Curated OER
The Land and the Water
Third graders read "The Land and the Water," a fictional short story and an article about John F. Kennedy, Jr. and compare and contrast fictional tragedy to a non-fiction tragedy. They fill out a Venn diagram and write an essay using...
Curated OER
Grammar Football
Students explore the ruloes for the correct usage of grammar. The game of football is played by classroom teams to acquire points each time an error is corrected by a member of the team.
Curated OER
Dogs vs. Cats: Pet Ownership Essay
Students analyze patterns of organization used in writing to determine how and when comparisons and contrasts can be effectively utilized to identify similarities and differences or pros and cons.
Curated OER
Geometry and Quilting
Fourth graders combine geometry and language arts skills while examining quilt-making. After identifying the geometric shapes contained in quilts, they write stories to encompass the quilt border. Students conclude by creating and...
Curated OER
The Millennium Promise in Africa
Students compete activities related to the viewing of a documentary film. After viewing the documentary, The Dairy of Angelina Jolie and Dr. Jeffrey Sachs in Africa, students participate in a discussion of the leading factors leading to...
Curated OER
Meet the Instrument Families
Fourth graders listen to a recording of a string quartet and ask questions about what kinds of instrument they think they are listening to and describe what they think the instruments look like. Then they discuss musical ideas such as...
Curated OER
Treaties
Third graders explore Canadian history by participating in a role-playing activity. In this First Nation treaties lesson, 3rd graders identify the difficulties the Aboriginals faced when dealing with early European settlers. Students...
Curated OER
Feed Just One
Learners reflect on the life of Mother Teresa. In this character education lesson, students are introduced to Mother Teresa and how she exemplified caring for others. Learners read a short biography about her and answer questions about...
Curated OER
Daily Actings
Students view clips of Anna Deavere Smith's work. They interview people on video or audiotape to learn their lines, dialect, and syntax to assist them in theater. They create a play which emulates the people in which they interviewed.
Curated OER
Enrichment Activities - "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH"
Fifth graders read the novel "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH." They discuss the various characters in the book, and the different types of conflict that take place within the book. They also research owls and rats to make comparisons...
Curated OER
Up From The Roots
Students review prefixes and root words then complete a Root Words worksheet. An answer sheet is provided with the lesson plan.
Curated OER
Forging Freedom
Students read the story Forging Freedom by Hudson Talbott about the holocaust. In this holocaust lesson plan, students also answer discussion questions.
Curated OER
Character Education: Integrity
Eighth graders write about a quote given to them to reflect on the concept of integrity. In this integrity lesson plan, 8th graders connect personal experiences to the concept of integrity and write about it.
Curated OER
Twain: Icon and Iconoclast
Students examine work by Mark Twain in the context of pre- and post-Civil War America. In this cross curricular lesson, students gather biographical information about Twain, use a Venn diagram to compare and contrast him with...
Curated OER
Journalism Career Pathway Unit
Students explore a career in journalism while using various forms of technology; such as, distance learning via the Iowa Communications Network (ICN) and the Internet. They have the opportunity to create a final project that is based...
Curated OER
Character Education: Caring- Oprah Winfrey
Students explore celebrity philanthropy. In this character development lesson, students read an article and discuss Oprah Winfrey's involvement in several charitable organizations.
Curated OER
Character Education- Respect
Students discuss what respect means. In this character education lesson, students read the book Cynthia Ann Parker and discuss the philanthropic acts in the book. Students answer questions about the text on the provided worksheet.
Curated OER
Can You Find a Solution?
Students explore the topic of public conservation. In this Florida panthers lesson, students read a scenario about the endangered panther and collaborate to plan a way to protect the panther population. Students also participate in a...
Curated OER
Let's Put It in a Nutshell
Students practice summarizing things they have read. After reviewing the steps for reading silently and summarization, they read a chapter in the book Tuck Everlasting. Working in groups, they summarize what they have read and present...
National First Ladies' Library
Designing the Common School: The First Educational Reform
Middle schoolers perform preliminary research to explore education before public (common) education was in place. They design a public educational system of their own. Middle schoolers construct a report outlining challenges and...
Curated OER
ReQuest and Motor Imaging with My Side of the Mountain
Fifth graders read "My Side of the Mountain." They create a pantomime using vocabulary words from the story. Students create three questions about the reading. They discuss the passage they read and act out words to help them better...
Curated OER
Adjectives in Dialogue
Ninth graders use adjectives to depict setting and reveal character and incorporate adjectives into dialogue appropriate for setting.
Curated OER
Then What Happened?
Pupils read the book, Diary of a Worm, by Doreen Cronin. After answering questions, the do a variety of activities such as a "Dear Diary," "Book Report Card," and/or "Animal Mural."
Curated OER
Then What Happened?
Students complete activities about the story "Diary of a Worm", by Doreen Cronin. In this reading comprehension lesson, students make predictions and apply prior knowledge about the topic of the story. They actively listen as the book is...