Curated OER
Every Vote Counts
Young scholars participate in an activity designed to increase student awareness and participation in the voting process.
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The Hobbit
Students list W.H Auden's six characteristics of a quest story. They say what is meant by a "metaphorical quest." Pupils discuss some differences between symbolism and allegory. Students indicate how Bilbo Baggins's adventures changed...
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Rivers
Middle schoolers examine how rivers are used in our modern world. They create and analyze a large class mural of a river illustrating the ways rivers are used by people and wildlife, and write an essay on how rivers should be used and why.
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The Lorax Explorations
Students read and debate the purpose of Dr. Seuss' The Lorax, analyze its story elements, and write their own The Lorax II.
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Sink or Float?
Students make and test predictions about sinking and floating, and classify objects according to whether they sink or float.
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History: An African American Cultural Celebration
Students prepare and organize a cultural celebration of African migration and immigration. Working in groups or individually, they research topics and present the information, including dance demonstrations, instrumental or vocal...
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Sink or Float?
Students will determine whether various objects sink or float in water. They do not need to explain why objects sink or float. They are rather to be encouraged to observe that the same objects will sink or float every time, i.e., that...
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African Americans in Science
Students explore the careers of prominent African Americans in science, mathematics, and technology. They use The Faces of Science: African Americans in the Sciences website, which includes profiles of past and present African Americans...
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Countering Homophobia: Feelings, Tolerance, Sexuality, Stereotypes
Students explore and discuss name-calling, feelings and myths relating to homosexuality through labeling feelings and participating in a game.
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Lilting Limericks
Students discover the formula for writing limericks and use it to write their own poems.
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Light-Capturing Cut Paper Designs
Learners create an alternating and repetitive design using at least two original designs. The cut paper design be exposed to a direct source of light (spotlight) in order to form an overall pattern with structural and tonal counterchanges.
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Roar-Shack Poetry
Students use tempera paints to create blots. They use the blots as inspiration for poetry writing by brainstorming and organizing all words they associate with the blot. They present their poetry along with their inspiration.
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Stay Away Tooth Decay
Learners discuss what is meant by good dental hygiene. They identify food and drinks that are good and bad for their teeth. They use an egg to represent their teeth and place it in a dark liquid overnight. They predict what will happen...
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Hillbilly or Appalachian: Is There A Difference?
Students examine the Appalachian region and its people. They write a journal entry, discuss the definitions of hillbilly and Appalachian, analyze cartoons and jokes, explore various websites, and develop a presentation.
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Bicycle Safety
First graders see how to operate and practice safe behavior on bicycles. They make a class chart that lists safe and unsafe behaviors when riding bicycles, then participate in a series of bike safety stations set up around the classroom.
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Literature: Porgy and Bess
Students examine the various portrayals of African-Americans in literature, focusing on the opera, Porgy and Bess. They conduct Internet research on African-American culture between the two World Wars. Students write fictional or...
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Weightlessness
Students use a coffee cup to demonstrate weightlessness. After a lecture/demo, students read an article on free-fall. They perform a simple experiment which helps them explain the concept of weightlessness.
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Biodiversity in Illinois-Pond Habitats
Second graders construct a pond habitat in the classroom using a small swimming pool partially filled with water, real cattails, a tree log adjoining, and plastic animal life appropriate to a pond setting. They examine the frog in detail...
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Places Where Women Made History
Using places can help students identify with the history-making women associated with them.
Andrews McMeel Publishing
Charlie Brown and Friends
Charles Schulz' Charlie Brown and Friends, a collection of Peanuts comic strips, provides young readers with an opportunity to engage in full-class discussions, work in groups to examine how Schulz develops his characters, and...
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Teaching Social Studies in English
Case studies, an examination of images, and readings of passages from the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child are used to spark conversations in ESL/ELD social studies classes about this highly-charged topic. Using a variety of...
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Origin of the Modern Summer Games
Where did the Olympic Summer Games originate? The class takes a look at ancient origins of modern Olympic games. They research the Olympics and write a compare and contrast essay that describes how the Olympic Games have changed since...
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El Salvador: Whose Breakfast Isn't for the Birds?
Sixth graders investigate the understanding of where coffee is grown by conducting a survey. They study the natural history of coffee and examine bird habitats in the areas where coffee is grown. They write letters to explaining the...
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Real Food in the Classroom
Use a class garden to teach learners about real food, nutrition, and more.