Curated OER
Exploring Pioneer America
Fourth graders research pioneers who had a strong influence on westward expansion. In this westward expansion lesson, 4th graders write an essay about four pioneers and an interview script about one. Students work in pairs to present...
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Portrait of a Place, Portrait of a Family
Students act out stories based on lives of famous people from Harlem. In this memoirs lesson, students compare the life of the people in Harlem in 1930 to the people of today. Students explore how "home" is different for different...
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Lewis and Clark: Prized Possession
Students create a Sacagawea-inspired wampum belt. In this Native-American instructional activity, students study Sacagawea and her influence on the Lewis and Clark expedition. Students learn about wampum and prized possessions and work...
John F. Kennedy Center
Acting Up, A Melodrama: Performing Like Jo March and Her Sisters in Little Women
Lights, Camera, Action! Pupils read Little Women and create, act, and direct a melodrama that Jo March and her sisters would enjoy. The lesson plan comes complete with resources for the educator on melodrama as well as examples...
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Olympic Athletes and Moments in Time
Students examine the history of the Olympics and their athletes. In this interviewing skills lesson, students role play the parts of reporters and athletes as they conduct interviews based on research of the Olympic games and athletes.
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Chivalry and Courtly Love
Eleventh graders examine chivalry and courtly love. In this Arthurian legend lesson, 11th graders explore the legend and how chivalry, honor, and courtly love have been internalized into today's culture. Students author and perform plays...
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Cultural Creation Myths
High schoolers write original plays based on supernatural explanations of existence. In this cultural creation myths instructional activity, students listen to five different stories about supernatural creation. High schoolers record...
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Dali & Desnos: Surrealism in Poetry and Art
Young scholars research the surrealism movement and its primary artists. Language is also analyzed, and students will create their own original poem utilizing surrealistic techniques.
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Olympic Emblems
Students study the history of Olympic emblems. In this Olympics lesson, students examine the Olympic designs and symbols used to represent different Olympic game years. Students then collaborate to create Olympic emblems for a particular...
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One Story, Many Tales
Students compare and contrast various versions of the fairytale Cinderella. In this folktale lesson, students read The Korean Cinderella and The Egyptian Cinderella and analyze the differences between the two stories. Students identify...
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Rhythm and Art: Rhythm Collage
Students create a collage in response to musical rhythm. In this visual arts lesson plan, students will better understand the connection between visual arts and musical rhythm. Students will follow the teacher's model of letting the...
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Rhythm and Art: Gesture Drawing
High schoolers explore connections between non-verbal language and art. In this visual and auditory art lesson, students investigate the science of sound and principles of drawing. They then use various genres of music to directly apply...
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Sondheim: Secret Metaphors
Students explore the work of Stephen Sondheim. In this musical theater lesson, students examine the musicals Merrily We Roll Along and Sunday in the Park with George. Students identify and anaylze linear and...
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Castles and Cornerstones
Students become familiar with the style of architecture of medieval times. In this architecture lesson, students design a model of a medieval castle including its cornerstone. Students understand scale in their representation.
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King Arthur: Man or Legend
Students research the Legend of King Arthur. In this King Arthur lesson, students explore him as he is presented in stories, poems, and art. Students compare and contrast the real life of King Arthur versus the man in...
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Analyzing Photographs: From Theory to Practice
Students analyze photographic images and use cameras to document their own life. In this analyzing photography lesson, students apply formal analysis techniques to images, then create a documentary of photographic images with...
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Discovering National Parks
Students work to preserve American National Parks. In this environmental activism lesson plan, students research the history of the national parks and determine why they were created. Students then focus on protecting the land, using it...
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Deep Roots of Ancient Greece
Young scholars investigate Greek contributions to modern America. In this ancient Greek influence lesson, students watch videos, listen to lectures, and conduct research regarding ancient Greek ideals in order to analyze and trace Greek...
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Drawing Political Cartoons
Students draw political cartoons. In this editorial cartoons lesson, students discover the history of the cartoons in America, analyze some cartoons, and then draw their own cartoons that make social statements.
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Exploring Pottery Techniques
Students examine Native American pottery. In this visual arts lesson plan, students analyze burnished and glazed clay pots. Students study how to create pots from online sources and respond to questions about the process. Extension...
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Exploring Russian Folktales
Students examine Russian Folktales. In this folklore lesson, students discuss the attributes of common folktales they know and then discover details regarding Russian folktales. Students read 3 folktales and then complete the provided...
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Five Artists of the Mexican Revolution
Students discover details about Mexican Revolution era artists. In this Mexican Revolution lesson, students research the events and people of the time period. Students then research the artists of the time and create their own artwork in...
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From Greece to Main Street
Young scholars consider the influence of the Greeks on American architecture. For this American Greek Revival architecture lesson, students identify the attributes of architectural style as they compare the Parthenon with the Lincoln...
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Utopian Visions
Students examine Sir Thomas More's Utopian vision. For this philosophy lesson, students read Utopia and determine the pros and cons of Utopian societies. Students then create and present monologues of residents of the Utopia.