Curated OER
'No Cussing' Clubs Catching on with Kids
Students read a news article about a boy in California who wants to encourage his peers to use good language. In this current events instructional activity, the teacher introduces the article with a short rap, discussion, and vocabulary...
Curated OER
U.S. Constitution Roll Call
First graders simulate the signing of the constitution. In this American history lesson plan, 1st graders take on the roll of newspaper reporters during 1787. Students must pretend to interview signers of the constitution and create a...
Curated OER
Susan Boyle's at No. 1 - 'I Dreamed a Dream'
Students reflect on the overnight success of Susan Boyle, a contestant on "Britain's Got Talent." In this activity, students read a short history of the rise of the star, then complete numerous activities that reinforce their...
Curated OER
Paul Revere's Ride
Third graders read and discuss the selection "Paul Revere's Ride" (included with the lesson). Students imagine they live in one of the villages that Paul Revere stopped. They are awakened by his knock on the door. Students write an essay...
Curated OER
Adapting Documents for the Classroom: Equity and Access
Students examine primary sources to gain historical perspectives. In this historical analysis lesson plan, students analyze documents that their instructors have adapted to make more user-friendly. Example adapted primary documents are...
Curated OER
Constructing and Using Different Types of Sentences with Support from The Shurley Grammar Method
Students analyze parts of speech, sentence structure, and ver usage in this ten lesson unit on grammar. Through games, activities, assignments, and printed material, the concepts are supported and reinforced in a creative way.
Curated OER
Looking at Life through the Creation of Personal Metaphors
Students focus on the creation of personal metaphors, which are first illustrated in pictures and caricatures and then extended to descriptive/analytical paragraphs. They teach the lesson to others using their own personal metaphors as...
Curated OER
Code Talkers
Students investigate the Navajo code talkers contributions to World War II. They read and discuss a fact sheet, and create and decode secret messages using a Navajo code talkers' dictionary.
Curated OER
Picture This!
Students explore and generate story elements for wordless picture books. In this collaborative writing lesson plan, students review wordless picture books and write a story based on the illustrations. Students use post-it notes to...
Curated OER
Fall vs. Spring
Students compare fall and spring. In this seasonal changes lesson, students read the book Apples and Pumpkins and discuss the fall season. The students then read It's Spring and describe the spring season. As a culminating activity,...
Curated OER
Transcendentalism and Epiphany in Ray Bradbury's Dandelion Wine
Twelfth graders examine the characteristics of transcendentalism. In this transcendentalism lesson, 12th graders determine what this type of writing entails before reading a passage from, Ray Bradbury's, Dandelion Wine. They cite three...
Curated OER
Sounding Out CVCE Words
First graders explore vowels and consonants by participating in a flash card activity. In this phonetics lesson plan, 1st graders discuss the difference between short and long vowels and identify them within a story told to them by their...
Curated OER
Brainstorming Job Ideas
Learners brainstorm ideas for different kinds of jobs. From this list of ideas, each student chooses one job or career to research further. They use written resources, read a variety of texts in making their choice.
Curated OER
World War II: A Compartive Study through Literature
Students examine World War II through the use of literature. As a class, they brainstorm a list of words they relate to the war itself. In groups, they read various novels and view photographs showing the experiences of the Jews,...
Curated OER
The Declaration of War Against Japan and Just War Theory
Students examine the attack on Pearl Harbor and how it changed the history of the United States. After watching a video from "The War", they discuss the characteristics of a "just war" and identify the laws in international warfare. ...
Curated OER
Vocabulary Building: "ai" Words
In this identifying words spelled with "ai" instructional activity, students use definition clues, unscramble letters, and create sentences using the words main, hail, straight, trailer, remain, railroad, and maintenance. Students write...
Curated OER
Story Mapping A Favorite Book
First graders create a diagram of a story by using the computer program Kidspiration. In this diagramming lesson plan, 1st graders will pick a book to write about. They then will plug in story elements of the book into the computer...
Curated OER
The Journey to Civil Rights
Students explore Civil Rights. In this Civil Rights lesson plan, students read about Ruby Bridges and define the words segregation and supremacy. Students make a timeline of important events in Civil Rights and write a paragraph about...
Curated OER
My Winter Acrostic
Students create an acrostic poem about winter. In this lesson about acrostic poems, students explore acrostic poetry. Students read an acrostic poem as an example. As a class, students come up with an acrostic poem for the word "CLASS"....
Curated OER
Six Trait Writing with Jonathan Swift and Washington Irving
Fourth graders demonstrate and evaluate the six traits of writing. They read and identify good writing and bad writing, utilize a rubric to self-evaluate their own writing, participate in a Reader's Theater, and publish a class book.
Curated OER
Signature History
Students review the meaning and application of primary and secondary sources in research. They determine how researchers locate primary source documents before looking at signatures as a validating factor on many primary sources....
Curated OER
Follow the Directions
Students listen to a confusing poem about baseball. In this clear writing lesson, students write a set of directions for a game. Students rewrite their directions until they are clearly understood. Students make a game and...
Curated OER
Teaching Phonics Through Poetry
Students understand rhythm and rhyming words in poetry. In this poetry lesson, students listen to poetry and are able to find the ABAB pattern. Students recognize the "ow" sound. Students complete various activities to practice the...
Curated OER
A Holiday Card in KidPix
Students create a holiday card using computer software. In this computer card making lesson, students design an original holiday card using a variety of tools. Students navigate the software utilizing various tools.