Curated OER
Secret Writing Devices
Elementary and middle schoolers explore the world of secret writing, otherwise known as cryptography. After an interesting introduction to the activity, learners utilize a decoder badge which uses the St. Cyr cipher - which is a cipher...
Curated OER
Quick Button Art
Here is another in this fabulous series of art lessons I've been reviewing! Artists of all ages design a wearable piece of artwork using special buttons that have a clear, removable top to them. All sorts of creative ideas are presented...
Curated OER
Domestic Violence and Teen Dating
It is important for students to have a safe place to discuss domestic violence, dating, and abuse. This discussion-based instructional activity provides upper graders with a list of warning signs for abuse, community resources, and ways...
Curated OER
Blogging to Create a Community of Writers #1: Setting Up the Blog
Writer's workshop is an idea that's been around for years. Students write, read, and comment on each others writing in an authentic and thoughtful way. Here is a 21st century twist, 6th graders will use the class blog to create a...
Curated OER
Quarter Conservation
Here is another in the interesting series of lessons that use the special State Quarters as a learning tool. This one uses the California State Quarter. During this lesson, pupils learn the many ways they can conserve natural resources...
Curated OER
A Whale of Importance to the Arctic People
The bowhead whale of the Arctic region is of great importance to the people that live there. Your class will brainstorm all they know about this wonderful whale and create an informational video, which they will share with the children...
Curated OER
"The Soil Around Us" Project
Young geographers collect samples of different kinds of soil to match to the soil terms in Barry Rudner's rhyming book Filet of Soil: dirt, mud, dust, soot, etc. They start a glossary for the project on index cards or large sheets...
Perkins School for the Blind
Creating a 3-D Model of a Plant Life
Instructing blind or visually impaired learners means you need to make symbolic tactile representations of various processes to provide as much input as possible. But wouldn't it be even better to have your learners make the models...
Curated OER
The Five Senses
Study various objects and help kindergarteners use their five senses to classify the objects. They are presented with various objects and then use their five senses to sort and classify the objects. Then they use a Visual Ranking Tool to...
Curated OER
Exploitation, Day 1: Touching
Developmentally Disabled students need to know they types of touch, appropriate touching, and their personal rights. They brainstorm types of touch, go over their personal rights, and discuss social skills. Very appropriate lesson for...
Curated OER
Resources & Review, Day 1: Resources
Prepare your secondary special ed class for a life of independence. Part of independent living is knowing how to ask for help and where to go. They review the times they need help, the type of community resources available, and practice...
Curated OER
STD & HIV/AIDS, Day 2: HIV/AIDS - Staying Safe
Decrease risky behavior and inform your secondary Special Ed class about AIDS/HIV. They talk about germs, AIDS, transmission, and staying safe. Developmentally disabled individuals need to be informed about safe sex and disease...
Curated OER
Assistive Technology
Students engage in a lesson that is concerned with the use of technology in order to help students with special needs. They take part in a lesson that is designed to help a specific student with an Individual Education Plan and focus...
Curated OER
Lesson 5- Symme "trees": Understanding Same
Pairs of socks can be the same and they can be different. Use socks to emphasise the meanings of the words same and different. Your special ed class will examine each pair of socks you provide to determine if they are the same or...
King Country
Lesson 27: Resources & Review - Day 1: Resources
To conclude a unit on family life and sexual health (FLASH), class members use the skills they have practiced in previous lessons to develop strategies for getting information or help when they need it.
Curated OER
Reproduction, Day 4: Sexual Decision-Making
Every human has the need for affection. This lesson teaches mild to moderately disabled secondary learners to make good choices regarding sexual contact. The lesson is developmentally and age appropriate and covers topics such as sexual...
Curated OER
Lesson 23: Reproduction - Day 5: Birth Control
Students with mild to moderate disabilities discuss human reproduction and the importance of preventing pregnancy. They review reproductive anatomy, sexual decision making, and what birth control is. The lesson plan concludes with a...
Curated OER
Private & Public
Some disabled students have a difficulty understanding what is and what is not publicly appropriate behavior. Help them build healthy social skills by defining public and private behaviors, labeling public and private places, and...
Alabama Learning Exchange
The Four Seasons
Students who are special needs and early elementary students study facts about the four seasons. They listen to read aloud books about each season before completing associated graphic organizers. They illustrate pocket books to hold all...
Curated OER
Classroom Ecosystems: Windows on our Environment
Learners in a special education classroom examine their relationship with the environment. As a class, they examine the concept of a web of life and create their own classroom ecosystem. In groups, they record their observations and...
Curated OER
Organization and Study Skills
Students with special needs utilize organizational skills such as what supplies to bring to class, how to use an assignment notebook, and how long it takes to complete an assignment. They become more independent students, become more...
Curated OER
Connecting Letters and Memory
Elementary learners with mild to moderate mental disabilities use a variety of tools to connect letter sounds to images. They use flash cards, posters, and writing while saying to connect letter image to phonemic equivalent. Then, they...
Curated OER
Astronomy and the Cold War: How the United States Used the Moon to Target the Soviet Union
Students examine how astronomical observations were used to help target sites in the Soviet Union during Cold War and why such targeting was needed. Students then make predictions and observations of same astronomical events for their...
Curated OER
Chemistry Day With Glitter Wands
First graders observe examples of the three states of matter and identify matter in each of the three states. They make glitter wands to remind them of the three states of matter: solid, liquid and gas. Pupils brainstorm and record...