National Endowment for the Humanities
On This Day With Lewis and Clark
Walk in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark as they discover the wonders, beauty, and dangers of the American frontier. After gaining background knowledge about Thomas Jefferson and the Louisiana Purchase, young explorers use primary...
Curated OER
The Christmas Train to Ft. Lincoln
Students solve the mysteries of why Karl Vogt and Erich Braemer were on the Christmas Train. They review the definitions of the terms constitutional, human rights, due process, discovery, and the writ of habeas corpus. They review the...
Curated OER
GeoSleuth Schoolyard
Young scholars discover that geology is something that is all around them. In groups, they participate in an activity in which they collect evidence and make observations. They solve a "murder mystery" in examining the history of a...
Curated OER
Still Life Predictions
Third graders read part of the story "Balto, the Dog Who Saved Nome". They make predictions about the story ending and identify the picture clues and textual information they used to form their predictions. They discuss the story's ending.
Curated OER
Blackwater by Conn Iggulden
Young scholars read, analyze, critique and discuss the novel, "Blackwater," by Conn Iggulden. They brainstorm and evaluate what's in a name, follow the clues to solving the mystery and explore what happened next to the main character...
Curated OER
OOOhhhh, My Toe!!!!
Learners examine the /O/ phoneme by examining words and reciting a tongue twister. They practice writing the letter 'O' on their dry erase boards. While they listen to a read aloud of "Bo and Rose" they form the /O/ with their mouths...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Faulkner's As I Lay Dying: Concluding the Novel
As I Lay Dying is a beautiful book and a wonderful vehicle for understanding, interpreting, and comparing themes. The class reads and analyzes the novel, discusses possible interpretations, and characterizations. They compare the themes...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Vengeful Verbs in Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”
It's time for pupils to read, examine, and contemplate literature to explore the difference between vivid and generic verbs. Pupils distinguish between the two types of verbs as they read the ghost scene from Shakespeare's Hamlet. They...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Faulkner's As I Lay Dying: Images of Faulkner and the South
Learners research one aspect of the life of Faulkner and the culture of the South. In this As I Lay Dying instructional activity, learners explore a webpage on Faulkner and write a summary. Learners analyze the images...
Curated OER
Lewis and Clark in Columbia River Country
Students interpret historical evidence presented in primary and secondary resources. In this research skills lesson, students research the death of Meriwether Lewis using forensic evidence presented in primary...
Curated OER
Main Idea
What could you pack for a trip if you don't know the destination? After writing a list of items they would want to bring, fourth graders learn that the "trip" is to the South Pole - revealing the need to understand all available...
Curated OER
Secondary Citizenship: The Importance of Volunteering
Eleventh graders define the word citizenship and explain what they think Dr. Langstaff meant by the question "Are you being a good citizen?" They are asked if they are active citizens. Students list acts they consider to be...
Curated OER
Writing a News Report
Students explore journalism by analyzing current events. In this news report lesson, students identify important questions to ask during an interview and discuss a fictitious news story about a missing teacher. Students read published...
Gwinnett County Public Schools
Analysis of the Tuck Everlasting and The Birchbark House Text Exemplars
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...
Curated OER
Trekking to Timbuktu: Making The Pitch to Globe Trekker - Student Version
Eleventh graders create a large poster exhibit to highlight through image and written word the most interesting aspects of each topic investigated. The topics investigated include geography, trade, early years of Timbuktu, Mansa Musa's...
Curated OER
Cave Diagram
Students examine limestone cave geology and hydology. They study cave vocabulary.
Curated OER
Allusions to Shakespeare in Popular Culture
Send your high schoolers on a scavenger hunt through popular culture (music, television, video games, movies) to find allusions to Shakespeare. They must each provide three to share with the class, and the one they present cannot have...
Curated OER
The Great Wall of China
Sixth graders watch the video "Great Wall of China". They use the template to design their own postage stamp to show something learned about the Great Wall. They determine a presumed price for the stamp in Chinese currency and ...
Curated OER
Tales of the Supernatural
High schoolers explore the origins and development of a literary genre. They investigate how shared imaginative concerns link the members of a literary period and compare works of literature from different eras.
Curated OER
The Christmas Tree
Learners recognize that the Christmas tree is one symbol of Christmas, then demonstrate their ability to identify symbols. They compare the lightstock (Christmas pyramid) with the Paradise tree and apply their knowledge about the history...
Curated OER
Hoot, the Movie And Classroom Activities Too
Pupils complete various activities for the book and movie "Hoot." They read and analyze the novel, observe wildlife in their neighborhood, and compare/contrast Henry David Thoreau with a main character in the book.
Curated OER
Multiculturalism Through African Folk Tales And Mayan Myths
Students study the myths of various African cultures and of the Mayan people. They identify unique characteristics of African myths and Mayan myths. They define and recognize the style and tone of the Mayan myths and create their own...
Curated OER
Whatever Happened to Virginia Dare?
Students determine what happened to the lost colony of Roanoke. In this colonial America instructional activity, students complete a classroom activity about Virginia Dare and write essays that address the legends of the lost colony.
Curated OER
WebQuest on 1940/1950 Harlem
Students perform a WebQuest to fin out why Harlem was an attractive place for African Americans to live. Small groups perform the research together, and report to the class.