Lesson Plan
Space Awareness

The Sun Compass of the Vikings

For Teachers 7th - 10th Standards
Evidence shows the Vikings likely navigated by using a simple sundial to find their course. Videos, a short story, and discussion help bring this time period to life as they study European history with a hands-on experiment. Scholars...
Lesson Plan
National History Day

Helping Life and Aiding Death: Science, Technology, and Engineering at Work during World War I

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Science, engineering, and United States history? Pupils research collections of artifacts from the Smithsonian to learn about historical scientific innovations. At the end of the lesson, they write an essay to discuss technology's...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Electricity and Magnetism: Ben Franklin and His Influence

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore electricity by examining the life of Benjamin Franklin.  In this biographical lesson, 4th graders listen to the teacher read facts of Benjamin Franklin's life and analyze his contributions to our current...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

About Life: The Photographs of Dorothea Lange Going to the Promised Land

For Teachers 8th - 12th Standards
To better understand the migrant experience during the Great Depression, pupils analyze two primary resources: photographs by Dorothea Lange and a U.S. Map that shows the Dust Bowl. They compare and contrast Lange's images to Steinbeck's...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Human Papillomavirus: Investigating the Prevention, Transmission, and Treatments of a Viral Infection

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders explore the different health risks associated with human papillomavirus. In this health science lesson, 10th graders identify different ways to prevent viral and bacterial infection. They research and develop an awareness...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Interest Survey

For Students 6th - 7th
In this science and social studies worksheet, students complete a survey about their interests. Students check each subject that they are interested in, such as killer whales, Thomas Edison, and magnets.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fossil Fuel Sources, Usage and Alternatives: What Are the Options?

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Young scholars examine the relationship between energy and the environment. In groups, they participate in experiments to discover the law of thermodynamics and the differences between potential, kinetic and mechanical forms of energy. ...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Compass Building Instructions

For Teachers 1st - 12th
Students build their own compass following a given procedure. In this technology instructional activity, students explain how a compass is used in navigation. They trace the history of its development.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Death On Board La Belle: Finding Clues from Old Bones

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students practice analyzing skeletal remains for clues by using the Internet.  For this scientific investigation lesson, students research the La Belle shipwreck using the Internet and written materials, later completing a Skeletal...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Under the Sea

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students identify and interpret that non-fiction books have features like a table of contents, a glossary, and an index, which can efficiently help them find information. They also identify how to narrow the search for information by...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Utilizing Community Resources

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students gain an understanding of scientific methods and use process skills (such as observing, classifying, and predicting) to solve a problem. They develop an understanding of the need for natural preservation.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Antarctica

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Young scholars explore why Antarctica is so important to the planet. They investigate the physical characteristics. Students create their own unique treaty of governance for Antarctica and discuss how laws are enforced in Antarctica.
Activity
American Museum of Natural History

Create Your Own Time Capsule

For Students 4th - 12th
The corona virus pandemic is indeed a historic event. A time capsule activity permits young historians to document these days of social distancing, remote learning, and quarantine by collecting artifacts that capture what their lives are...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Renaissance: Rebirth to Revolution

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders use a variety of resources to research the Middle Ages and Renaissance over a nine-week period. Working in cooperative teams, they become experts on specific topics. Students hold a Renaissance Faire and role-play as...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dorothea Lange and the Relocation of Japanese Americans

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Learners consider the relocation of Japanese Americans during World War II. In this Japanese relocation lesson, students examine photographs by Dorothea Lange, the "Pledge of Allegiance," and a US government flyer from 1942. They use...
Activity
Exploratorium

Exploratorium: Snacks

For Students 5th - 9th
Exploratorium's snacks aren't edible, but they are good! Use your science skills to discover gravity, learn about biology, do fun experiments.