Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Food in History

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners research, predict and offer solutions regarding factors that affect current or future food crops could result in economic, political or social changes.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Crater Creation

For Teachers K - 1st
Students examine the Oregon state quarter and discuss how Crater Lake was formed-geologically and according to Native American legend. They practice making predictions and identifying the beginning, middle, and end of a story.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Did the Immigrants Get to the United States?

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders search TDC database for images of immigration from other countries, maps, and diaries. They identify the challenges that immigrants had to endure to reach the United States.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cultural Exchange (Alaska)

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore the culture of Alaska. They identify the geographic location of Tlingit Indians. Students compare/contrast the culture of the Europeans and Tlingits. Students complete selected reading worksheets and provide alternative...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Great North

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students view a video about the Arctic Circle, North Pole and Northern Europe. They locate areas using a map. They create a drawing of the countries where the Inuit live.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Esperanza Rising - Anticipation Guide

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Learn about Mexican culture while simultaneously strengthening reading, writing and computer skills. In order to get the most out of Esperanza Rising, pupils should have prior knowledge of Mexican culture. Therefore, there are links to a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Secrets of the Mummies

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
How did the ancient people of Egypt preserve their dead so well that their bodies are still recognizable today? Learn the painstakingly complex process they used for preservation. Young scholars read and summarize a narrative detailing...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Did it Look Like When Europe Met America?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students view the film 'Black Robe,' which further develop students' abilities to see an event or era of history from multiple perspectives. After the movie, they utilize worksheets imbedded in this plan to write about what they've seen.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Another Side of Paradise

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Young scholars write a sequel to a book read as a class. In this culminating activity, students write a sequel to the novel This Side of Paradise by Stephen Layne. Young scholars use the epilogue to guide their writing.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Magic School bus Inside A Hurricane

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students investigate the concept of a hurricane by using the cartoon series "The Magic Schoolbus" to simulate the fantasy of traveling through a hurricane. The lesson uses a KWL graphic organizer in order to guide student inquiry and as...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What is a Tornado? How are Tornadoes Created? How are Tornadoes Measured?

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Explore the concept of tornadoes with your class. They will research what to do during tornadoes and how to measure tornadoes. Multiple resources are included.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Clever Monkey Rides Again

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students explore a West African folktale. In this folktale lesson, students read the book The Clever Monkey Rides Again and discuss the trickster characters from the tale. Students participate in a discussion about the folktale and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Child Labor in the Carolinas

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders explore child labor and how children were exploited and used in the work place. In this Industrial Revolution lesson, 5th graders research child labor by reading, looking at photographs and drawing conclusions...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Kids Get School Named for Obama

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students read about the renaming of a school for Barack Obama. In this political instructional activity, the teacher presents vocabulary words from the news article, then the students read the article and answer comprehension questions....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Magic Apple

For Teachers 1st
First graders read The Magic Apple and complete interdisciplinary activities related to the book.  In this folktale instructional activity, 1st graders answer comprehension questions, recognize and record short /i/  sound...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reaching Across Borders In Southern Africa

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students gain a greater understanding of how political borders impact human and environmental development. Then, either individually or as a class, establish a correspondence with a Peace Corps volunteer working in Africa.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Real-Life History

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students collect artifacts which are part of their family/community history. They gather at home and share in the classroom at a specified time when extra care and supervision might be provided.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Improvisational Setting - "Where are You?"

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders explore setting through improvisations.  For this theatre lesson, 2nd graders perform a variety of improvisations in different settings and chart how they established the setting in the different environments. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Under the Blood-Red Sun

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders explore U.S. history by reading an award winning book about World War II. In this Japanese internment camp lesson, 5th graders read the book Under the Blood-Red Sun and discuss the entrapment of Japanese-Americans on our...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sahara Special

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders read the book Sahara Special and participate in comprehension activities. In this realistic fiction lesson, 3rd graders create a brochure for where they live. Students have personal bags, a brown paper bag, that they fill...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Does a Butterfly Grow?

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students explore the stages of a butterfly. They read and discuss the book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, by Eric Carle. They draw a picture of their favorite part and create a graph. They write a letter to Eric Carle and observe a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Great Kapok Tree - Economic Impact of Deforestation

For Teachers K - 7th
Learners read "The Great Kapok Tree" by Lynne Cherry. They, in groups, research the economic impacts of deforestation in areas with rain forest and identify resources that humans use from the rain forest.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Letters from Rifka

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Learners read Karen Hesse's book "Letters from Rifka" and explore how it presents the experiences of a Russian immigrant to America. They research and write reports on the experiences of various immigrants from different cultures, keep...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Spain and Bullfighting

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers research Spain and bullfighting. They use the Internet and other reference materials. Spain's bullfighting festivals and activities will be used as a springboard for inspiring students to write creatively.