case study of middle schoolers...
Curated OER
What Makes a Good Law?
Why were laws created? Spark a group discussion on why we need laws to co-exist. Should the sale of some things be outlawed on Sundays? Read a case summary between Target and the state of Minnesota that debated this issue. Ask your...
PBS
NOVA Sun Lab Lesson Plan
Looking for a sun-sational multi-lesson plan full of videos, simulations, and discussion? Introduce your young scientists to all things solar with a four-part hands-on adventure. Pupils learn the basics of solar anatomy, space weather,...
National History Day
Helping Life and Aiding Death: Science, Technology, and Engineering at Work during World War I
Science, engineering, and United States history? Pupils research collections of artifacts from the Smithsonian to learn about historical scientific innovations. At the end of the lesson, they write an essay to discuss technology's...
McGraw Hill
The Wellness Triangle
Health is not simply the absence of disease or a one-dimensional notion, but is really a combination of physical, emotional, and social components. Discover the wellness triangle, which not only includes signs of health and ways to...
Heritage Foundation
Courts and Judges
If the Supreme Court is so supreme, why do all cases not just start there? High schoolers learn why every case does not start at the Supreme Court as well as the importance of hierarchy in the US judicial system in the 11th installment...
Curated OER
Monster Plants Storia Teaching Guide
Who wouldn't want to read a book about monster plants? Get those kids into informational texts with an engaging topic, like meat eating plants! You'll use the teaching guide to provide structured practice as your class reads to...
Curated OER
ESL/ELL Activities - "Vodofone's Vending Machine Mobile Phones"
In this ESL/ELL reading and discussion worksheet, learners read or listen to an article entitled, "Vodafone's Vending Machine Mobile Phones." They discuss the article and complete a variety of activities based on their comprehension;...
Curated OER
The Rise of Community Activism
Students examine the rise of citizen leaders and community organizing.
Curated OER
Protecting the Environment Through Civic Activism
Students discuss how to protect the environment through civic activism. They watch a video about someone who stood up to the government to protect the environment. They also identify something in their community that could be improved.
Curated OER
What Are Some Different Ways You Can Group Buttons
Second graders classify and group buttons. They discuss how their buttons are alike and different, and identify the characteristics of their handful of buttons. Students then classify their buttons into three groups, and create a...
Curated OER
Student Leadership Activity
Students rotate in groups of three to broadcast the morning news/announcements over the school pa system. They meet with the principal once a month to find volunteer opportunities. They also are responsible for organizing sports teams...
Curated OER
Summer Nature Activity: Carrots! Carrots!
Young scholars investigate reading, cooking, and planting activities that teach that a carrot is the root of a plant. For this early childhood science lesson, students explore the world around them as they read The Carrot Seed and...
Curated OER
How Have World Religions Shaped Who I Am Today?
Students discuss the different religions that make up the world today. They complete an interest inventory about their belief systems and the influence it has had on their lives. In groups of two, then four, then eight they discuss...
Curated OER
Stereotypes
Assumptions and misconceptions are two things that underlie stereotypes. Introduce youngsters to the concept of stereotyping with a role-play activity. They pretend they are employees at a restaurant who have accused a person of...
Curated OER
Chicken Soup with Rice Extension Activities
After reading Chicken Soup with Rice, by Maurice Sendak, incorporate some of these great extension activities into your lesson plan. Ideas include focusing on knowing the months of the year, or studying the illustrations and how...
Michigan State University
Wanted Dead or Alive
Wanted! Pests are on the loose! Here, class members create a wanted poster highlighting one pest. Posters includes a picture, description, and signs of pest activity.
Smarter Balanced
Uncommon Animals
Need to prepare for a performance task assessment on the topic of uncommon animals? Here's an activity that ensures all learners have the knowledge of key terms and concepts to approach the assessment.
Curated OER
Literature Circle Reflections
In this literature circle reflections instructional activity, students write down a discussion prompt and then respond to the prompt before and after meeting with a group. Students self-assess their own reading and responses. Students...
New South Wales of Education and Communities
Setting the Scene
How to establish a safe classroom environment for discussion is the focus of this introduction to a series of six resources devoted to personal safety.
Childnet International
Self Esteem
To middle schoolers, there's nothing worse than being excluded from a peer group. Developing important self-esteem skills can not only get them through awkward adolescent times, it can carry them through the rest of their lives as...
Virginia Department of Education
Congruent Triangles
Is this enough to show the two triangles are congruent? Small groups work through different combinations of constructing triangles from congruent parts to determine which combinations create only congruent triangles. Participants use the...