Curated OER
The Columbian Exchange
Middle schoolers examine the process of the Columbian Exchange. In groups, they create a poster showing the good exchanged and the people affected. They note the impacts of the Exchange on the world and present their poster to the...
Curated OER
Learning from the Video Clips
Students view a wilderness video and write to explain the purpose of the video. In this wilderness video lesson plan, recognize how physical and living parts of the environment interact. Students understand how an ecosystem works.
Curated OER
The Formation and Value of Temperate Grasslands
Learners get an overview of the climate and organisms of the North American Prairie. After a lecture, and watching some videos imbedded in this plan, students compile research data on the North American Prairie.
Curated OER
Midwest States: Alphabetize
In this alphabetical order worksheet, students examine the 12 listed Midwest States in the United States and then put them into alphabetical order.
Curated OER
Lincoln Home National Historic Site: A Place of Growth and Memory
Eighth graders study the history of Lincoln's home. In this American History lesson, 8th graders examine artifacts from his home to learn about his beliefs. Students participate in a webquest on Lincoln's home.
Curated OER
Midwest States: Sentence Unscramble
In this sentence unscramble activity learning exercise, students unscramble sentences pertaining to the Midwest states as they rearrange the 12 sets of words and write them in the correct order.
Curated OER
The Secret School
Fourth graders read chapter 13 and 14 of The Secret School and answer discussion questions as they read. In this reading lesson plan, 4th graders also write a summary of what they read and go over vocabulary.
Curated OER
The Secret School
Fourth graders complete activities with the book The Secret School by AVI. In this literacy lesson, review Chapter 6 and read Chapters 7-8. They write a summary of Chapter 8.
Curated OER
The Secret School
Fourth graders complete an activity with the book The Secret School by AVI. In this literacy lesson, 4th graders finish the story and write a Haiku poem describing their favorite part of the story.
Curated OER
Aerial Photography
Eleventh graders compare the artistic values of Terry Evans' photography with LandSAT images and other images made for purely scientific, government and commercial purposes. They consider the artistic choices made in aerial photography.
Curated OER
Prairie Poetry
Ninth graders take note of the ways in which word choice, rhythm, language and narrative voice, as well as point of view in a poem can be used to evoke a time and place. They use their insights to create a poem of their own.
Curated OER
Paint the States - 50 & D.C.
Students select and research a state as an individual project and present their findings to the class. Then, they write a one page paper and create a collage or painting of their state on a mural. Finally, students create and illustrate...
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Water Pollution Demonstration
Water pollution is everywhere, and pollutants range from oil to fertilizers. Bring the concept to life by demonstrating the difficulties in getting particular pollutants out of water.
ReadWriteThink
Dear Librarian: Writing a Persuasive Letter
Everyone deserves to read a great book! Here, pupils write a persuasive letter to the school's librarian detailing their favorite story and why it should be found on the shelves. Class members' persuasive reading passages are shared with...
ReadWriteThink
Martin Luther King, Jr. and Me: Identifying with a Hero
Here, young historians compare their early lives to that of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s. They listen to a read aloud of a story by Dr. King's sister, and then write in the provided reflective journal template. Lastly, they share their...
Curated OER
How to Become a Member of Congress
Students identify requirements for becoming a U.S. Representative or a U.S. Senator, explain procedure for running for representative or senator, and create an informational brochure.
Agriculture in the Classroom
Build it Better
If you think you can do better, feel free to give it a try. Pupils learn about the work on Temple Grandin and consider ways to improve animal handling facilities. They work in groups to build models to showcase their ideas.
Curated OER
Gliding Glaciers
Glaciers are the star of the show in this Earth science lesson. In it, learners gain an understanding of how glaciers are formed, how they move, and what types of landforms they create. This lesson plan is written in the classic format,...
ClearVue
Perfect Punctuation
Using the provided "[Punctuation] Rules to Remember" young grammarians punctuate clauses, phrases, participles, and quotations in a series of worksheets.
Curated OER
Age of Enlightenment
Studnets compare example of primary documents that have shaped U.S. government and our Constitution.
Curated OER
The Rocks Under Illinois
Students examine the rock layers in Illinois. They draw the many rock layers using the Geology website. They discover the arrangement of strata of rocks.
Curated OER
At Home on the French Frontier: 1700-1800
Learners role play bartering for goods and services as the French settlers did in colonial Illinois. They start with eight household items to acquire through bartering. They have to calculate values for each object and determine the...
Curated OER
The Underground Railroad in the I and M Canal Area
Students discuss provocative statements about the Underground Railroad and form opinions. They locate and read a selection on the Internet that either supports of discredits their written opinions. They then read a speech by John Hossack.
Curated OER
Hands-On! The Invention of Writing
Students are introduced to the way writing was invented in Mesopotamia. In groups, they participate in re-creations of events that occured in a traditional Mesopotamian school. They practice writing in cuneiform script on clay using...