Curated OER
Multi Media "self" Presentation
Students create a three-five minute presentation that visually illustrates major aspects of the their lives. Using Movie Works software as a base, they integrate video, photography, artwork, graphic elements, and sound to produce the...
New York Historical Society
The Vietnam War: 1945-1975
Do pupils know that the Vietnam War spanned a period of 30 years? A war that long is bound to leave devastating effects. Help young historians develop a comprehensive understanding of the war through multiple units on the subject that...
Curated OER
Investigating the Countries of the World
Explore world geography by creating presentations for different countries around the world. Researchers identify many different countries on a globe and select one for which they will create a presentation. They share their research and...
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Symmetrical Masks
Fifth graders examine symmetrical and asymmetrical balance while making a mask using a variety of colored pencil and marker techniques. They use the process of revision and design as they complete their masks.
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Die Physiker: German Plays
Young scholars research the life of Friedrich Durrenmatt, a German playwright. They listen to a reading of his play "Die Physiker", define key vocabulary from the play and participate in a class discussion about important sections of the...
Curated OER
Telling the Blue Angels Story
High schoolers use the internet to research a recent Blue Angels plane crash. As a class, they list the various ways journalists list the facts of an incident and which one is most effective given different scenerios. They write a story...
Curated OER
Cornell Notes with I Tunes
Note taking is an invaluable skill and requires practice. This instructional activity incorporates the Cornell Notes format, however the plan itself could be implemented to teach any style. The basic idea here is to use university...
Curated OER
Vertical and Horizontal Lines
First graders view works from Mondrian such as "Composition with Red, Yellow and Blue" receiving explantion of the primary and secondary colors and the color wheel and vertical and horizontal lines. They glue black strips to the...
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Parts of Speech Are Fun to Teach to My Friends
Fifth graders will practice the six parts of speech. They will also create a storyboard about one part of speech. The project will create ownership of the knowledge because of the freedom to do one's own assignment.
Curated OER
Ceramic Handbuilding
Students are taught the three basic handbuilding techniques used in beginning pottery: pinch pot, coiling, and slab work. They complete 4 pieces of pottery. Students comprehend the basic pottery process from start to finish. They discuss...
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Campaign Signs and Pranksters
Students interview a selected candidate and find out his or her views on important issues and what he/she hopes to convey to voters. They write and design campaign flyers. Students create final mock-ups of the materials.
Curated OER
Come To Your Senses
Write narratives that include ideas, observations, or memories of an event or experience, and be sure to use concrete sensory details! Groups utilize a few of the famous I Spy books in order to create narratives that utilize sensory...
Curated OER
Hip-Hop: A Journalist's View
Students watch a CNN television news special about hip-hop and write a review. Using the internet, they investigate the pros and cons of the music while interviewing students on their opinions. They examine the growth of this type of...
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Zero Tolerance and Toy Guns
Seventh graders write a short reaction to the "Zero Tolerance" policy in regards to students and play guns. They read several news articles about the problems associated with the zero tolerance and students with play guns. They write a...
Curated OER
Songs of Mass and Individual Protest: USA, Jamaica, and South Africa
Students study songs of mass and individual protest. They view a video clip and discuss the song and words the protesters sing. They study the song, "We Shall Overcome" and discuss the characteristics of the song and chant and sing it....
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Rainbow Fish Drawing
First graders read the book, RAINBOW FISH and view a few pictures of different types of fish. They discuss putting certain shapes together make up objects and talk about and demonstrate straight and wavy lines, thick and thin lines....
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Bytes: A Summer Byte
Students create a collage from their own digital pictures using Adobe Photoshop Elements. Following a step-by-step instruction guide, students create a collage from pictures of their summer vacation as part of a writing assignment.
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Novel Ideas: History of the American Novel
Explore the history of the American novel in the contexts of literature and US history. How does a novel or piece of writing from a particular time showcase the mood during that historical period? After conducting research and discussing...
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Making Words
Young writers identify and generate words using the strategies of phonics on the Making Words computer program. Words are typed instead of having to use tiles or paper. Extension activities such as playing the memory game, drawing...
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Prepositions
Young readers practice using new vocabulary. They create clay animations that show examples of prepositions. They also create animated movies that help others learn the purpose of prepositions as well.
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The age of majority: How old is old enough?
Learners research on the Web and in books the "age of majority" in general and how it applies in their particular states. Explore, too, "emancipation" and whether this is another way for teens to earn additional rights. Students write a...
Curated OER
Everyone Gets a Laptop
Students view a news segment on a local school district giving every student a laptop. After viewing, they interview the school principal and discusses what he expects the outcome to be. They interview parents and students in their own...
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Rosa Parks: Mother of Civil Rights Movement
Students read an article from Time and react to the article based upon what they have studied about Rosa Parks. They find that even though Rosa is no longer alive, she still has an impact today. They focus on that impact she has and...
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Beauty Queen Heads to Iraq
Learners study about Jessica Gaulke, a beauty queen from Minnesota. She is then deployed to Iraq with the National Guard unit she is in. They have to role play her and react to what they think they would feel if they were in her shoes.