Curated OER
Barnyard Protest: Cows, Chickens & Fundamental Freedoms
Here is an ambitious and engaging lesson that should help elementary schoolers begin to develop a basic understanding of human rights. Pupils are asked to think about their own rights, the rights of others, and how an individual's voice...
Curated OER
How Current Events Affect Us
Elementary and middle schoolers research a current event using various resources. They participate in a class discussion to evaluate the information they gathered on a particular event. Additionally, they discuss the concepts of common...
Penguin Books
Core Curriculum Lesson Plans for The Lions of Little Rock
Schools in the 1950s and 60s looked very different from the schools we know today. An educator's guide explores the civil rights movement and, specifically, the process of integrating schools. Questions cover key themes in the novel and...
Orlando Shakes
The Best of Enemies
History comes to life with the play The Best of Enemie. Scholars learn literary elements as well explore racial issues in American history. The play is based on a true story and addresses the universal truth that people are capable of...
Curated OER
Candide: A Herber Readiness Activity
“Everything will end up okay if you believe hard enough.” “People create their own luck, good or bad.” Prior to reading Candide, class members respond to an anticipation guide that focuses on the issues of optimism, prejudice, and class...
Teach With Movies
Learning Guide To: Gone with the Wind
The film version of Gone with the Wind is the focus of this learning guide that asks viewers to consider some of the issues that the Southern states faced prior to and during the Civil War.
Penguin Books
An Educator’s Guide to Chraisma by Jeanne Ryan
Often, science fiction makes a lot of connections to real life. An educator's guide for the novel Charisma by Jeanne Ryan, has readers discuss many of the real-life issues that come in the text. A brief summary helps garner interest in...
Curated OER
Finding My Hat
Sixth graders explore the Korean culture through the book, Finding My Hat. They read and discuss the book in literature circles and write in response journals after each chapter. Comparing the main character to themselves, they note the...
Curated OER
"We'd Like to Thank You, Herbert Hoover"
Students examine video clips and Web sites related to relevant productions, study song lyrics, and compare and contrast actual history with Broadway history. They create lyrics for a new song based on a contemporary or historical figure...
Curated OER
The United States During World War II
Fourth graders comprehend what social and economics effect World War II on the home front of The United States, specifically in Texas. They are asked to react to rationing or a World War. Students complete the "Home Front: the United...
Curated OER
MP3-Ring Circus
Students explore the meaning of copyright and copyright issues surrounding the use of downloaded music.
Curated OER
Eyewitness to History W.W.I.
Eleventh graders take a closer look at the weapons used to fight World War I. In this World War I lesson, 11th graders complete a reading assignment, discuss it, and form research groups. Students work in the groups to create timelines...
Curated OER
Family Conflict Resolution
Students identify the issues that cause conflicts in families and determine ways to manage conflict. In this conflict resolution instructional activity, students brainstorm issues that cause conflicts. Students work in groups to find...
Curated OER
About the U.S.A.
Students research the United States and discover its different climate zones, geographical features, animal life, and various cultures. Students complete a research chart using books, encyclopedias and the internet and present their...
Curated OER
The Land of Immigrants
Students access information and data about US immigration using the Internet and other sources. They identify from research data the countries from which the largest number of immigrants to the US come from and create a database of these...
Curated OER
The Civil Rights Movement: /Compassion in Action
Students research and scope out the civil right's movement's use of nonviolent actions to achieve change and social justice. Students illustrate examples of how to use nonviolent citizenship skills. Students acquire with this activity to...
Curated OER
Tales From the Crypt
Eighth graders study the people of their community. In this Geography lesson, 8th graders research local history using maps and books. Students create a timeline of tombstones for deceased residents.
Curated OER
Exploring The Everglades
Fifth graders apply basic Internet navigation and computer skills to complete a scavenger hunt about the Everglades, after reading the book, Everglades, by Jean Craighead George.
Curated OER
Dear Mrs. Parks Teacher's Guide
Students read and respond to the book, Dear Mrs. Parks. In this African-American literature instructional activity, students read the text and examine several vocabulary words from the text. Students answer 11 discussion questions and...
Curated OER
More Simulations: Decisions, Decisions! and Flat Stanley
Students investigate the concepts related to instructing students using Flat Stanley in the Social Studies classroom. They examine the different instructional materials and are shown how to present the material to class. The focus is...
Curated OER
Wake Up King George!
Fourth graders research the conflict between the American colonies and England and write about it. In this America verses England lesson plan, 4th graders read books, watch videos, and have class discussions about this time in history...
Curated OER
Freedom
Students listen to a read aloud of Dr. Suess' Yertle the Turtle while thinking about the power struggle and oppression in the group of turtles. They note their feelings on chart paper before reviewing more books. They chose a creative...
Curated OER
The Wealth In Poverty
Students investigate the social problem of poverty. They view a film in order to create context for the lesson plan. Students evaluate different quotations about the issue. Classroom discussion is used to find the definition of being...
Curated OER
Patriots of the Revolution
Fifth graders identify causes and effects of historical events in the American Revolution. They evaluate critical issues and events that led to the American Revolution. Analyze the views and lives of people of the Revolutionary Period.