Curated OER
PERCEIVINGT A CULTURE THROUGH ITS LITERATURE
Studentsexamine cultural values in literature, identify the cultural assumptions, prejudices, and purposes of authors and translators, use historical perspective to determine if the values and lifestyle depicted apply to contemporary...
Curated OER
Electric Circuits
Fifth graders build a simple circuit which transmits Morse code using a battery, bulb, wire, switch, and tape. They analyze problems that arise while transmitting their messages to each other.
Curated OER
Border History
Students research primary sources to construct an outline of a border city's history.
Curated OER
"Finding" Horsepower
Students investigate horsepower as a unit of power. They examine history and discover that scientists and engineers of high achievement are considered to be among the most valued contributors to their culture.
Curated OER
Main Idea/Detail Relay
Fourth graders discuss the difference between main ideas and supporting details. They use large placement cards made by the teacher with main idea and supporting detail statements on them to practice.
Curated OER
States and Capitols Match-Up
Fifth graders should have been introduced to the fifty states already before completing this activity. Different groups of students focus on different regions of the country and their capitols. They change regions throughout the activity.
Curated OER
Is That a Fact?
Fifth graders use physical activity to help them distinguish between facts and opinions. They are broken up into pairs and students give a fact or opinion (based on the call by the teacher) when the ball is bounced to them.
Curated OER
Body Sequencing
Fifth graders listen to a story told by their teacher. They have cards of all of the events in the story. They must "jump" into the correct order of events.
Curated OER
Alcohol and Marijuana "Gateway Drugs"
Ninth graders use the internet to research the effects of alcohol and marijuana. They present strategies for resisting peer pressure.
Curated OER
Seeking a Balance in International Trade: Pacific Rim Import-Export Transactions Activity
High schoolers role play as members of a company's import-export purchasing department attempting to develop a positive trade balance with a Pacific Rim nation. They create a company and research a trade nation in order to report to...
Curated OER
Cooking on the Lewis and Clark Expedition
Students explain the challenge to find and cook during the Lewis and Clark Expedition. They practice frying techniques. They recognize the appearance and consistency of cooked fish.
Curated OER
In His Own Words: James Madison On the Problem of Faction
Students are introduced to the writings of James Madison and explain why he is often called "The Father of the Constitution". Using primary source documents, they examine his view of the Bill of Rights and what he meant by faction. In...
Curated OER
SeaWorld: Education, Entertainment, or Exploitation?
Students discuss SeaWorld, research marine animal biology, investigate one animal currently collected by SeaWorld, and decide whether they oppose or support SeaWorld's collection policy. Students then gather information relating to...
Curated OER
Interview With the Signers of the Constitution
Students work in small groups to develop three questions that a newspaper reporter assigned to cover the signing of the Constitution might have asked each of the following signers of the Constitution: George Washington, Benjamin...
Curated OER
Robots All Around Us
Student work in design teams to research robots, create a drawing of a robot they want to make, build a prototype of their robot, present their prototype and research, and write a descriptive paragraph about their creation.
Curated OER
Blast from the Past
Students analyze historic artifacts to help gain an understanding of how the past has impacted their lives. They explain ways "design" can be both a noun and a verb. Students use internet resources to view and learn about artifacts that...
Curated OER
Which Part of the Great Salt Lake Stinks More?
Students research background knowledge of the Great Salt Lake prior to a field trip. They identify specific wild life at the Great Salt Lake on the field trip and identify the islands in the Great Salt Lake. They present their...
Curated OER
Dual place names in Australia
Students discuss landmarks commonly found on maps. They are divided into two groups, and asked to draw a map for a friend who hasn't been to the area. Group A may use street and place names, group B may not. Students discuss the role of...
Curated OER
Heroes and Legends
Young scholars use print and nonprint sources of different heroic myths to generate a definition of the word "hero." They conduct a character study on three mythological heroes and formulate a definition of the word "hero" based on...
Curated OER
Sports
Young scholars identify specific physical and emotional characteristics and experiences within an activity. They work in small groups. Students are introduced to different everyday objects. In their groups they choose from the objects...
Curated OER
Terrorist, Freedom Fighter, or Something in Between?
Students identify that history can characterize actions differently from how they were perceived when initially undertaken. Then they identify that terrorist groups exist within a political, cultural, and historical context, and students...
National First Ladies' Library
Terrorism and Tolerance
Students define the concepts of terrorism and tolerance using various resources. They examine the concept of stereotype, consider stereotypes often applied to Arabs, Middle Easterners, and Muslims, and attempt to discredit these...
National First Ladies' Library
Blunders on All Sides: The Battle of Bunker Hill
High schoolers investigate the concepts surrounding the historical battle of Bunker Hill while conducting online research using a variety of resources. The information is used in order to create a newspaper article telling about the...
National First Ladies' Library
Fire! The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Trial and It's Aftermath
Middle schoolers research, examine and are provided the opportunity to re-enact one of the most exciting trials of the 20th century, The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Trial. They research the history of the trial and then divide into...