Curated OER
Sink or Float?
Students make and test predictions about sinking and floating, and classify objects according to whether they sink or float.
Curated OER
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...
Curated OER
Sink or Float?
Young scholars 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.,...
Curated OER
African Americans in Science
Young scholars 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...
Curated OER
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.
Curated OER
Lilting Limericks
Students discover the formula for writing limericks and use it to write their own poems.
Curated OER
Light-Capturing Cut Paper Designs
High schoolers 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...
Curated OER
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.
Curated OER
Stay Away Tooth Decay
Students 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...
Curated OER
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.
Curated OER
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.
Curated OER
Literature: Porgy and Bess
Learners 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...
Curated OER
Weightlessness
Young scholars 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.
Curated OER
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...
Curated OER
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...
Curated OER
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...
Curated OER
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...
Curated OER
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...
Curated OER
Real Food in the Classroom
Use a class garden to teach learners about real food, nutrition, and more.
Curated OER
Center Stage -- Focus on the Elderly
Students role play and identify the perspectives of senior citizens. They develop a plan on how to interact with the elderly successfully. They examine children's books on how to relate to the elderly.
Curated OER
An "Eggs"traordinary Sculpture
Eighth graders identify and categorize different types of animals which lay eggs, use a five step method for viewing and interpreting a piece of artwork, and use an indirect method to find the mass of a large object.
Curated OER
Why Burn Books?
Students identify the role of free speech in the selection of library books. They choose one banned book to read and evaluate the reason for its censorship. They create an argument for or against the selection of the book.
Curated OER
The Same But Different
Fourth graders identify the characteristics of a simple physical change. They describe objects by the properties of the materials from which they are made. Students discuss the different states of matter and their distinct physical...