Curated OER
Writing an Analytical Essay From a Supreme Court Case
Critical thinkers read a summary of a United States Supreme Court case, including important background information and the court's final decision. They form an opinion in agreement or disagreement regarding the case and then write an...
Curated OER
Market Day
Students visit their local grocery store and break into groups. Each group performs a different task while taking notes, and then returns back to the classroom to write about what they've witnessed.
Curated OER
Thermometers Rising
Third graders read a Fahrenheit thermometer from an actual thermometer. In groups, they are provided with ink pads and a thermometer stamp. They use the stamps on plain white paper and use red pencil to take the temperature readings.
Curated OER
Geography: Analyzing the Local Environment
Students, in groups, explore the school grounds and organize their findings according to the five themes of geography. They take notes and sketch the grounds. Students divide the school and grounds into regions based on use.
Curated OER
Internment of Japanese Americans
Students study the Japanese-American experience in the western United States during World War II. They view a video, "Japanese Relocation" and take notes on arguments in favor of internment. They share their notes and new vocabulary...
Curated OER
Wild Things Are Here
Students engage in a literature study for the book Where The Wild Things Are. The skill of prediction is practiced as they preview the story as a whole class. The teacher models reading fluency, pronunciation, and phonetic skills while...
Curated OER
Keyboard centers with Music You Can Read
Students play the letters provided in the format "Keyboard/Xylophone/Tone Bells" with the intention of using the "Music Only" format as skills progress. They study fingerings and chords when appropriate to skills.
Indiana University
World Literature: "One Evening in the Rainy Season" Shi Zhecun
Did you know that modern Chinese literature “grew from the psychoanalytical theory of Sigmund Freud”? Designed for a world literature class, seniors are introduced to “One Evening in the Rainy Season,” Shi Zhecun’s stream of...
Curated OER
Comparing Values: Comparisons Between Musical Notation and Money
Students identify ways in which the principles and subject matter of other disciplines taught in school, specifically math, are interrelated with those of music.
National Math + Science Initative
Introduction to Decimals
Three activities make up an introductory lesson plan designed to create a strong foundation in comparing fractions to decimals and exploring and building decimal models. Pupils brainstorm and complete a Venn diagram to show how decimals...
Curated OER
K-2: Dino-Rhythms
Second graders read rhythm notation and combine four-beat rhythms. In this rhythms lesson, 2nd graders read quarter notes, eighth notes, and quarter rests in rhythms that are written on dinosaur shapes. They clap, snap, or stamp out the...
Curated OER
Perks and Perils
Learners research the life of the first family. In this U.S. Government lesson, students take a White House quiz, read an article about the first family and write in their journals about a typical day in their lives versus what a day...
Curated OER
Following in Their Footsteps (Private-Religious)
Students serve in their community. In this community action lesson, students read "First They Came for the Jews" and discuss what happened when people didn't take ethical action. Students discuss the actions they could take to help in...
Curated OER
Following in Their Footsteps
Students explore the concept of philanthropy. In this service learning activity, students reflect upon the activity of tikkun olam as they read "First They Came for the Jews." Students plan and execute a tikkun olam project of their...
Curated OER
Elements of Fables
Students explore the attributes of fables. In this literature lesson, students read several fables and identify the moral lesson, characterization, and figurative language in each. Students then retell their favorite fables in their own...
Curated OER
Don't Drink To That!
Students simulate the effects of alcohol on their vision and motor skills. Then, after doing additional research on the dangers of driving while intoxicated, students create an educational activity that might convince a particular target a
Curated OER
Using Dialogue Journals in Support of Science Instruction
Students build a dialog journal within their science class. They develop written responses to questions asked by the teacher in a journal notebook. Teachers have the responsibility to read and respond to student responses.
The New York Times
A Worker's Compensation
Middle schoolers read about the history of Labor Day in a newspaper article. They discuss difficulties American employees of the past had to face, learn about labor rallies, and conduct Internet research. Part of the intention of this...
Curated OER
Biographies
Learners read a biography and discuss what defines a biography. Students choose a biography of their own interest to read and write a report about one of the people in the biography. Reports are shared with classmates.
Curated OER
A Sense of Place
Students read "Fish Tale: Falling For a Live One" from The New York Times and discuss the methods and techniques the writer uses to create a strong mental image. Students pick a place in their community they wish to write about and...
Curated OER
Current Groundwater Contamination Research
Students research the effects of groundwater pollutants on life. They name and describe 1 environmental factor that has an effect on our drinking water. Students read the Water-Groundwater and Pollution Article. They discuss and...
Curated OER
Encapsulating Moments in Time
Students look back at this year in history and evaluate important events, discoveries and people from 1998. They, in groups, create 1998: Year in Review. While 1998 has come and gone, the idea and intent for this lesson can be used now.
Curated OER
If I Could Talk Like the Animals. . .
Students read and discuss a film review of the animated movie Antz and then write a monologue from the perspective of a non-human organism.
Curated OER
Show Me the Story
Students examine the elements of a story, read a review of Chris Rock's new sitcom, "Everybody Hates Chris" and create original sitcom episodes based on their own lives.