Curated OER
Super Spreadsheets
Middle schoolers develop a spreadsheet containing statistical data. They describe and interpret the data to make conclusions. They review the differences between an unorganized spreadsheet verses an organized one.
Curated OER
Who's Who In America? Multicultural Achievers A to Z Past & Present
Students are introduced to important people who have made contributions to society from different cultural groups. As a class, they develop a definition for diversity and work together to make a comparison chart to discover how people...
Brain Scape
Learn About Religions
Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Taoism. The major religions of the world are the focus of a resource that uses flashcard decks to engage users in a study of the principles and practices of these belief systems.
Curated OER
Discovering Prehistoric Trails
Eighth graders examine prehistoric terrain. In this geography lesson, 8th graders discover necessary resources for settlers. Students work in small groups to create a trail crossing the state of Kansas.
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Sense-sational
Students investigate the five senses. They participate in the lesson for one week with each day devoted to one sense being sight, taste, sound, smell, and touch. They also cover the concept of being part of a global community where one...
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Should We Hunt the Largest Animals on the Planet?
Students discover details about whaling. In this environmental stewardship lesson, students research selected websites to locate information about commercial whaling and its implications.
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Rice: The Global Crop
Students understand the uniqueness of the rice plant and how it grows. Students compare rice growing in Indonesia and California, observing the steps common to the process everywhere. Students comprehend the concepts labor-intensive and...
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Clearcutting: Sustainable Forestry?
Young scholars explore the conflicts between the economy and the environment by focusing on forest management in Maine. They read pamphlets on siliviculture and clear-cutting as well as those by environmental groups then conduct a debate...
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Geography and Ecology of the Inuit
Students examine environment and ecology of the Arctic region, and explore history and traditions of the Inuit.
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Photos from the Past-Grades 5-8
Students examine and interpret historic photographs of water use in New Mexico. They match captions to the pictures as to what they think the picture depicts. They research a topic represented by their photograph and write an extended...
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Landscape Observation: How Portland Has Changed
Students read The Lorax and discuss how populations change the environment. Using given photos, students use a Venn Diagram to compare and contrast the Portland of yesterday to present day Portland. They write a comparison paper and...
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A Museum as Time Capsule
Students focus on museum artwork and artifacts as resources to study history and geography.
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Oregon Rainshadows
Students brainstorm list of possible highest locations in Oregon, identify and label places from list on map using color code, and discuss and identify causes of a rain shadow.
University of Wisconsin
Analyzing Presidential Campaign Propaganda
Campaign propaganda has evolved from 1952 through the presidential election of 2008. A social studies activity prompts class members to analyze the devices used in ads and political cartoons, noting strategies they believe would work to...
Curated OER
Cross Country Adventure
Students practice measurement and geography in this instructional activity. They build a Lego vehicle using an RCX. They predict how many seconds it will take their vehicle to reach a specific state on the United States of America map...
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The Bear Facts
Students explore various kinds of bears and gather information about them. In this research and habitats lesson, students chart their bear information on large posters with illustrations of their bears. Students map the locations where...
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Comparing Kwakiutl, Cheyenne and Navajo tribes
Third graders study the difference between the Kwakiutl, Cheyenne and Navajo tribes. They identify the people, resources, lifestyle and beliefs of the Kwakiutl, Cheyenne, and Navajo Indians. Afterward, they present their projects on each...
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Ohio Census 1990 and 2000
Students explore the Ohio census numbers in 1990 and 2000. In this social studies lesson, students use the census data to answer questions.
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Let's Look at Legends: Oregon quarter reverse
Analyzing historical legends is a fun way to develop critical-thinking skills. Pupils will use a graphic organizer to compare and contrast two historical legends relating to volcanoes. While this activity focuses on the image of Crater...
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Personalities of the Renaissance
Have the class interpret historical evidence presented in primary and secondary resources. They examine sources regarding architecture, art, exploration, government, literature, religion, and technology of the era. Then they use their...
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Power vs Truth
Students explore Italian politics and warfare of the High Renaissance. They explain the effects of the Protestant Reformation and the Counter Reformation.
Curated OER
Children in Hiding During the Holocaust
Learners examine the different ways in which children hid trying to escape the concentration camps. Using journal entries, they put themselves into the role of the children and imagine their feelings during the Holocaust. They discuss...
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Observing Weather
Students investigate the weather by reading children stories. In this weather observation instructional activity, students read Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs and several other stories about weather before they create a KWL chart....
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Probability of a Boy
Learners investigate the concept of even change by participating in a coin flip activity. They research using the Internet to investigate the chance of giving birth to a boy.