US National Library of Medicine
Drug Use and Abuse: Past and Present
Pick your poison: tobacco, alcohol, opiates, cocaine, or marijuana. An online exhibition launches a research project that asks groups to select one of the five drugs and gather information on how the use of the drug and the regulations...
National Council of Teachers of English
Timelines and Texts: Motivating Students to Read Nonfiction
With the emphasis on incorporating more nonfiction in language arts classes the question arises about how to design activities that motivate kids to engage with informational text. How about an assignment that asks class members to...
American Battlefield Trust
Antietam 360
It was the single bloodiest day in Civil War history. Now, class members have the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of soldiers who fought in the Battle of Antietam using an interactive website. Supplemental resources include...
Curated OER
A High-Interest Novel Helps Struggling Readers Confront Bullying in Schools
Bully, bullied, or bystander? Paul Langan's The Bully is the anchor text in a unit that examines bullying and violence. After a close reading of the text, readers imagine themselves as the characters and consider how they would react in...
University of California
Energy and Biomass Pyramids
Young scientists play tag as they act out the food pyramid in the ocean ecosystem. Energy circles pass from the smaller prey to the predators and at the end of the activity, a data chart and analysis questions allow pupils to apply their...
Curated OER
Area and Perimeter Floor Plan
Using Google SketchUp, learners draw a model of their bedroom. They begin by measuring the dimensions of their bedroom, inputting this information into the software program, and calculating perimeter and area. This is an interesting and...
Missouri Department of Elementary
I’m Thumbody!
Positive and negative thinking is the focus of a activity that boost self-awareness. Beginning with a whole-class discussion, scholars brainstorm what positive thinking looks and sounds like then compares and contrast the two types of...
Curated OER
Fact vs. Opinion (Part II)
How can you tell the difference between fact and opinion? Using newspapers, learners determine which articles contain statements of fact, and which articles reflect the writer's opinion. The lesson plan includes a discussion format and a...
Curated OER
Preparing for the AP European History Exam
Only have a few weeks until the AP exam? Don't panic. Prepare your AP students for the European History exam using these detailed strategies. This instructional lesson plan summarizes ideas to prepare your scholars for the big test,...
Dream of a Nation
Creating Awareness through Action Oriented Writing and Research
Middle schoolers aren't too young to feel strongly about politics, social issues, consumer rights, or environmental problems. Demonstrate the first steps toward social change with a project about action-oriented writing. Eighth...
Curated OER
Looks Good Enough to Eat
Learners examine food photography and the different techniques used by food stylists to make foods look appealing in advertisements. After learning some of the tricks of the trade, students plan and shoot their own food advertisements.
Curated OER
Marching to the Beat of a Different Drum
Henry David Thoreau and Linda Ronstadt? Ann Tyler and Pete Townshend? Joyce Carol Oates and Pearl Jam? This richly detailed plan pairs classic literature with contemporary music and asks learners to analyze how the theme of conformity is...
National Endowment for the Humanities
James Madison: Madison Was There
Madison was there! Scholars go on a journey to discover the person behind the founding father label as they explore James Madison's role in the formation of the United States government. The culmination is a writing assignment and...
Curated OER
Paint Palette Mixing
New math? Sure. Squirt, mix, and match. They may make a mess, but kids are sure to enjoy squirting primary colors on their pallette, following the visual formula indicated, and presenting their solutions to these color problems.
Curated OER
Canada's Landform Regions
Learners identify and describe the processes that created the landform regions in Canada. They map the regions and research one region to discover more about it. They present their findings to the class.
Curated OER
Children's Picture Books
Fifth graders will enhance their typing skills and practice using Pages, a software for Mac computers, by writing their own children's book. Note: This lesson plan refers to a template that is not included, however, you can adapt this...
Curated OER
Nonmetals
High schoolers research about the chemical processes involved in cave formation. For this chemistry lesson, students draw or find a cave picture with stalagmites and stalactites online. They write a brief caption and share them with the...
Curated OER
Create a Cloud In a Jar
Students investigate cloud formation. In this weather lesson plan, students examine how clouds are formed. Students participate in experiments that model how water vapor in the air works.
Curated OER
Science Lessons for Grade 10
Tenth graders identify the parts and functions of the cell. In this series of science lessons, 10th graders investigate crystal formation in covalent compounds. They investigate the factors affecting reaction rates.
Curated OER
Food Pyramid-Planning a Healthy Meal
Students identify the five basic food groups. They use their knowledge of the food pyramid to plan a full meal that incorporates at least one serving of food from each group. Pupils classify their ingredients according to the food groups.
Curated OER
Determining the Density of a Drop of Water-A Graphing Exercise
Middle schoolers determine the density of 1 drop of water. In this determining density lesson plan, students determine the mass and volume of a drop of water in the lab using appropriate lab techniques and calculate the density of a drop...
Curated OER
Conversation Lesson: Multinationals - Help or Hindrance?
Students engage in a debate regarding the status of nationals versus multinationals as a way of improving their conversation skills. The format for the debate is imbedded in this plan.
Curated OER
Counting Animal Populations
Students learn how to count animal populations by the Mark and Recapture method. In this counting animal populations lesson plan, students begin by predicting amounts of different candies in a jar. Students then simulate using beans, two...
Curated OER
Diaper Challenge
Students compare the absorbency of a regular diaper and a swim diaper in fresh water and salt water. For this absorbency lesson plan, students mass the diapers and place them in water and determine the change in mass. They do the same...