Curated OER
George Washington
First graders gain background knowledge about George Washington. They visit a website to find out additional information. Students create a web on chart paper of his important events, write a non fiction book about hima nd share their...
Curated OER
Holidays Around The World
Second graders investigate the different holidays that are celebrated in cultures around the world. They identify the different symbols used in celebration and differentiate the interpretation. Students demonstrate in writing how the...
Curated OER
Government law
Fifth graders explain how a bill becomes a law. They watch a video and take notes on the video titled: America Rock "I'm Just a Bill." Students work in groups to create a bill to present to congress that relates to safety. They read...
Curated OER
The Fog is Magic
Student increase their reading fluency through the use of various strategies. After reviewing good reader strategies, 3rd graders complete an initial read of a novel text. Working with a partner, they read complete a timed assessment of...
Curated OER
Language Arts: Investigating Issues That Matter
Learners are able to become more informed about the dangers of water contamination by sharing their prior knowledge with each other. They discover the importance of communicating these dangers to the public.
Curated OER
Exploring Explorers
Ninth graders illustrate the routes taken by different explorers on a world map. They explain the need for the different exploration voyages. Students explore the web for information that may contain different points of view or...
Curated OER
Does the falling tree make a sound if no one if there to hear it? (or communication via encryption)
Young scholars explore encryption. They discuss the importance of cryptography in our daily lives. Students use games and cryptography to discover transformational geometry and modulo systems. They design their own encryption puzzles...
Curated OER
Brainstorming and Number Patterns
Ninth graders discover what it means to "brainstorm." They explore a given simple number pattern and then, working in groups, brainstorm more complicated number patterns. They display them around the room and then solve the number...
Curated OER
Reading for Information: Chinese Emigration
Students read and discuss given information about Chinese emigration, and compete a set of relate comprehension questions. Students discuss the concept of an interview, then complete an associated interview worksheet, sharing information...
Curated OER
Double Exposure Lesson Plan: Eye on Your Community
Students demonstrate their knowledge of a camera by taking pictures of people, places, and things that make up their neighborhood or school. They select the photographs that tell a better story than others and explain their reason.
Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD)
Ascd: Building Literacy in Social Studies: Ch 1: Reading Social Studies Texts
Article provides excellent tips and strategies for building comprehension and critical thinking skills in Social Studies. It describes some of the challenges students have with reading and understanding their textbooks.
Other
Historical Thinking Matters: Spanish American War
This award-winning site has everything you need for online lessons or independent study about the Spanish-American War. Uses an inquiry-based approach with lots of primary sources, and the material can be used in conjunction with almost...
Other
Historical Thinking Matters: The Scopes Trial
This award-winning site has everything you need for online lessons or independent study about the Scopes Trial. Uses an inquiry based approach with lots of primary sources, and the material can be used in conjunction with almost any...
Virtual Salt
Virtual Salt: Introduction to Critical Thinking
An introduction to the concept of Critical Thinking examines the true definition and gives examples where it can be used as a constructive force.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Independent Lens: The Calling: Film Discussion Guide
This discussion guide is designed as a tool to facilitate dialogue, and deepen understanding of the complex issues in The Calling, a film that follows seven young Muslims, Catholics, Evangelical Christians, and Jews on a dramatic...
Other
Houston Independent School District: Social Studies Strategies [Pdf]
Hone in on methods for historical thinking and the process of historical inquiry when studying social studies.
Oswego City School District
Regents Exam Prep Center: Types of Sentences
What is "Logic"? What is a "Mathematical sentence"? This website provides definitions of both of these terms and defines examples of mathematical sentences ("open sentence" and "closed sentence") and provides examples of each. Use the...
Schools of California Online Resources for Education
Score: Colusa Community School: Independence Day!
Using the concept that a class has become an independent country, students work in groups to design symbols that depict their class. This activity not only teaches the history of American symbols, but it exercises higher-order thinking...
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Listen, Look, and Learn: An Information Gathering Process
This lesson models an information-gathering process for primary learners as they listen to and look at resources, seeking information pertinent to the questions on an information wheel. Guiding the listening, looking, and learning...
Other
Multimedia Schools: Moving Every Child Ahead the Big6
This article looks at applying the Big6 process to issues raised by No Child Left Behind legislation. The goal of the Big6 process is to improve performance by improving thinking through application of information technology skills. This...
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Anticipation Guide
Anticipating is an effective reading strategy for readers of all ages. Utilize this template and graphic organizer to help your students become better readers.
Utah Education Network
Uen: I'm So Bright! I Wear My Shades Indoors!
This lesson engages students in learning about light through multiple sources. Students will learn how light is produced, reflected, refracted, and separated. Students will communicate their findings through an independent project that...
Other
Quality Digest: Self Directed Work Teams: A Competitive Advantage
Article describes self-directed work teams as an innovative way to approach employee management. Designed around "whole" projects, these teams manage their own work and handle obstacles themselves, fostering independent thinking and a...
Other
Ncrel: Reading Strategies: Before, During, and After [Pdf]
This page provides a detailed chart to aid students' understanding of texts. It goes through the steps of pre-reading, during reading, and after reading, outlining what students should be thinking about as they interact with a text. This...