Curated OER
Using Social Studies in Five Shared Reading Lessons: Geography
After several short 15-minute mini-lessons, your learners will gain an understanding of the characteristics of a non-fiction text. Using the book Map It by Elspeth Leacock, your class will become acquainted with non-fiction terms...
Curated OER
Lesson Plan - The Barbara Frietchie Story – Fact or Fiction?
Learners differentiate between fact and legend. In this Barbara Freitchie lesson, students read poetry and non-fiction accounts regarding the story of Freitchie. Learners analyze the story of the American patriot to determine how much of...
Curated OER
Rachel's Life is in a Hole
Explore how lack of access to water impacts peoples' lives in poor countries. Through text reading and discussion, middle schoolers are presented with the story of a young girl who lives and functions with limited water resources. They...
Curated OER
The Seeds We Need
Learners apply word analysis skills to recognize new words, identify genres of fiction and nonfiction, and identify important themes and topics. They explore differences in plants, flowers, and vegetables. A book bag full of activities...
Teaching Tolerance
Community Newsletter
What does it take to develop and publish a newsletter? Young academics create a newsletter with original artwork for their school or community. They explore social justice themes and spread messages of tolerance and inclusion. Scholars...
Curated OER
Johnny Appleseed or John Chapman: Which Character is Your Favorite?
Learners study the life of John Chapman and compare it with the fictional character, Johnny Appleseed. Students listen to books about Johnny Appleseed, and watch a video and PowerPoint if available. They make a KWL chart, make an online...
Curated OER
Introducing Working Animals
Students identify ways humans and animals work together. In this animal welfare lesson, students read the text Hanni and Beth: Safe and Sound and define the term "working animals." Students investigate working animals by visiting various...
Curated OER
Immigration to the United States
Students discover the implications of immigration. In this immigration lesson, students read fiction based on immigration experiences as well as non-fiction on the topic. Students write and share book reviews of the literature they read.
Curated OER
Researching the Past
Learners research the western movement in order to learn note taking strategies with nonfiction texts. They use the Internet to search for important information about the western movement using the Cornell Notes note-taking system. They...
Curated OER
Latin American Film
Students explore the Latin American film industry. In this Latin American film lesson plan, students compare Latin American films to American films as they watch segments of "Que Viva Mexico!" Students research the painters on the film...
Curated OER
Video Boxes
Students create a video box about a Central American country. In this world history instructional activity, student research Central America and pick a country they want to investigate. They work in groups to create a video box that...
Curated OER
Abigail Adams: Integrating Social Studies and Language Arts
Third graders increase reading strategies while learning about Abigail Adams and her role in history. In this Abigail Adams lesson, 3rd graders read about the American Revolution and Abigail Adams using all the balanced literacy...
Curated OER
George Washington
First graders gain background knowledge about George Washington. They visit a website to find out additional information. Students create a web on chart paper of his important events, write a non fiction book about hima nd share their...
Curated OER
Novel Guide for My Brother Sam is Dead
Fifth graders explore the effects of war. In this American Revolution lesson, 5th graders read My Brother Sam is Dead and complete the provided comprehension, characterization, and vocabulary activities
Curated OER
Celebrate A People!
Young scholars explore African-American students literature as an integral building block in empowering all young scholars to a better awareness when reading and writing. They use as a productive Social Studies tool for overall...
Curated OER
Trouble in the Fields: Mexican Migrant Workers
Students become curators and museum reviewers for an online gallery using a selected group of primary sources on Mexican migrant workers. They share and reflect on their own and each other's ideas though participation in an on-line...
Curated OER
What Do We Owe To Thoreau?
Students use this design as an electronic reading and writing guide to Henry David Thoreau's famous essay, "On Civil Disobedience." They use activities to familiarize students with the political issues of Thoreau's time. Comprehension...
Curated OER
Animal Artists
Students read a current events non-fiction article and answer vocabulary and comprehension questions about it. In this animal artists paint for fun lesson plan, students also work on dictionary skills, geography, and creative thinking by...
Curated OER
Human Migration
Students explore human migration, refugees and human rights. They read articles about immigration, create a migration journal, and participate in a mock human rights commission meeting. After collecting information about immigration,...
Curated OER
Primate Primer
Young scholars examine the different branches of the primate family tree. They create fact cards about various species of non-human primates and then write fictional skits about interactions among the different primates.
Curated OER
Hiragana - Perfect ~ Writing a Japanese Pictionary
Students listen to a story and view Japanese artifacts. They use the internet to explore the writings known as Hiragana. They create their own Japanese pictionaries and share them with the class.
Curated OER
Famous Peacemakers ~ Creating a Declaration of Peace
Students read about famous peacemakers and identify their characteristics. They reseach a peacemaker they are interested in. They create a Declaration of Peace to share with the community.
Curated OER
Abraham Lincoln
First graders explore famous people in America. They read and discuss a story about Abraham Lincoln. After the class discussion, 1st graders create a web of important events in the life of Abraham Lincoln. Finally, students write...
Curated OER
The Civil War Through a Child's Eyes
Pupils focus upon the Civil War era using research methods of drawing information from primary sources. Literature and photographic images reflect, communicate, and influence human perspectives of historical events. The lesson helps...