Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Finding Your Way Around the I & M Canal

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders utilize a map of the I&M Canal (imbedded in this plan), and perform a series of tasks. They calculate distance, find specific points of interest and solve a set of story problems about the canal.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Coin Connections

For Teachers K - 1st
Students examine the Illinois state quarter and review Lincoln and the fact that he is also on the penny. They color paper coins, identify their values, and create a money mobile. They play a Cent Sense game to practice which coins are...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Heartland

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students note how personal perceptions influence the understanding of what a region. They look at an agricultural map of what is considered to be the Heartland of the US. They read the words to George Strait's, America's Heartland to see...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

U.S. And Global Deforestation

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students analyze graph showing global deforestation, view photograph of deforestation in Brazil's interior rain forest and examine three maps showing deforestation within the United States, describe political, economic, and social...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pre-Colonial Native American Groups

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students investigate U.S. history by researching the Internet and taking a test. In this American Indian group lesson, students identify the many specific Native American tribes and their geographic locations. Students research the web...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rulers For a Day

For Teachers K - 6th
Students design and create foil coins with images that symbolize students' imaginary leadership in the ancient world. They model their coins on those made for Alexander the Great. They discuss what made him an important historical figure.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Track Your Trip

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders are shown how to read a map and identify key cities, landmarks, rivers, state boundaries, and train routes. They solve basic mathematical problems. Students reivew the componets of a map legend. They are asked to find...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Predicting the Past

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Pupils study how archaeologists record the past. They discuss archaeology and artifacts. They view a list of artifacts discovered by Marquette at the Illinois Village and answer questions regarding them. They complete a test about three...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson 22: The Great Chicago Fire Survivors

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students, in groups, create a historical fiction story of a Great Chicago Fire survivor by writing a survival narrative.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Group Research Project on Frog Habitats

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students identify and research a frog habitat in small groups and compile a report to present to the class on the physical characteristics of their frog's environment. Students create a map illustrating areas in the world where their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

CAPITALIZATION

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students write a class A,B,C book based on people and events important to the class. They use capital letters at the beginning of sentences and for proper names. They use periods at the end of sentences.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Understanding Latitude, Longitude, and Time Zones

For Teachers Higher Ed
Students take an imaginary world tour by locating cities with latitude and longitude. They plan an itinerary and calculate the time zones from which they would call home. Then they construct word problems involving travel across time zones.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Grocery Aisle Signs and Locating Items

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Students engage in lesson that is intended to help those who have mild disabilities with life skills. They focus upon the practice of shopping and finding items located in the grocery store. Students view a slideshow with different store...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

All Aboard The Campaign Train!

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore campaign politics. In this political campaign instructional activity, students investigate multimedia sources in order to examine the structure of political parties and platforms from previous presidential elections....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solving Environmental Problems

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students identify a community environmental problem and possible solutions. They analyze the connection between the problem and the solutions and the importance of it to the local community. Students then draw a picture of an...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Becoming an Adult

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students make plans for growing up. For this personal health lesson, students participate in a strategic planning session to prepare them for the challenges of adulthood. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

My Own Cultural Traditions

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students complete a worksheet on personal traditions. In this cultural traditions activity, students discuss what a cultural tradition is and why they are important to the members of the culture. Students distinguish between cultural...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dred Scott v. Sandford

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars examine the issues of slavery and due process. In this Supreme Court lesson, students examine primary documents from Dred Scott v. Sandford and discuss the implications of the decision.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Giving Directions

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
While incomplete, this lesson provides an interesting way to approach an activity on giving and following directions. Learners work in groups, using a newspaper and maps, to give each other directions to a specific location. The handouts...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson 24: The Great Chicago Fire Survivors

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students, in groups, explore the Great Chicago Fire. They decide which moment from the fire is significant and create a story corner.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What is a Watershed?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students create a classroom size model of a landscape to define the concept of a river watersheds. They spread crumbled newspapers around the floor to simulate different elevations then cover the whole landscape with a sheet. They pour...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Thanksgiving Day 1621; What Really Happened?

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders read "The Plymouth Thanksgiving Story" by Chuck Larsen. They discuss their prior knowledge of Thanksgiving history and question traditional views. They consider that there are always two or more sides to a story.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Country Mouse, City Mouse?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students recognize the characteristics of a rural area. They analyze land use to determine whether the map is of a rural (country) area or an urban (city) area.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Mormon Trail Through Iowa

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students read selections from travel diaries and create their own travel diary.  In this Mormon Trail through Iowa lesson, students discover background of the Mormon Trek of 1846 and discuss how a group may be persecuted for...