Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Picture This

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students explore finding facts from the Internet to create a nonfiction story. For this writing lesson, students fill out KWL charts and do internet research about the given topic of spiders. Students then create and illustrate...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Jane Goodall, Renowned Naturalist and Champion of Chimpanzees

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students study the life of Jane Goodall and how she made an impact studying chimpanzees.  In this endangered species instructional activity students write in their journals.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plants are Growing and Changing

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students explore living things. In this agriculture lesson, students read the book A Tree is a Plant and participate in an experiment to explore the patterns of change in living things. Students continue to observe the plant throughout...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Using the newspaper to learn about state and local government

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students investigate the purposes of state and local government. They categorize newspaper articles into state and local issues. Pupils summarize nonfiction text. Students given an oral presentation on a news report to the class.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Language Arts: Plotting Stories

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders read the story, "The Foolish, Timid Rabbit," as part of a unit on appearances. After reading with partners, they write their own stories that include elements about some forms of matter from their science studies. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Visualizing Jazz Scenes From the Harlem Renaissance

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Learners identify themes of selected nonfiction, fiction, poetry and art to Harlem Renaissance jazz and describe the impact of jazz on African-American literature of the Harlem Renaissance
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Gray Whales

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Explore the majestic grey whale while deepening your understanding of animal adaptations. Grey whales from head to toe are specifically designed to fit their environment. Learners will examine the ways in which the flippers, head, body,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Poet Naomi Shihab Nye

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners read and analyze poetry by Naomi Shihab Nye. They define stereotypes, view and discuss a video interview with Nye, present an oral reading of a poem, and write a persuasive letter to an author.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Very Good Facts About Very Good Books

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Young scholars identify the characteristics of fiction and non-fiction texts. In this genre study lesson, students read the books A Butterfly Alphabet Book and I Wish I Were a Butterfly. Young scholars develop a graphic organizer to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Baseball Statistics

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students read "Casey at the Bat" and then use individual player statistics (found through internet research)to determine if their players could be considered baseball "heroes". They must justify their choices for "hero" by creating...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

One * Two * Three * Story

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders explore sequencing by drawing events of a story in order.  In this sequence of events instructional activity, 2nd graders are read a story such as "The 3 Little Pigs", they recall the events from the fairy tale in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A History of Journal Writing

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students articulate their prior knowledge concerning the purposes of journal writing. They explore what function journal writing has fulfilled for various cultures and peoples. Students read and analyze various journal entries by famous...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Life Along the Trail

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore the significance of the Louisiana Purchase and the journey of Lewis and Clark's Corps of Discovery. They read to explain a new topic and write to inform readers of the historic events they explored.
Lesson Plan
National First Ladies' Library

A Crippling Cough: Tuberculosis on a Rampage

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students use problem solving skills to examine symptoms, causes, and treatment of tuberculosis in modern times and in early 1900s. Students read patient case, work in teams to diagnose illness, and conduct Internet research to confirm...
Lesson Plan
National First Ladies' Library

The Many Voices of Literature

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students discover the wealth of literature written by individuals not born in the United States. They discover the literature of individuals of multiple ethnicities born in the United States. Students compile a list of books they would...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Technologies of the Civil War

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders discover new and interesting technologies of the Civil War. In this Civil War portfolio of lessons, 5th graders analyze primary resources, develop new vocabulary, investigate websites, and create a time line of new...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tales From Around the World

For Teachers K - 4th
Students read stories. In this culture lesson, students read stories from different regions around the world. Students look for each region on the map and listen for interesting cultural details in the story. Students then discuss the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Planet Mars

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders gain knowledge about Mars and Earth. In this compare and contrast lesson, 5th graders use visual representations of the solar system to observe the characteristics of the planets. Students read fiction and nonfiction...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

George Washington's Revolutionary Journeys

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers take a closer look at historical maps. In this American Revolution lesson, students examine the provided historical maps and documents to determine the assignments that George Washington assigned to subordinates during...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Using Text Features

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders read a nonfiction story that is presented to them with graphic features, and presented to them with only the text.  In this text features lesson, 4th graders decide what the benefits of text organizers are and create...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Freedom and You

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students research the American Revolution. In this Revolutionary War lesson, students research facts about the American Revolution, write an expository essay, and peer edit for good content. The paper is suggested to be written after...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

We Like to Imagine - Animals

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students describe a pretend animal. They read "The After School Monster." Students read other books and discuss whether or not the characters are real. Students make a drawing of a pretend animal and of a real animal. They make up a...
Lesson Plan
National First Ladies' Library

Finding Treasure Island; An Exciting Escape

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students read Treasure Island. They have a choice of a number of activities associated with the novel, including writing a review of the book. Students also participate in a National Geographic High Seas Adventure, going on an Internet...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

I love penguins!

For Teachers Pre-K - 2nd
Students listen to stories and view video about penguins. In this penguins lesson, students research penguins in groups and present a report using their choice of technology or artwork presentation.