Curated OER
The Media and Social Justice in the United States
Students have group discussions that allow the teacher to assess the level of comprehension of the ideas of subjectivity and objectivity. Level of discussion at the end of the class provides some indication of comprehension as well....
Curated OER
History of Philanthropy
Young scholars identify events and organizations that involve philanthropy. They research one event and share their information with the school. They write journal entries stating ideas from the presentations.
Curated OER
New Mammal Species Found
Students brainstorm ideas about rodents, mammals and new discoveries. They describe rodents and participate in pre-reading activities. They read, discuss, and complete role play activities based on an article on the discovery of a new...
Chicago Botanic Garden
Seasons of a Plant
The third in a series of six lessons is an engaging three-part activity defines that discusses phenology, focusing on the cyclic seasons of plants. Pupils then observe phenology outside before determining how climate change can...
PBS
Broadcast News
Just because a story is on the news doesn't mean it's being presented fairly. Analyze news broadcasts with a lesson focused on evaluating television journalism. At home, kids watch a news show and note the stories presented, including...
Curated OER
Maniac Magee: Problematic Situation
As part of their reading of Jerry Spinelli's Maniac Magee, class members consider what it would take to survive living on their own. Using the provided worksheet, individuals list their needs and decide where they would...
TED-Ed
Lessons from Auschwitz: The Power of Our Words
Some words are best left unspoken. Words matter, according to Benjamin Zander, conductor, teacher, and lecturer. To illustrate his point, Zander recounts a story told to him by a survivor of Auschwitz. As a result of her experience...
Curated OER
Poets of Christmas Past
Students consider the meanings of Christmas by reading an op-ed. As a class, they then create a sequel to the poem "A Visit from Saint Nicholas," in which "Mamma" tells a story about the history of Christmas.
Curated OER
Woodland Animals and Their Habitat
Students explore the natural environment through a video and nature sounds tape. They keep journal's of the unit's activities and vocabulary terms. They play a web of interdependence game and compose a list of forest animals and write...
Curated OER
Maggie, Maggie
Learners read Maggie, Maggie by Beverly Cleary. In this Maggie, Maggie lesson students develop strategies for understanding vocabulary in the story. Learners survey the number of left and right handed students. Learners...
Curated OER
Emily Dickinson: Luminous Letters
Pupils analyze the dimensions of Emily Dickinson's poetry and persona. In this Emily Dickinson instructional activity, students read the example letters and analyze a chart of the poems. Pupils present their findings from the poems in a...
Missouri Department of Elementary
Origins: A Simple Word Game For Use In Human Relations Trainings
Words can hurt. Words may not break bones but they can break a heart. An activity focused on the meaning of and the history of some often heard words and phrases is designed to raise awareness of the importance of choosing words...
Curated OER
Sarah, Plain and Tall
Students read Sarah, Plain and Tall, and they write a journal entry for each chapter. They can write about anything that come to mind as you read the story. Students are able to draw in the journal. They write down key words or...
Curated OER
Seasons of Trees
Learners examine how trees change over time. For this forestry lesson, students read the book The Seasons of Arnold's Apple Tree and choose three trees to observe over a period of time. Learners record observations and seasonal changes...
Curated OER
Surviving the Hatchet
Learners read the book, Hatchet, and write their thoughts and reactions about the events in their journals.
Curated OER
Poetry: What's on Your Plate (Part 2)
Students write a short paragraph using strong descriptions. In this using modifiers lesson, students define modifier, adjective, adverb, metaphor, and simile. Students then write a journal entry in which they write about a...
Curated OER
Self-Esteem through Literature and Music
Students research representations of self-esteem in music and literature, reflect on their meanings and use in developing positive attitudes. They make a presentations based on their research. They also keep a daily journal.
Curated OER
Figurative Language: Metaphors and Similes
Fifth graders are introduced to the figurative language using metaphors and similies. They identify the similarities and differences between the two and practice developing their own to use in their writing. They illustrate their...
Curated OER
Missing May
Students listen to the first couple chapters in the book, Missing May by Cynthia Rylant and then sketch or write about a character or the setting, using words and phrases from the book as guides. They then discuss the chapters using the...
Curated OER
Multi-Cultural and Multi-Perspective Lesson Plan
Third graders discuss the work of Cesar Chavez. In this multi-cultural instructional activity, 3rd graders listen to the story Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez by Kathleen Krull. They write a double-entry journal focusing on...
Curated OER
Talking Over the Wall
Young scholars explore how conflict resolution techniques can be used to resolve difference of opinion, both on a global and local scale. Students write in a journal about conflict using a phrase from the article as a starting point. ...
Curated OER
The Giving Tree
Young scholars investigate the virtue of kindness and giving by conducting a children's literature study of "The Giving Tree". They make a list of words to describe emotions in the story and write a journal daily while looking at the...
Curated OER
Korean History Through Journaling
Students explore Korea and details about the Choson Kingdom. In this Korea lesson, students examine the geographical location of Korea. Students also take notes on a lecture about the Choson Kingdom and relations between Japan and...
Curated OER
Sand Dollars
Students debate the issues of economic prosperity, cultural preservation and environmental preservation by examining the development of land in the Bahamas.