Curated OER
Yam and Eggs
Students gain knowledge about the different kinds of foods people eat around the world for breakfast. They look at a map and see if they can come up with reasonable answers as to why location may affect what people eat. Students also...
Curated OER
Bossa Nova
Students study the creators of a musical style that is a cornerstone of popular music today. They examine how that style was born, grew, and became accepted in its home and around the world.
Curated OER
MATERIALS, Using What’s Local: Native Materials, Local Sources
Students consider the development of different societies. In this environmental building lesson, students consider local resources and how societies choose to use them. Students use their findings to design a 'green' building for use in...
California Academy of Science
Exploring Our Growing Need for Water
Pupils explore the amount of water people use in agriculture and for personal use. They compare water usage for various crops to that of raising animals before considering solutions for increased access to safe drinking water worldwide....
Curated OER
Thomas Edison's Bright Ideas
Thomas Alva Edison may be one of the most well-known scientists to elementary or middle schoolers. Use his story to show that he invented more than just the light bulb and to inspire youngsters to work hard! You could use this on the...
Curated OER
A Design You’ll Dig: Designing a Habitat for Worms
Learners discover how worms contribute to the balance of the environment. For this composting lesson, students study the composting and decomposition processes. Learners then create habitats for worms that allow them to do their jobs.
Curated OER
Recycling Quiz
Ten multiple questions about recycling comprise this quiz. Administer this as a pre-test prior to presenting a lesson on recycling glass, plastic, and metals. Since an answer key is provided along with comments, you can use it as a guide...
Curated OER
Community Action
Fifth graders decide how one uses resources within a particular bioregion. In this decision making instructional activity, 5th graders consider the biodiversity and complexity of the ecosystem. Students select a resource...
EngageNY
Illustrating: Geography Icon
For the final step of the performance task for this unit, class members will create an illustration to go with the paragraph on their bookmark. After looking at models, guide pupils toward recognizing the criteria for an effective...
Curated OER
Turkey Alphabet Match
In this alphabet awareness worksheet, students cut out fifty-two turkeys with uppercase and lowercase letters on each one. Students scramble the turkey letters together and then try to match up each uppercase letter with its lowercase...
Curated OER
Wattle and Daub Using Natural Resources to Survive
Seventh graders create list of materials that family of four would need to live and survive in the forest, identify four natural resources used by Cherokee Indians to build shelter, create poster that depicts Cherokee hamlet in summer or...
Curated OER
Pizza for Everyone
Pizza is the inspiration for the cross-curricular lesson detailed here. Start out with a poem about pizza and move into a discussion about balanced eating. To close the language arts portion of the lesson, ask your pupils to write...
Curated OER
The Beauty of Number Patterns
Teaching your child about patterns can be a fun and motivating experience.
Curated OER
Japanese Inspired Activities for the Classroom
Students become more aware of cultural differences by reading a variety of multicultural books about social issues. They assess various Haiku's by Lee Bennett Hopkins, Kamishibai stories by Dianne Clouet and snapshots from Japan by Peter...
Curated OER
Lesson 5: Designing an Experiment
The intent of this lesson is to introduce young scientists to the steps of the scientific method. To this end, they consider the question, "Which brand of battery lasts longest?" In this case, the experiment is carried out as a class,...
Curated OER
Architecture : A Reflection of Our Times
Students explore types of architecture and how it has changed throughout history. They predict what homes of the future may look like. Students investigate a variety of well known architects from around the world and from different...
Curated OER
Lesson Plan on Refugees
Students explore the issue of "human rights" and discuss world events/situations in which human rights are in question. They determine their own needs and wants and simulate the experience of being a refugee having to leave their home. ...
Curated OER
World Population
Students examine the world population data using MyWorld GIS software and compare and contrast the population characteristics of countries around the world. Students summarize their findings in a report.
Curated OER
The Design Revolution: Get the Word Out
Students research the "Design for the Other 90%" exhibition and create a presentation about the low cost designs. In this design lesson, students read and watch a video about the project. Students survey people about publicizing events....
Curated OER
Four Immigrant Groups: Their Lives and Music
Fourth graders examine the experiences of four immigrant groups. Class members brainstorm a list of misconceptions of those groups and discuss if these perceptions are still present today. Using maps, groups locate the countries of...
Curated OER
Mystic Lands: Maya: Messages in Stone
Students explore an ancient Mayan city. In this world history lesson, students watch a video about the ancient Mayan civilization, discussing information prior to and after watching the video. Students then come to understand more about...
Curated OER
An Activity to Introduce Critical Thinking
Students discover how easy it is to accept oulandish claims by witnessing a fellow student show that they have a form of ESP but is secretly working with the teacher. This demonstrations uses skepticism as a starting point for...
Curated OER
Brief Encounters (Building Bridges)
Students participate in a simulation that explores how groups of two radically different cultures might interact. They, in groups, represent the different cultures and, after interacting, describe the opposite group's cultural norms and...
Curated OER
Pesticide Watch Card
Students examine human health by identifying dangerous pesticides. In this agriculture lesson, students research the food production system in the United States and discuss dangers such as pesticides, chemicals and insecticides which...