Activity
Curated OER

Google Earth Landforms

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
In this lesson, Google Earth Landforms, students research a landform that has been studied in class. Students explore Google Earth and record everything they find about their landform. Students have the opportunity to extend their...
Lesson Plan
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Underground Railroad

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Learners explore the Underground Railroad.  In this U.S. history and technology lesson, students research an assigned topic related to the Underground Railroad, such as "abolitionist," "conductor," or "station houses." ...
Lesson Plan
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Covenants, Compacts, Constitutions and By-Laws... Written Documents that Guide Governing

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders discuss documents in our government. In this government lesson plan, 3rd graders look up vocabulary words and illustrate them. They examine a historical document to discuss and answer questions. 
Worksheet
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American Flag

For Students 7th - 9th
In this American flag worksheet, students read and interpret a passage on the history of the American flag. Students answer five statements associated with the passage as true or false and rewrite two sentences correcting all the grammar...
Lesson Plan
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Are You an Ant?

For Teachers Pre-K - K
Students investigate different insects in their backyard. In this insect lesson, students read the book Are You and Ant? and apply the reading to their backyards. Students create a list of animals that begin with the the letter A an make...
Lesson Plan
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Food Contributions

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders make an alphabet book. In this food contributions lesson students identify foods first harvested by indigenous people. Students use the different foods that are still eaten today that were first harvested by indigenous...
Lesson Plan
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Please Ex-Planet!

For Teachers 5th - 8th
What is most useful about this lesson plan is the "Student Explanet Worksheet," a set of instructions for collaborative groups to use to collect information about an assigned planet. After students have researched and organized their...
Lesson Plan
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Developing a Gateway to the West

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students identify various topographical features that contribute to the growth of a city. They identify how military strategies contribute to the growth of a city.
Lesson Plan
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E.T. Write Home

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students read the book, The Magic School Bus Lost in the Solar System, and discuss the planets visited by the characters in the book. They write journal entries from the viewpoint of E.T., writing letters home describing his travels in...
Lesson Plan
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Whose House is it Anyway?

For Teachers 7th - 11th
Students research and role play positions in the House of Commons and explore the Parliamentary process.
Lesson Plan
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Abolition/Social Reform PowerPoint Presentations Lesson

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Learners, in groups, is choose a research topic from a list imbedded in this plan. They are given two class periods to collect and organize information on their topic and create a PowerPoint presentation to give to the class.
Lesson Plan
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Photographing War

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Students examine the role of Matthew Brady photographing the Civil War and compare it with the role of photographers embedded in the War in Iraq.
Lesson Plan
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The Sound of History: Conducting an Oral Interview

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students conduct an oral interview with a person from their local community. They conduct research, write interview questions, conduct the interview, and identify the subject matter using headings and subheadings.
Lesson Plan
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Question Period - simulation

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explain the roles of the people who work in the House of Commons by watching a video of Question Period. They act out a mock Question Period.
Lesson Plan
National First Ladies' Library

A Blessing in Disguise

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Young scholars study the history of polio as well as a history of modern medicine, the history of alternative medicine and the role of the scientific method in each of these histories. They review the scientific method and research...
Lesson Plan
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Media and War

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Young scholars investigate how written media and word of mouth helped foment rebellion during the Revolutionary War. They compare and contrast that with the role of the news media in the war in Iraq focusing on cause and effect...
Lesson Plan
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Pic-A-Fic: Choosing Fiction for Every Taste

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders examine and categorize a selection of title representing fiction genres. In this fiction genres lesson, 6th graders analyze and identify a variety of titles in the fiction genre. Students then find these types of fiction...
Lesson Plan
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Media Literacy: Discovering and Understanding Propaganda

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders study different types of propaganda and select an issue that is significant to them.  In this exploratory lesson students design and create posters on the topic of their choice and write a narrative describing it. 
Lesson Plan
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Additions Incorporated

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students fill out a graphic organizer to prewrite about additions they would make to a school building. In this writing lesson plan, students do this as a start to a persuasive paper.
Lesson Plan
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Alphabet Animals

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders create an encyclopedia of unusual animals, using a variety of resources to collect their information. Each student illustrates an animal and provides a brief description for each letter of the alphabet. A very nice,...
Lesson Plan
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Rosa Parks

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore the life and works of Rosa Parks. In this Civil Rights instructional activity, students consider Rosa Parks' work as a philanthropist. Students then write a letter to someone that they admire for making a difference.
Lesson Plan
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Genetic Engineering

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students discuss the risks and benefits associated with biotechnology. For this biotechnology lesson, students discuss the role of genes in the body and brainstorm ethical issues relating to biotechnology. They read about an ethical...
Lesson Plan
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African Novel Study

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders participate in literature circles as they read African novels. They read, work on word studies, and complete comprehension activities. They share their reading with other literature circle groups in the class.
Lesson Plan
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Habitat Happenings

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students examine the characteristics of the Prairie Creek Habitat in Illinois. In groups, they travel between various stations writing haikus and reading brochures. They identify what occurs in each habitat and identify the animals...