Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Once Upon a Time: Writing Stories about Reading

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students read a New York Times article to examine strong first person voice in essays about reading. They write their own first person essays about some aspect of reading, participate in peer review, and re-writing.
Worksheet
Student Handouts

A Society in Transition

For Students 9th - 12th
Cover the 1980s in your class with a brief informational text and seven related questions. The one-page reading passage includes general information about jobs and skills, population patterns, and the AIDS epidemic. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Are You For Real?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students try to find newspaper and magazine articles that are informative or persuasive. They practice determining the differences between the two types of articles. They identify the devices authors use to persuade the audience.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Life of a President

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine the life of President Gerald R. Ford. After reading an article, they discuss his legacy. They collect articles written during his time in office and examine the key issues of his presidency. They write an article about...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Don't Touch That Dial!

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore the affects, both positive and negative, that television has had on society in the past half-century. They read the article "Inside the Soap Opera of Television's Early Days."
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Visualizing School Equity

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine how school segregation is affected by funding gaps. In this equity lesson,students read the article, "Crossing the Gap." Students analyze funding gaps between schools. Students understand that every students is...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Giver: K-W-H-L Strategy

For Teachers 4th - 8th Standards
Explore the theme of release and death in Lois Lowry's The Giver with a K-W-H-L chart. After noting what they already know, kids come up with a list of questions about topics that they would like to know about, as well as how they...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Outline It!

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders investigate how outlining can aid in comprehending text. In this reading comprehension lesson, 4th graders outline an article they read in groups of two. Students take turns reading the article, identifying the main idea,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Different World?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students share their opinions in a brainstorming session on the factors that contribute to their quality of life. They read the article "Life Is Better; It Isn't Better. Which Is It?," from the NY Times and discuss the article as a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Teen Scene

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine what teenagers value most, and discuss the trend of decadent sixteenth birthday parties. They read an article, analyze forms of teen-focused media, and create a visual presentation on their media analysis.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Master in Training

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students identify and examine their own areas of expertise. After reading an article, they discuss the evolution of three opera high school students. They create a timeline collage showing their mastery of their field of interest and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Some Simple Rules to Sum it Up!

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students observe and demonstrate three steps to summarize text. They read and discuss the three steps to summarizing, then silently read an article about dugongs from "National Geographic Kids" magazine. Students demonstrate the three...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Finding Political Answers

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students discuss the 2006 midterm elections. They read an article about exit polls. They create a scavenger hunt using articles of the New York Times. They write a paper about the importance of midterm elections.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Art of Speech

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students discuss President Bush's goals for his second term in office. After reading an article, they identify the major themes of his second inaugural address. In groups, they brainstorm ideas and create murals to illustrate them...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Home Sick

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students discuss where everyday aliments could be treated. After reading an article, they discuss the life of a traveling nurse and how it differs from a hospital nurse. Using the internet, they research the requirements for taking...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Winslow Homer and Water Colors

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students investigate water color paintings.  In this art history lesson, students discover Winslow Homer and his art work by reading an article.  Students solve a word search based on the article.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Fresh Start?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine the roles and responsibilities the Department of Defense holds. They read an article about the resignation of Donald Rumsfeld. They develop questions to submit to the White House about the recent changes.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Able Am I

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students read the article "Disabled Skier Designs His Way to Be a Daredevil." They discuss using the questions on the lesson plan. Students create large sized baseball cards featuring competitive, disabled athletes.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Gesture Is Worth a Thousand Words

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students share observations on the nuances of meaning in face to face and online interactions with others. After reading an article, they identify the causes and effects of internet flaming. They create their own comic strips...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exchange Students

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students discuss as a class the items they value and why. They read an article about the popularity of cellphones in Iraq. In groups, they work together to create a guide to their culture to share with others visiting their classroom....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

I Think, Therefore I See

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students participate in a memory experiment to discover how the eye works. After reading an article, they analyze a new technique which examines how the brain registers sight. They develop their own memory game and conduct trials using...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Oceans and Coasts

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Students explore the topic of marine pollution. They define key vocabulary words, list examples of marine pollution, complete a true/false handout, read an article, and participate in a class discussion.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Love To Langston

For Teachers 1st - 6th
Students complete pre reading, writing, during reading, and interdisciplinary activities for the book Love To Langston. For this reading lesson plan, students complete journal entries, go over vocabulary, answer short answer questions,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Badges of Pride

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders investigate jobs and how people identify with their job.  In this labor lesson, 5th graders create a book from illustrations of various jobs. Students read an article about labor and answer questions about the article....