Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Quality Survey: Monitoring the Sustainability of Pigeon Creek

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers research the History of Pigeon Creek (or any watershed in your area). In this environmental science lesson plan, students conduct field tests such as pH and nitrates. They collect data and compare what they collected with...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Explaining a Legend

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students explain the place of the legend of Herakles in ancient Greek life and compare ancient and modern legends in an essay.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Transportation's affect on the Growth of Cities in the United States

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders identify the major advancements that have been made in transportation throughout U.S. history (waterways, horses, steam power, railroads, automobiles, etc.) They access websites imbedded in this plan and answer questions...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

An Excursion to Cities of Mysterious Pasts

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students use the encyclopedia sources on the computer or in the library to research the historic sites and history of Mexico City. They make notes of what they find to be the most interesting for their visit. They make a large map of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Landscape Observation: How Portland Has Changed

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students read The Lorax and discuss how populations change the environment. Using given photos, students use a Venn Diagram to compare and contrast the Portland of yesterday to present day Portland. They write a comparison paper and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Community Commerce

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders explore commerce in their own community. They interview local business owners and collect data about their town. Students research the history of a local business and its daily operation. They prepare a presentation to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Thanksgiving: Traditions

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students investigate the traditions and history around Thanksgiving. They divide into groups and research specific aspects of the holiday. Students then share their findings with the rest of the class. They also complete crafts,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bats Migrate South

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students examine the life of bats in Illinois. Using the internet, they research the history of the bat in Illinois and describe the way they find prey by using echolocation. They report their findings to the class and answer any...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Tulas Race Riots

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students investigate the history of the race riots of Tulsa, Oklahoma. They describe personal experiences related to family and culture in order to make comparisons to the history that is researched. Then students report the findings to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Japanese Music

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students experience the components of Japanese dance and music through the songs, "Soran-bushi nd Hanagasa Odon." The music is presented in relation to the country's history and culture.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sing, America, Sing!

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students articulate their thoughts about citizenship in songs and poems. They write a songor a poem that describes what citizenship means to them. They plan a Citizenship Day during which students perform their songs and read their poems.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Miniature Landscapes

For Teachers 6th - 7th
Students demonstrate their knowledge of the elements of design by creating a pair of textured collages. They visually communicate the feeling of landscapes at different times of day by carefully selecting paper because of color or texture.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The True Story of Abbie Burgess

For Teachers 1st
First graders read a story from their textbooks about women in the 1850's. They discuss what it was like to be a woman living in American during this time period. They brainstorm heroines of American history and then discuss woman...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Courageous Voices that Shook the Nation to Action

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students study Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. In this Martin Luther King, Jr. day lesson, students learn about the holiday for Dr. King through literature and music. Students learn the lyrics to Stevie Wonder's 'Happy Birthday' about...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What is Child Labor?

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students examine the topic of child labor in history. They discuss jobs that children their age would have done before child labor laws. They decide on an action to take on Labor Day to share what they have learned with others.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Who's a Hoosier?

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders examine the history of Hoosiers and define what a Hoosier is. In small groups they discuss any stories they know about the word Hoosier, then brainstorm and write a story about the word Hoosier. Each group shares their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Follow Spring's Journey North Recording Highlights of the Season

For Teachers 4th - 9th
Students scan headlines on the Journey North News Updates each day to track the changes that spring brings as it comes to different areas of the United States.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

About to Explode

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore Mount St. Helens' quiet eruption of 2004-2005. They examine different types of eruptions and then present creative first-hand accounts of different volcanic eruptions in history.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Following the Stock Market With a Palm

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students research and explore the stock market. They research a three-year history of stocks, develop a group and individual spreadsheets, and follow their stocks and prices for a ten-day period, graphing the results.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The View

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore the structure and purpose of Op-Ed pieces in the newspaper. They then write Op-Eds from the perspectives of United States presidents on important issues of their day.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Kind of Reader Are You?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students write a personal reading history about how reading has influenced their lives. They identify their strengths, weaknesses, and preferences as readers through a survey. Students examine what goes on in their minds while they read...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The African-American Struggle for Equality in the World War II Era

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students respect and appreciate the challenges people faced during World War II. They develop the different perspectives on race during WWII. Students develop that the nation's actions may not exemplify a nation's stated ideals. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

My Secret War - The WWII Diary of Madeline Beck: Lesson 2

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders explore world history by reading historical fiction. In this World War II lesson, 5th graders read the story My Secret War and identify the importance of fiction when analyzing history. Students answer study questions about...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mile in My Moccasins

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore the concept of philanthropy as it is related to the Native American culture. They research the history of different symbols used to find specific examples of philanthropy in Native American culture.