Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reading Puzzle

For Teachers 12th
Twelfth graders examine the elements of literature. They each read a chapter of a novel, sequentially list the main ideas, present a summary of the chapter to the class, sequence the events, and review the novel by summarizing the timeline.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How to Weigh a Car with a Tire Gauge

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young scholars calculate the weight of a motor vehicle using only a sheet of graph paper and a tire gauge. Extensions provided offer additional challenges.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Who To Believe?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students interpret meaning from opposing views on the same topic, and discuss that there is often so much "spin" and "hidden agendas" in the media.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

James and the Giant Peach

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders read James and the Giant Peach, write a chronological narrative, and complete a webquest dealing with the life of Roald Dahl.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Power of Journals: Going Beyond the Text

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders define and use new vocabulary and identify the reasons why Native Americans captured Europeans during the colonial period. They write their own journal entries about the topic and explain the importance of journals as a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Abraham Lincoln

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students brainstorm different names of presidents and reflect upon the importance of the role in government. They demonstrate a knowledge of the important events in the life of Abraham Lincoln. Students conduct research into the founding...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"Julie of the Wolves"

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders research life in Alaska and compare life there to their lives in this lesson plan. They read "Julie of the Wolves." They research through the novel and other reference books facts about the Alaskan climate and geography. ...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Inventors

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Learners brainstorm a list of inventions that have affected their lives. In groups, they use the internet to research a specific inventor and their invention. They use the information to write two paragraphs and share their information...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Biomimicry: Working Together, Cooperative Design

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore the concept of biomimicry. In this cooperative design instructional activity, students consider how cooperation is connected to nature and then collaborate to create their own cooperative designs for the future.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"Mother Earth" -- Past

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students examine our connection to the Earth. They identify how Native Americans believed in a "Mother Earth". They discover how the earth and life are connected.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water and Sanitation

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students examine water contamination problems. For this global studies lesson, students compare and contrast water sanitation issues on Malawi, Tanzania, and Ontario. Students propose solutions to the water sanitation problems.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Persuasion

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students read various stories and write reflections in their journals. Using the text, they identify the techniques the characters used in persuading the reader or other characters in the story.They rewrite a fairy tale from the villains...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Children's Literature Across the Curriculum Ideas-Polar, The Titanic Bear

For Teachers K - 5th
Learners read Polar, The Titanic Bear by Daisy Corning Stone Spedden. They complete a variety of cross-curricular activities surrounding this true story of a toy bear that survived the sinking of the Titanic. Included are reading, art,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Digital Storytelling: At-Risk Students Find Their Voices

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners use digital cameras and software to create a digital story which consists of a series of digital images paired with a narrarated soundtrack. They focus on relevant images and a presecribed sequence of steps to provide a vignette...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Global Peace Lesson Plan

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders recognize the characteristics of poetry. In this poetry lesson, 5th graders listen to poetry by Dionne Brand and discuss the meaning of the poems. Students construct their own poems and present them as an assessment.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Vishal Ramani & Shri Krupa Dance Foundation

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students study the art of Bharata Natyam Indian dance. In this Indian dance lesson plan, students read text about Indian dance Bharata Natyam dance. Students may create their own dance and a television story about the topic.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Too Many Tamales

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students investigate Mexican holiday celebrations and compare them to American Christmas holidays. They conduct a Mexican Christmas Scavenger Hunt. The lesson uses a streaming video in order to engage students in the main objectives.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Island Animals

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore the concepts of endangered animals and conservation. In this animal conservation lesson, students complete activities to investigate the endangered animals of the US Virgin Islands. Students complete multiple worksheets...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Children Are...

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers apply prior knowledge to various articles, topics, and situations.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Stories of Our Lives!

For Teachers Pre-K - K
Students write their own books based on a life experience that they have had. In this life experiences lesson plan, students practice the writing process along with illustrating their book.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Red Badge of Courage: A New Kind of Realism

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners research the Civil War and make connections between the war and the interpretation of the war in the novel The Red Badge of Courage to help them understand realism. In this Civil War recounting lesson, students complete several...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Systems Working Together

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders practice reading in the content areas (science) in order to explore the interdependence of the body systems. They answer written questions after reading.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How does it feel? Why is the Civil Rights Movement so Important?

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders study the Civil War. In this US history lesson, 5th graders simulate what life was like during the Civil War by having two groups with one group given more materials than the other group. Students then draw a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Places We Live

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students compare/contrast rural and urban communities, and view and discuss the images on the Illinois quarter. They discuss Abraham Lincoln's life, complete a chart and a Venn diagram comparing urban and rural settings, and create a...