Lesson Plan
National Council of Teachers of English

Timelines and Texts: Motivating Students to Read Nonfiction

For Students 6th - 8th Standards
With the emphasis on incorporating more nonfiction in language arts classes the question arises about how to design activities that motivate kids to engage with informational text. How about an assignment that asks class members to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Coal Camps and Mining Towns

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars should gain a better understanding of the processes involved in extracting coal from the Earth as a result of this lesson. They reearch the history of coal mining, look into coal mining towns, and create a short story...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

From the Middle Ages Straight to You

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students read a "letter" from Dr. Suess' Bartholomew Cubbins and note differences between their lives and Bartholomew's. They utilize prewriting strategies to draft a letter of response to Bartholomew.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Jacksonian America and the Indian Removal Act of 1830

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students utilize primary sources to explore the national climate concerning Native American Indians during the Andrew Jackson administration. They are presented with opinions for and against the Indian Removial Act of 1830 as they...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Jurassic Park: The Science and Ethics of Genetic Engineering

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Explore genetic engineering through an engaging "Jurassic Park" unit, which is an extensive use of a cross-curricular teaching event. Planned for AP Biology, English, and Calculus students, learners and teachers are involved for 4-6...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson: After Nature: Visions and Visionaries

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Build visual literacy, discussion, and critical thinking skills with an innovative art lesson. Young analysts discuss the use of decalcomania, surrealism, and automatism in various contemporary pieces, discuss constructed truth, and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

That's the Spirit

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Is, as Walt Whitman contends, America’s “almost maniacal appetite for wealth,” the heart of the American dream? Class members grapple with this question as they read David Brooks’ article “The Commercial Republic,” and quotes that...
Lesson Plan
MENSA Education & Research Foundation

Early American Novel: Exploring the Emergence of a Genre

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Need an extra challenge for your best readers? Check out a unit that uses Hannah Webster Foster’s epistolary novel, The Coquette, published in 1797, as the anchor text. The resource is packed with project ideas; each with its...
Lesson Plan
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Dream of a Nation

Writing Interdisciplinary Essay

For Teachers 12th Standards
The Grapes of Wrath. The Jungle. Native Son. The Things They Carried. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian. To address a current social, political, economic, or environmental issue, class groups pair the reading of a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Critical Ways of Seeing The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn in Context

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students complete a unit of lessons examining the cultural context of the novel, 'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.' They write a critique of the novel, compare/contrast two published critiques, and explore various websites.
Lesson Plan
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National Endowment for the Humanities

Kate Chopin's "The Awakening": No Choice But Under?

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
The first in a series of three resources designed to accompany a reading of Kate Chopin's The Awakening provides readers with background information about Chopin, Creole culture, literary realism, and women's suffrage.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Out of the Dust

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students create a poem that expresses the physical and emotional turmoil of living through the Dust Bowl.  In this Out of the Dust lesson, students research facts about the time period and discuss the cause-effect patterns...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Comparison of the Play and Movie "Inherit the Wind"

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students read the play "Inherit the Wind" about the Scopes "Monkey" Trial. In groups, they choose their favorite scene and create a diorama dipicting the scene as they see it. They watch a recording of the play and compare it to their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Civil War Through a Child's Eye

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students use primary and secondary sources to observe a child's view of the Civil war.  For this Civil War lesson, students understand that different people had different perspectives on the war.  Students recognize the...
Lesson Plan
Small Planet Communications

Civil War

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students discuss political, social, and personal issues relating to the Civil War from various perspectives using internet sources. Students write various selections from Civil War characters' point of view.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Through the Looking Glass: Life in Colonial Times

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders examine the life and times of those living in the colonial era. With a partner, they use laptops to complete their research on different aspects of colonial life. They also role-play the role of colonists and share their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Japanese American Internment

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders examine Japanese-American internment. In this World War II lesson plan, 11th graders research primary sources that they locate to learn about the experiences of the interned Japanese-Americans. Students then complete a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Deadly Dancing: Failure Proof Field Trips

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students are given an opportunity to role play a particular period of American History. They engage in a field trip that is then reflected upon and further research is done in the class. Their final project is to act out a play they...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The People of Kansas: Who Are They and Why Are They Here?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine the settlement patterns of the Kansas Territory. In this Kansas history lesson, students analyze primary documents from the pioneers in the territory. Students write letters or perform skits that feature their findings.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Walking Poetry

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders write walking poetry using the Walking Poetry Checklist and a teacher poem as an example.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Genre Book

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students present genres to the class.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

China: Culture and Young Adult literature

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders are introduced to Chinese language and culture to make Asian reading selections in literature circles more meaningful. They write about Chinese characters, work on oral speaking, and read Asian books and then have...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Thanksgiving Menu

For Teachers K - 1st
Students explore the First Thanksgiving. In this U.S. history instructional activity, students read about the Pilgrims and Native Americans and discuss how they obtained and prepared food. Students develop a possible first Thanksgiving...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

There Was an Old Lady. . .

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students alter a familiar short poem or song with synonyms and antonyms. In this synonym and antonym lesson, students replace the synonyms or antonyms in the text and discuss the changes in meaning. Students share their words.

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