Lesson Plan
Illinois Department of Natural Resources

Section Three: What's the Status of Biodiversity?

For Students 3rd - 5th Standards
Biodiversity is essential for every habitat, but many species are at risk due to pollution and other factors. Explore several different species native to Illinois in a gallery walk with posters that learners have created after research...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

ILLINOIS PICTURE TIMELINE GAME

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore Illinois state history by finding six historical photos and then putting them in sequential order.
PPT
CHPCS

The United States in the 1920s: The New Negro Movement and the Harlem Renaissance

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Music, writing, and activism all tell the story of history! The resource uses these elements and more in a presentation to discuss the Jazz Age and Harlem Renaissance. Your class views biographies, discusses important events, and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Jim Crow Era

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners examine how African-Americans were affected by the Great Depression. In this African-American history lesson, students conduct independent research on the social conditions of the time period using the suggested resources....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Parallel Timelines

For Teachers 12th
Twelfth graders research the history of how a particular environmental issue moves through the Conservation Movement. They create timelines that show the progression of public sentiment and the legislation about the issue.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Illinois: Crossword Puzzle

For Students 5th - 8th
In this United States history worksheet, students use the 15 clues in order to fill in the crossword puzzle with the appropriate answers pertaining to Illinois.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson 18: The Great Chicago Fire: City of Wood

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students research the causes of the Great Fire of Chicago and draw conclusion as to the most probable cause and preventative actions that could have minimized the damage.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploration of Prehistoric Peoples of Illinois

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders begin their examination of the prehistoric period in Illinois. As a class, they discuss the role of archaeology in history and how it helps learn more about native peoples. After examining each period, they develop their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Nature Rules In The Great Flood of 1993

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Learners examine the event of the Great Flood of 1993. Using the internet, they research the economic, social and ecological changes that impacted the area. They conduct a town meeting in which they debate the positives and negatives of...
Lesson Plan
PBS

Think Like a Historian: A Viewing Guide

For Students 6th - 12th Standards
Calling all junior detectives! Scholars use the tools of investigation to determine the causes and impacts of the American Civil War. Using viewing guides, videos, group research, and written resources, they discover what it takes to...
Lesson Plan
ReadWriteThink

Martin Luther King, Jr. and Me: Identifying with a Hero

For Teachers K - 2nd
Here, young historians compare their early lives to that of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s. They listen to a read aloud of a story by Dr. King's sister, and then write in the provided reflective journal template. Lastly, they share their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

African American Life in the Nineteenth Century

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers read about the life and work of John and Mary Jones. Using primary source documents, they draw conclusions about their role in the abolistionist movement. They also examine artifacts from their lives and analyze their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Aerial Photography

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders compare the artistic values of Terry Evans' photography with LandSAT images and other images made for purely scientific, government and commercial purposes. They consider the artistic choices made in aerial photography.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Prairie Poetry

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders take note of the ways in which word choice, rhythm, language and narrative voice, as well as point of view in a poem can be used to evoke a time and place. They use their insights to create a poem of their own.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Mesopotamian Gods and Goddesses

For Students 9th - 10th
Each of the Mesopotamian Gods and Goddesses are associated with a city and a symbol. This hand out is intended as a quick reference guide to help learners recall 12 of the most prominent of these figures. 
Worksheet
Curated OER

Utah Vocabulary

For Students 4th - 6th
In this Utah history learning exercise, students match the names, places, and words in the word bank to the 10 statements that define them.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Who's in Charge of This Animal?

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders study wildlife management and identify the appropriate government agencies that are in charge. They examine different wildlife management techniques. They write a letter showing interest in the activities of one of the...
Activity
DiscoverE

Build a Big Wheel

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Pasta is great for cooking—and for making Ferris wheels. Aspiring engineers use an assortment of pasta types to create a functioning Ferris wheel. They keep track of the design process to refine their designs, if necessary. Let's hope no...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Indiana

For Students 4th - 5th
In this Indiana instructional activity, students read a two page text about the history of the state of Indiana. Students answer 10 true and false questions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson Plan on World War II: Illinois Role-The 33rd Infantry Division

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students complete several creative writing assignments regarding the 33rd Infantry Division of Illinois, which was active during World War II. They discuss how this war brought about changes in the state of Illinois and specifically,...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Missouri

For Students 4th - 5th
In this Missouri activity, students read a detailed 2 page history of the state. Students answer ten true and false questions about the passage.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Westward the Course of Empire Goes: American Imperialism in the Pacific Ocean during the Nineteenth Century

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders research the acquisition of colonial outposts throughout the Pacific Ocean by the United States during the late-nineteenth century. They present their findings to the class and propose which countries or territories the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rock Cycle: The Story of a Rock

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers examine the rock cycle by watching videos and then use creative storytelling techniques to tell the story of a rock as it undergoes geologic changes.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Rock Cycle: The Story of a Rock

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students describe the changes undergone by rocks during the rock cycle and develop an understanding of the interconnectedness of the rock cycle.