Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Teaching About Simple Machines

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students identify six different simple machines. They investigate the difference between the ideal and actual mechanical advantage. Students calculate the actual mechanical advantage for several simple machines.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Analyzing the Relationship between Snowpack and River Flow

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students use the Internet to research current and past snowpack levels and river gauging station readings. They determine the relationship between snowpack and river flow. They predict future river flow.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Create a World

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students combine imaginative powers with known map-making techniques to create a whole new world.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bronx Zoo

For Teachers Higher Ed
Students prepare for a field trip to the Bronx Zoo. They use maps and descriptions of animal exhibits to give and interpret directions on how to navigate the zoo. They play games, participate in pairwork and whole class discussion.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Math Really Does Connect to the Real World

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Learners listen to parent speakers who discuss how they use math in their professional or personal lives. They take notes and write business form thank you letters.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Food and Languages of the World

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders become familiar with the German pickle, part of the Christmas celebration in Germany. In this German pickle lesson, 3rd graders listen to the story of the German pickle and its significance to the German Christmas...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Molly's Pilgrim

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders explore the multi-ethnic nature of America's citizens and examine the symbolism of the Statue of Liberty. In this Molly's Pilgrim lesson, 3rd graders discuss the poem "The New Colossus," examine vocabulary words...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

AIH-5: Westward Expansion

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders research how the westward expansion affected the American Indians.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Civil War

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students explore the Civil War. Using computer technology, they create informational flash cards about the Civil War. Students use artwork to depict Civil War activities. They examine topics such as battles, leaders, tactics, prisoner of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Outdoor Classroom's for the '90s Student

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students relish in experiencing an outdoor classroom. Students sign a contract stating that they will follow the rules of the outdoor classroom. Students help to keep the outdoor classroom clean and up to date with all the needed...
Lesson Plan
Harry S. Truman Presidential Library & Museum

Using Truman Trivia as a Springboard to Research and Oral Presentation Skills

For Teachers 5th - 8th Standards
Students research Truman Library website and gather ten trivia facts. They prepare a short oral presentation on one of their questions, scoring each other on speaking and listening skills. Then they create a Truman campaign button.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tracing the History Of Food

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students explore cultural variations in food preparation. They pick a country and research dishes of cultural significance. They prepare their food and present the dish to the class creatively.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Journey to Civil Rights

For Teachers K - 1st
Students explore Civil Rights. In this Civil Rights lesson, students read about Ruby Bridges and define the words segregation and supremacy. Students make a timeline of important events in Civil Rights and write a paragraph about why the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hazardous Waste Issues in the News

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students work together to research hazardous waste in the news. They discover how large the hazardous waste issue is. They complete an experiment and discuss how the issues affect their community.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Happy Time

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders listen to stories about feelings and identify their own feelings during certain times of their lives. In this a happy time lesson, 2nd graders explore writing elements as a way to communicate with a variety of audiences...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"Night": A Study in Compassion and Courage

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students read the novel, "Night" by Elie Wiesel. Using excerpts from the novel, they complete a performance and literary technique objective. In groups, they finish handouts to give them more information on the Holocaust. They compare...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Twain: Tom Sawyer—Mythic Adventurer

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students take a closer look at archetypes. In this characterization lesson, students examine the setting and the characters of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer as they read and analyze the novel. Students consider how Twain mythically...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Telling Time Timeline

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Use the Internet and library resources to compose a telling time timeline -- a visual history of time. Students will develop research skills and gain perspective about telling time by discovering the history of clocks and time.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Learning in Cockroaches

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students make scientific observations. In this stimulus response lesson, students make observations and collect data to determine if cockroaches can learn. A secondary purpose of this lesson is to provide students with the opportunity to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Velveteen Rabbit

For Teachers 1st
First graders discuss and touch stuffed animals and a real rabbit. They complete a KWL chart about rabbits. They listen to the story The Velveteen Rabbit and discuss it. They research rabbits in the library and make a book.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A "Capital" Idea

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders prepare for a field trip to Washington, DC by researching landmark, monument, or building in Washington. They use the information in small groups to design a multimedia presentation. They include a spreadsheet that shows...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Food Chains

For Teachers 2nd
Students study food chains by creating their own slide show using KidPix. They compare information after sharing their slide shows as a whole group. As the children are watching the slide shows of their peers, they tally every time...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Supremes

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students discuss steps cases go through to reach Supreme Court, examine Bill of Rights, and rank rights in order of importance to them. Students then research Supreme Court case dealing with one of first ten amendments, and write about...
Lesson Plan
National First Ladies' Library

The Power of Images in Shaping Ideas

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners examine the role of photography in recording and sharing history. They view online photos that Life magazine has identified as changing the world, then conduct research on one of the photos. Students create and present an oral...