Curated OER
An Introduction to Classification
Sixth graders explore, analyze and study the history of classification systems and the scientific processes that influenced modern classification methods. They evaluate why classification and binomial nomenclature are necessary to the...
Curated OER
Venn Diagram and Shape Sorting Lesson Plan
Students use Venn diagrams to represent classifications of shapes and to use counting arguments to find the number of objects in a given set.
Curated OER
Seaside Science
Students research sea life using laptop computers. In this sea life lesson, students participate in a field trip to the beach and enter observations into their laptop computers. Students classify shells and sea life.
Habits of Mind
Haileybury Habits of Mind Learning Resource Book
Imagine a learning community committed to using Costa and Kallick's Habits of Mind as the basis of curriculum design. The resource book is packed with lessons that are designed for and identify the standards and...
Curated OER
Big Cat Classification
First graders discover the different names and classifications of big cats by using word processing applications. In this animal life lesson, 1st graders investigate one big cat and create a database of facts about it using an word...
Curated OER
The Beluga Whale, Otters
In these internet activity worksheets, students complete research related to the Beluga Whale and otters. Student are able to answer questions by following directions to help them navigate around a website.
Curated OER
Internet Versus Daily Newspapers
Seventh graders address a series of questions based on Bloom's Taxonomy. Students find a position to be formulated and defended, specifically the Internet newspaper or the traditional daily newspaper. Students create a five card...
Curated OER
Digital Leaf collections
Seventh graders collect and classify leaves. In this digital leaf collection lesson, 7th graders photograph approximately 20 leaves. Students use their leaves in a multimedia presentation and create hyperlinks to identify the...
Curated OER
The World of Insects and Spiders
Students identify numerous insects and their body parts. In this insect life lesson, students practice using scientific vocabulary while comparing the different parts of spiders and insects. Students view several videos...
Curated OER
Insects A-Z!
Alphabet insects! Who has ever heard of such a thing? Get ready because your class is going to research insects that start with a specific letter of the alphabet. In small groups, they'll use the Internet and reference texts to locate...
Curated OER
Video Game Violence: Explore Possible Impacts
Introduce middle schoolers to the issue of video game violence with a multifaceted approach. Learners complete a gaming survey, as well as read and discuss a news feature about violent video game sales and a handout on stimulus...
Curated OER
Arthur Meets the President
Students listen to Arthur Meets the President and participate in Internet activities. In this Arthur Meets the President lesson plan, students become familiar with the work of the President. Students create a KWL about the...
Curated OER
Making Big Cats' Web Pages
Students investigate the lives of big cats by creating a website. In this web design lesson, students examine web authoring software in pairs as they read books on big cats. Students share their web page creations with the...
Curated OER
Arthur's Birthday
Students investigate birthdays. In this literacy cross curriculum lesson, students listen to the book Arthur's Birthday by Marc Brown. Students re-read the book orally, graph birthdays, design a word search, and create...
Curated OER
Arthur's Thanksgiving
Students investigate Thanksgiving by reading a children's book. In this holiday lesson, students read Arthur's Thanksgiving by Marc Brown and create a turkey fact book after reading an electronic encyclopedia. Students bring...
Curated OER
Human Impacts on Sharks: Developing an Essay Through Peer-Review on a Discussion Board
Students develop a paper topic (in this case, the human impacts on sharks) that is peer reviewed by additional students answering guided questions. The original student must respond to the comments by the fellow classmates. All of the...
Curated OER
Using GLOBE Data to Study the Earth System (College Level)
Students use the GLOBE Website to locate and study environmental data. They use the GLOBE Graphing Tool to display data. Students describe the role of solar energy in the annual fluctuations of soil moisture. They describe reservoirs and...
Curated OER
Creating a Bibliography
Third graders review the basic structure of a bilbliography and its importance in writing. They create a bibliography of materials used to complete a written report, and power point slide show and use the computer lab to create a final...
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: Problem Based Learning (Pbl) and Socratic Questioning
Part of a teacher workshop called "Making Civics Real," this section explains how to use questioning, especially Socratic questioning, in problem-based learning. For those not used to employing the Socratic method, the "Taxonomy of...
Other
Critical and Creative Thinking Bloom's Taxonomy
A simple site that gives concise definitions to critical thinking and creative thinking. Included are links to more resources about these thinking processes.
Other
Loughborough Univ.: Young Children's Problem Solving in Design and Technology
This 1997 article from the Journal of Design & Technology Education at Loughborough University in the UK looked at the problem-solving strategies young children use in design and technology tasks, both independently and when working...
University of California
University of Cal: Critical Thinking in an Online World
This article discusses why and how to encourage the development of critical thinking skills for students conducting research on the Web. The author even presents an overview of a project that you could adapt to your class.
Duke University
Dule Univ.: Enhancing Critical Thinking Skills in Children: Tips for Parents
Here is a well-written article that provides tips for parents to help them enhance critical thinking skills in their children.
Other
Learning Enrichment:reading Skills in the Social Studies
Discussion of the critical reading skills needed in Social Studies, although the skills discussed can apply to a variety of areas. This is part of a larger site containing numerous lesson plans for Social Studies, and this page is really...