Students participate in a simulation in which they determine the town budget to help programs in their community for the young and old. In groups, they brainstorm a list of the needs of the young and old and share their thoughts on why...

Students explore artistic design by viewing video clips on the Internet. In this blanket making lesson, students view tutorial videos in which they discover the creative process in button blanket designing. Students create their designs...

Students use an interactive web-based food web game to gain familiarity with tropic levels and interactions. They already understand that in an ecosystem there are four basic tropic levels: producers, primary consumers, secondary...

Students examine what it takes to make a hero. The respond in their journals to the following prompts: What did I learn about friendship and heroism from reading and thinking about "I Had a Hero"? What did this story teach me about the...

Students discuss diversity. For this culture lesson, students talk about stereotypes and respecting other cultures, genders, and backgrounds. They come up with suggestions on how to line up in a way other than "boy/girl".

Looking to introduce some text-based questions into your ELA lessons? Practice the kinds of skills the Common Core demands with the seven text-based questions and the essay prompt provided here. Designed to be a three-day lesson, day one...

Learners compare cultures. In this needs and wants lesson, students discuss the basic necessities of life and what they need in a day in order to survive. Learners also discuss how these needs might change if they lived in another...

Using geoboards, computer programs, and hands-on manipulative materials, elementary schoolers engage in a study of two and three-dimensional geometric shapes. This lesson is chock full of good teaching ideas on the subject, and the...

After watching a short online film about a soccer player Nolusindiso Plaatje and his help with the Grassroot Soccer program, a community education effort aimed at spreading awareness about HIV/AIDS prevention, use a lesson...

Scholars write letters as if they were someone who heard the story of John Brown's raid. The resource, a standalone, covers information from primary sources that is important to West Virginian history: the Harpers Ferry Letters.

Students discuss and create a resume. They are aware of basic employability qualities. Students complete a sample job application and create a personal resume. They listen to a speaker, lecture to them about how to apply for jobs.

Learners examine the topic of bully prevention. For this character education lesson, students establish what bullying is, role play bullying scenarios, and discuss how to manage bullying incidents.

Middle schoolers explore how to build their character by respecting and appreciating various cultures. In this character education lesson, students read the book Seedfolks and answer questions based on the character's cultural...

Scholars watch two puppet dialogues illustrating negative and positive communication between friends. Then, they discuss how the puppets' communication skills influenced the outcome of each interaction. 

Teach your charges how to become responsible digital citizens with superheroes! Start out with a brief class discussion about what acting safely, responsibly, and respectfully looks like. Next, have each pupil create their own digital...

Mean girls and bully packs are favorite topic for films and TV shows that focus on the destructive power of cliques. High school freshmen are asked to reflect on both the positive and negative aspects of cliques by reading a short...

While there may not be any ghostbusters in the neighborhood, there are plenty of emergency response agencies ready to give support if something is amiss. To that end, instructors invite a member of an emergency response agency to address...

Teach your special education students about cause and effect with this SMART board activity. After analyzing real-life examples of cause and effect -'What happens when you eat too much? What happens when you don't get enough sleep?"-...

Young readers bring characters to life by working in small groups to script and perform stories that contain a community concept. Detailed questions and activities are outlined for the class. Consider having your groups create...

Here is an excellent series of lessons on the Paiute Indians of Nevada. In them, learners see that the four Native Tribes of Nevada respected and depended on their natural environment. They had four distinct ways of life according to the...

What was life like for women in Colonial America? What restrictions were placed upon them and what opportunities were they afforded? A case study of Elizabeth Murray offers high schoolers a chance to investigate primary source...

If only life came with an owner's manual. Pupils assemble with their research teams to discuss which of Steve Jobs' rules to live by most resonates with them. Scholars also read informational texts in pursuit of finding the gist and...

First graders select five behaviors from a class web that promote kindness and strengthen friendships. In this random acts of kindness instructional activity, 1st graders create friendship bugs with corresponding Kindness...

Students practice hopping. In this physical education lesson, students discuss safety rules and respect for others while exercising. They practice how to hop and play Hop Freeze Tag.