Curated OER
Sandra Day O'Connor
No unit on important women in history would be complete without a lesson on Sandra Day O'Connor. After reading background information about the first female Supreme Court justice, middle schoolers engage in several activities addressing...
Curated OER
Looking at Illuminated Manuscripts: An Illuminated Day Planner
Students examine a book of hours to compare it with a modern day planner. In this illuminated manuscripts lesson, students analyze a book of hours example from the 16th century. Students create their own modern day illuminated calendar.
Curated OER
The Extra Place Lesson
Students take up the challenge of deciding what to do when confronted by a difficult and awkward situation. They read the story and highlight sentences or phrases that have particular meaning to them and think about and discuss a...
Curated OER
Ideal Living
Learners examine two artists Vasily Kandinsky and Marcel Breuer. In this artist analysis instructional activity, students explore the principles of Bauhaus and consider the elements of chair design. Learners identify the technique of...
Curated OER
Italian Renaissance
Fifth graders explore the Italian Rensissance in this six lessons unit. The prominent citizens, the ideas, values, art, philosophy, and literature of the are seen as a rediscovery of Ancient Greek and Roman times.
Concordia University Chicago
Peace and Plenty by George Inness
Learners will need to discuss the Civil War to truly understand the painting Peace and Plenty by George Inness. They'll analyze the painting in terms of context, style, and technique. Then, they'll experiment with light and composition...
Core Knowledge Foundation
Unit 2: The Tempest by William Shakespeare Teacher Guide
Massive storms, shipwrecks, survivors stranded on an island ruled by an aging magician, and strange creatures—Shakespeare's The Tempest appeals to today's middle schoolers. For this unit, seventh graders read selections from an...
Curated OER
Smiling Flowers Bulletin Board
Learners create paper plate flowers using basic art supplies, digital pictures of themselves, and "stems and leaves" in this Art-based lesson plan that incorporates digital technology. The lesson plan is ideal for use during the spring...
Curated OER
Folktales around the World (Middle, Reading/Writing)
Students analyze, synthesize, and use the elements of various US cultural folk tales to describe the elements of fiction in general and in folk tales specifically.
Curated OER
Sole People
Students create "sole people" using tempera paint, drawing paper, and shoe prints in this multi-level art lesson. The lesson can be combined with a brief history of the African-American inventor Jan Ernst Matzeliger, who created the...
Curated OER
Grab a Winning Book to Read on March 3
Students identify periods of history and read a news article about a librarian who wrote an award winning book. In this current events lesson plan, the teacher introduces the article with a class challenge and a vocabulary activity, then...
Curated OER
Bestiarity and Gargoyles
Students complete an art project. In this gargoyles lesson, students learn about gargoyles and other medieval architecture features and discuss their purposes. Students create their own monsters using an etching technique. This lesson...
Curated OER
Emerging Heroes
Twelfth graders define what a hero is and watch a video. In this hero instructional activity, 12th graders discuss the characteristics of a hero and list heroes and their attributes. Students read the poem Beowulf and...
Curated OER
The Reformation
Fifth graders identify key events of the Reformation. They recognize the impact of religion during the Middle Ages.
Curated OER
Songs About Age
Students discuss common attitudes about aging that are found in popular songs and how music is a means to explore attitudes about aging in this one-day lesson ideal for a middle-level general music classroom. The lesson includes a list...
Curated OER
Rice Wreaths
Students create rice and glue holiday wreaths in this Art activity ideal for the 1st or 2nd grade. The activity can be adapted for older or younger students and includes an ingredient list and step-by-step directions for siccessful...
Curated OER
Wet Chalk Drawing
Learners create original works of art using chalk, tempera paints, and paper in this art activity for elementary and middle level classrooms. The activity includes ideas for displaying or mounting finished works of chalk art in the...
Curated OER
Language Arts: Ready, Set, Write
Learn that stories have three parts by paralleling the introduction, the body and the conclusion to the life of an athlete competing in the Winter Games.
Curated OER
New Year's Hat
Students create New Year's Eve hats in this fun and safe art project for the elementary classroom. The lesson is ideal for a pre-Holiday Break activity or can be adapted to celebrate any holiday or special occasion in the classroom.
Curated OER
Kandinsky Color Studies
Young scholars study the artist Wassily Kandinsky as well as his art and and music. In this art appreciation lesson, students view a variety of Kandinsky's work and circular color studies. Young scholars relate the use of color...
Curated OER
Spring Indoors
Young scholars work cooperatively to create a spring-time bulletin board for classroom use in this excellent Art-based lesson. The lesson includes ideas and tips on how to create a successful board that looks as if it is a window to the...
Curated OER
Symbolism: Finding the Hidden Meaning In Chinese Art
Young scholars study and interpret Chinese art to find its symbolism, or the "hidden meanings" in this middle level lesson well suited for the Language Arts or Art classroom. An enrichment activity is included that allows each student to...
Time Warp Trio
The Seven Blunders of the World
Learners explore the cultures and civilizations of Mesopotamia. They take a look at the factors that shaped the region, and study the history of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, and other ancient wonders of the world. The class is divided...