Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Spiders Build Giant Web in Texas Park

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Learners 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, the teacher introduces the article...
Lesson Plan
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Prehistoric Discoveries

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students agree or disagree with several statements about ancient animals, then read a news article about recent prehistoric discoveries. For this earth science and current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a...
Lesson Plan
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Stamps are Making News

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students analyze the cost of mailing a letter since 1917, then read a news article about the increasing stamp price and new Star Wars stamps that will be available. For this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with...
Lesson Plan
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Planting Trees to Help the Planet

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students react to a series of statements about trees, then read a news article about the planned planning of millions of trees to celebrate Arbor Day. In this planting trees instructional activity, the teacher introduces the article with...
Lesson Plan
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Coming Soon: Sodas with Vitamins

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students react to a series of statements about sodas, then read a news article about the addition of vitamins to sodas to increase sales. In this nutrition and current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a discussion...
Lesson Plan
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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
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Turn Down Music to Save Hearing

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students participate in a informal survey of their listening habits, then read a news article about the possibility of portable music players harming kids hearing. In this current events instructional activity, the teacher introduces the...
Lesson Plan
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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. For this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with pictures of winning sculptures...
Lesson Plan
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Tricks of the Trade A Collection of Concrete Poems-for writing concrete poems

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore concrete poetry. In this lesson plan about poetry, students read A Poke in the I, by Paul B. Janeczko, and are introduced to concrete poems. Students read several different kinds of concrete poems including single-word,...
Lesson Plan
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What is a Shark?

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students discuss their knowledge of sharks. In this shark instructional activity, students read about various sharks and look up shark sightings in an online newspaper. They create Shark-shaped poetry. 
Lesson Plan
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Marvelous Mysteries

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders explore mystery stories.  For this reading and writing lesson, 5th graders complete a planning guide for an original mystery.  Students use the writing process to create a mystery story. 
Lesson Plan
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Drought Threatens Huge Man-Made Lake

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students locate Lake Mead, then read a news article about Lake Mead drying up and how that would effect water and power supplies to the region. In this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a map and vocabulary...
Lesson Plan
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Rising Temperatures Threaten Penguins

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Young scholars examine the continent of Antarctica, then read a news article about the decline in the Antarctic penguin population. In this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a discussion and vocabulary...
Lesson Plan
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Wind Provides Electricity for Homes, Schools

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students complete a KWL chart, then read a news article about the comeback of windmills. In this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a KWL chart and vocabulary activity, then students read the news report and...
Lesson Plan
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Archaeologists Reveal King Tut's Mummy

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students look at pictures of a sarcophagus, then read a news article about King Tut's mummy. In this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a discussion, pictures, and a vocabulary activity, then students read the...
Lesson Plan
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From the School House to the White House

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Learners 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 lesson, the teacher introduces the article with...