Curated OER
A Day in the Life of a World War II Soldier Webquest
Students complete a web-quest into a day in the life of a World War II soldier. In this webquest lesson, students investigate what life was like for soldiers on the front lines during the second World War. They use note taking skills...
Curated OER
A Case Study of Racial Prejudice and Discrimination
Students participate in a simulated form of discrimination as they divide into groups of blue-eyed and non-blue-eyed students. They reflect on their experiences during the role-play and compare their observations to the former system of...
Curated OER
Using Blogs in a History Classroom
Students blog their way through history. In this historical perspectives lesson, students use teacher-created blogs to log their impressions and opinions regarding the historical events they are studying. Steps are included for setting...
Curated OER
Follow the Drinking Gourd
Students, after assessing a valuable history lesson, create an amazing and very personalized quilt. They explore how individuals helping the slaves escape to freedom, hung a quilt on their front porch to let the slaves know that the...
Curated OER
Character Education Podcasts
Students study character traits. In this character education lesson plan, students create podcasts highlighting a particular character trait. Students broadcast one podcast per week.
Curated OER
Pick a Topic, Any Topic
Students investigate the expedition of Lewis and Clarke. In this United States history lesson, students choose a topic from the story to explore, such as the Missouri River, Sacagawea, and dugout canoes. The teacher creates a web on the...
Curated OER
Busting the Prairie: Planning a Homestead Community
Students research, design and advertise a homestead community. This is an extensive lesson with a variety of ativities and learning experiences.
Curated OER
Life of a Logger
Students are introduced to the work and lives of 19th century lumberjacks through a living history slide show presentation. They compare and contrast life 150 years ago with the present. Students describe the history of logging in...
Curated OER
Sixth Grade is a Ball!
Students discuss the responsibilities of advancing in grade and participating in more activities. In this grade transition lesson, students watch a 'ball juggling' demonstration to visually identify the responsibilities they have as...
Curated OER
We Have a Dream
Students work as partners to study Dr. Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech. In this African American history lesson, students work with their cross-grade partner to study, understand, and memorize the speech. Students meet with...
Curated OER
Spread the Word!
Learners review what they have learned about community service, philanthropy, prejudice and racism in previous lessons. They design a lesson or service learning experience that can be given to and implemented by elementary school students.
Curated OER
Looking Beyond First Impressions: King Day
Students explore the concept of philanthropy. In this service learning lesson, students participate in class discussion and complete a writing prompt regarding prejudice.
James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation
A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words
This exercise on the Constitution requires small groups to design a visual metaphor that expresses the concept behind one of seven principles: popular sovereignty, federalism, republicanism, separation of powers, checks and balances,...
Curated OER
Electronic Survey Activity
Fifth graders conduct a class survey and share the results with a class in another state via an electronic bulletin board. This technology-rich lesson is an ideal way to have learners practice communicating with others through the use of...
National Park Service
News Bearly Fit to Print
There are an average of three human fatalities by bears in North America every year, which is low when you compare it to the 26 killed by dogs and the 90 killed by lightning annually. The lesson encourages researching human-bear...
Curated OER
Biography Report- Learning Microsoft Word
Students learn how to use Microsoft Word. For this biography lesson, students participate in mini-lessons on key features of Microsoft Word and then use it to write a multi-part biography report.
Curated OER
Learning About Colonial Times
Students research Colonial America. In this Colonial Times lesson, students view the PBS Colonial House Interactivewebsite and create a timeline of important events during the Colonial period. Students print and share their timelines.
EduGAINs
Go Eco! Ecosystems
How is a movie theater like a desert biome? Compare systems to ecosystems with a set of activities that focuses on accessing multiple intelligences and building upon knowledge. As learners discuss the ways elements of an ecosystem depend...
Curated OER
You've Gotta Have a Gimmick!: A Lesson in Junk Food Advertising
Young scholars examine marketing techniques used in television and magazine snack food ads. They analyze and discuss Internet kids clubs, complete various handouts that examine ads for food, and create a commercial for a food product.
Social Skills Central
Photo Cartoons: How To Give A Compliment
Help learners develop the ability to offer appropriate, meaningful compliments to others—an essential social skill. Here you'll find a quick photo cartoon illustrating a right and wrong way to give a compliment, as well as a brief...
Curated OER
Music from Across America
Learners complete a unit of lessons on a variety of types of American music. They record their impressions of music samples on a worksheet, identify types of instruments, and choose a musical selection for their family to respond to.
Learning to Give
Why Volunteer?
Inspire scholars to volunteer their time to make a positive change in their community. With help from research, a public speaker, and reflection, learners define and asses what it takes to be a volunteer in a business, non-profit,...
Learning to Give
Create a Volunteer Spirit
Motivate young citizens to make a positive difference through volunteering. Scholars examine the local and school community to discover ways the class, as a whole, can volunteer their time to help one or the other, then reflect on their...
iCivics
Sortify: U.S. Citizenship
What is the difference between a right and a responsibility? Scholars consider the question while sorting characteristics of citizenship into buckets using a video game. After playing, class members see how effectively they sorted the...