Curated OER
What Is A Community?
Young scholars engage in a lesson which introduces the definition of a community and challenges them to explore the characteristics of their own community. This lesson uses the true story of Humphrey the Lost Whale as an illustration of...
National First Ladies' Library
A Blessing in Disguise
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...
Curated OER
Hurricane
Students use children's literature in order to investigate the concept of hurricanes and how they occur. The metaphor is used to describe a play area that is magical. They use their imaginations and write about their favorite places to...
Curated OER
Signs of Mine
In this reading and life skills instructional activity, students practice recognizing common signs that would see around town and at school. Examples are, stop signs, exit signs, etc. After a class discussion where examples are given,...
Curated OER
One Person CAN Make a Difference
Young scholars illustrate how the actions of one person can make a difference. They identify school and community issues to address and complete group projects and action plans for making changes in the school or community.
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
Literature Circles in Action
Students form cooperative groups to read, discuss, and respond to a novel. They select a novel from offered choices or by criteria given by teacher and complete a culminating project on the novel from such choices as: creating a...
Curated OER
Let the Campaign Begin
Students differentiate between positive and negative personal attributes and select a fictional character for nomination who personifies the qualities of a good leader. They use the Internet to learn about the election process and write...
Curated OER
Measuring Animal Sizes (and Relative Sizes in our Animal Environment)
Learners discover the actual size and weight of many insects and animals. In this biology lesson, students investigate animals and insects to determine their actual weight and size. In groups, learners create an animal or insect of their...
Curated OER
Gold Fever
Learners read the story Gold Fever about the Gold Rush and write journal entries as if they were miners. In this Gold Rush lesson plan, students also pull out rocks from a back, and if they pick a gold one, they have struck it rich!
Curated OER
I'm Tellin'!: Kids Bringing Folktales Alive
Students participate in a reading lesson plan that works on social and academic skills. They increase reading comprehension with direct instruction with the group reading of a folktale. Then students research their own stories to tell.
Curated OER
The Great Water Hunt
Students create a model of the land to water ratio in a large group and search for all the places water is used at their school while on a Great Water Hunt. They identify where water can be found and compare how much of world is covered...
Curated OER
Outlining Main Ideas and Details Adapted from: Expository Writing by Tara McCarthy
Students examine articles from a number of sources to determine their main ideas and details, and discuss them as a class. Using a worksheet, they practice outlining a report after watching a teacher demonstration of the outlining...
Curated OER
Planting Phil's Garden
Young scholars study how to care for plants. In this plant care lesson, students observe a plant care demonstration and examine flowers using their senses. They listen to Janet Wakefield's, What If Everybody Gave? They complete a...
Curated OER
Planting Phil's Garden
Students explore gardening. In this agriculture instructional activity, students plan and plant seeds according to the procedure modeled by a "master gardener." Flowers are distributed at a local retirement home.
Curated OER
Comparative World Mythology
After a brief review of the areas that can be selected for the project, I would discuss myths with the students, dispelling any misconceptions about mythology that the students may have. The students would then break into groups and I...
Curated OER
Building Log Cabins
Fourth graders design and create a log cabin in this lesson. They use ratios to help make dimensions of a house. They draw out how they want their house to look and gather the materials they need to complete the house. The log cabins...
Curated OER
Poetry Immersion
Students explore the genre of poetry through centers. They listen to the sound of poems being read aloud, visualize individual poems and observe and apply line breaks in poetry.
Curated OER
Sonnet Illumination
Students create presentations of digital sonnet illuminations along with sonnet research. In this Sonnet instructional activity, students view images, colors, and listen to sounds of their own choice to...
Curated OER
Directionality
Second graders discuss the cardinal directions and intermediate directions and then look at the spooky map to locate different points on the map. They answer questions about where things are located in reference to another object and...
National First Ladies' Library
Ugly Duckling: Definitions of Beauty
Pupils examine the degree to which physical appearance influences how one is viewed in society. They draw a timeline of the history of beauty and complete a visual scavenger hunt of history.
Curated OER
What is a Community?
Students explore the characteristics of their community. In this communities activity, students read Humphrey the Lost Whale: A True Story and discuss how the community came together to solve a problem. Students identify services within...
Curated OER
Stain Glass
Students study the history of stain glass. In this stain glass lesson, students select an art period and research the use of glass during that time. Students create a picture presentation of stained glass pictures from their town....
Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary
Benjamin Franklin’s Community Contributions
Students research Benjamin Franklin's community contributions. In this social studies lesson plan, students create a collage showing things they can do to improve their communities.