Lesson Plan
Curated OER

From the School House to the White House

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students recall visits to museums, then read a news article about a museum exhibit that shows what U.S. presidents were like during their childhood. In this U.S. history and current events instructional activity, the teacher introduces...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Construction Starts on Freedom Tower

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students are introduced to an image of Freedom Tower, then read a news article about the construction of this building that will be completed in 2011. In this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with an...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fountain Pen Makes a Comeback in Scotland

For Teachers 2nd - 12th
Young scholars read and discuss a news article about a school in Scotland that is using fountain pens to write with. They answer article comprehension questions, participate in a discussion about the importance of handwriting, write...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

New D.C. Memorial to Honor Dr. King

For Teachers 2nd - 12th
Learners read and discuss a news article about a memorial being built in honor of Dr. King in Washington D.C. They develop a list of facts about Dr. King, complete a fill-in-the blank activity, answer article comprehension questions,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Kids Build Pumpkin-Tossing Catapult

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students read a news article about the creation of a catapult that will throw pumpkins. In this current events lesson plan, the teacher introduces the article with a discussion of catapults and a vocabulary activity, then students read...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Parents Hand Out Unusual Punishments

For Teachers 2nd - 7th
Students discuss how they are disciplined at home, then read a news article about some unusual punishments given to children. In this current events instructional activity, the teacher introduces the article with a discussion and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Spiders Build Giant Web in Texas Park

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students make predictions about a photograph of a humongous spider web, then read a news article about thousands of spiders that worked together to build it. In this biology and current events lesson plan, the teacher introduces the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Prehistoric Discoveries

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Young scholars agree or disagree with several statements about ancient animals, then read a news article about recent prehistoric discoveries. In this earth science and current events instructional activity, the teacher introduces the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Shaun Ellis: Leader of the (Wolf) Pack

For Teachers 2nd - 8th
Students react to a statement about living with wolves, then read a news article about Shaun Ellis and his time living with wolves. In this current events and wolves lesson plan, the teacher introduces the article with a discussion and...
Lesson Plan
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Chips, Anyone?

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Young scholars identify how computer technology affects their lives, then read a news article about the impact of computer chips implanted under some people's skin. In this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Scientists Find 27 New Species in Caves

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Young scholars share their knowledge of creatures that live in caves, then read a news article about new cave animals that have been found in California. For this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Creative Can Sculptures Help Feed the Hungry

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students look at pictures of Canstruction sculptures, then read a news article about the construction of these canned food sculptures. In this current events lesson plan, the teacher introduces the article with pictures of winning...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Could the Solar System have Ten Planets?

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students react to statements about the solar system, then read a news article about a recently discovered object that could be another planet. In this space science and current events lesson plan, the teacher introduces the lesson plan...
Lesson Plan
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Is a Tough Smoking Law Coming to Your State?

For Teachers 2nd - 10th
Young scholars read and discuss a news article about a new anti-smoking law in Hawaii. They answer article comprehension questions, complete a fill-in-the blank activity, discuss laws that ban smoking in small groups, and create a No...
Lesson Plan
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Kids Collect LEGOs for New Orleans

For Teachers 2nd - 12th
Students read and discuss a news article about children that collected 1.5 million LEGO bricks for kids in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. They complete a fill-in-the blank activity, answer article comprehension questions, solve...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Japanese Scientists Photograph Giant Squid

For Teachers 2nd - 12th
Students read and discuss a news article about scientists capturing first-ever photos of a giant squid in its habitat. They answer comprehension questions, write a journal entry from the scientists point of view, and analyze a giant...
Lesson Plan
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Kids Get School Named for Obama

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students read about the renaming of a school for Barack Obama. In this political lesson, the teacher presents vocabulary words from the news article, then the students read the article and answer comprehension questions. Lesson includes...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pets are Popular with U.S. Presidents

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students discuss their pets and read about pets that have lived in the White House. In this current events instructional activity, the teacher introduces the article with a vocabulary activity and pet survey, then the students read the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Will Smog be a Problem at the Olympic Games?

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students locate China on a world map, then read a news article about pollution in Beijing. In this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a discussion about smog and a vocabulary activity, then students read the...
Lesson Plan
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Grocery Store Bans Plastic Bags

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students participate in the paper vs. plastic bag debate, then read a news article about one grocery store that is banning plastic bags. In this current events activity, the teacher introduces the news article with a debate and a...
Lesson Plan
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Baby Animals Debut at Zoos

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students determine the names of animal babies, then read a news article about zoo's experiencing animal births. In this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with vocabulary activities, then students read the news...
Lesson Plan
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Honeybees are Vanishing

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students decide if they agree with a series of statements about the bee population, then read a news article about the disappearance of millions of U.S. honeybees. In this biology and current events lesson plan, the teacher introduces...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Remembering Jackie Robinson

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students create a list of famous African Americans, then read a news article about Jackie Robinson. In this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a discussion and vocabulary activity, then students read the news...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Town on the Move

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Learners evaluate the moving of buildings, then read a news article about one town relocating building to save their economy. In this economics and current events instructional activity, the teacher introduces the article with a...