University of Minnesota
Connect the Neurons!
Create a neuron frenzy as your pupils play the part of the neurons. An engaging lesson plan creates a human chain of neurons that pass cotton balls posing as neurotransmitters. Scholars learn about pre- and post-synapses as they...
iCivics
Drafting Board: Community Service
Should schools impose community service graduation requirements? In the final lesson of the Drafting Board series, learners solidify their practice of crafting an argument supported by sound reason and evidence.
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...
Curated OER
Computer Applications: Web Design Basics
Students become familiar with the workings of Windows 3.11 especially Program Manager, File Manager, and MS DOS Prompt. They open, develop, save, and copy a text file within the windows environment. They become familiar with Netscape and...
Curated OER
Reading and Responding -- Lesson 16
Fourth graders work independently or in a small group to (1) read a nonfiction selection, (2) identify the author's purpose, (3) distinguish informational text from narrative text, (4) skim and scan for facts, and (5) complete a graphic...
Curated OER
Habits: An Introduction
Second graders identify different types of habitats animals live in to have a better understanding of the world around them. They choose a habitat, draw a picture of an animal that lives there and list the unique attributes the habitat...
Curated OER
Eastern Woodland Indians
Fifth graders research the Eastern Woodland Indians in this instructional activity. They list the tribes and write a description of the physical environment. They list examples of the types of food, clothing, transportation,...
Curated OER
Behavior Adaptations
In this behavior worksheet, students review different types of behavioral adaptations including migration, hibernation, and communication. This worksheet has 10 matching and 10 true or false questions.
Curated OER
To Infinity and Beyond...Magazine of Planetary Studies
Students demonstrate their creativity by creating a magazine to express expository text. In this expository text lesson plan, students create a magazine in groups to creatively make text interesting.
Curated OER
Lesson 3: Encyclopedias
After being introduced to non-fiction texts, second graders meet a different type of non-fiction text that can help them locate factual information. They discuss and examine all of the features found in typical encyclopedias such...
Curated OER
Inferring Themes
Fifth graders practice making inferences on various types of reading material. As a class, they develop a definition of the word "theme" and discuss themes for some of their favorite stories. They use the context of the reading...
Curated OER
Shells, Shells, Shells
Students read text to determine main idea and supporting details and facts. They use the shell web links to inquire about the various types of shells. Students use Inspiration templates to make a mobile about shells.
Curated OER
How Resourceful Are You?
Pupils investigate the concept of resources. They differentiate between natural, human, and capital resources. Prior to the activity the students need to build background knowledge of goods, services, needs, and wants. They create a...
Curated OER
Identifying Quincy's Birds
Students compare a variety or bird characteristics. They identify and classify birds within their local area. Students investigate how to examine and scrutinize differences in features of organisms and understand variation in the...
Curated OER
Study Skills Assignment
Students utilize six different types of study skills as they review material for a final exam. They are graded on the exam and on the study process for the exam.
Curated OER
Lesson 1: Identifying an Author's Purpose
Different types of text are written for very different reasons. Learners discuss the differences in writing to entertain, to inform, and to persuade their audiences. They work on identifying the author's purpose by reading and charting...
Curated OER
What's the Point? A Lesson on Point of View
Fourth graders read the book, Good Dog by Alexandra Day. In this writing lesson plan, 4th graders re-write the story from a chosen character's point of view. This lesson plan can be used with many other wordless picture books.
Curated OER
Dogs vs. Cats: Pet Ownership Essay
Students analyze patterns of organization used in writing to determine how and when comparisons and contrasts can be effectively utilized to identify similarities and differences or pros and cons.
Curated OER
Plant Growth
Students role play as text book creators by designing an animation showing plant growth from seed to maturity. They incorporate things that plants need to grow in the animation.
Curated OER
Viewing Bateria
High schoolers use microscopes to observe E. coli bacateria on prepared slides and in a live culture. They use micro-slide viewers to observe the shapes of various bacteria and the structures within the bacterial cell. Students make an...
Curated OER
Getting a Driver's License
Students identify requirements to obtain a driver's license. They describe study and test taking strategies. Students describe reading material. They organize information using restatement and questioning techniques.
Curated OER
Exploring the Poetry of Pablo Nueruda
Students read selected poems by Pablo Neruda. They also read short biographies of the author online to gain a better knowledge of the types of adversity Neruda faced throughout his lifetime. They begin to explore the concept of imagery...
Curated OER
Evaluate the Main Characters? Problem-Solving Processes
High schoolers read passages from several sources and evaluate the text for various criteria. In this problem solving instructional activity, students evaluate character problem solving processes after reading passages. They will use a...
Curated OER
Observing Objects
Students observe the motion of both a pendulum and a spring pendulum . They then explain the differences and the similarities between the two types of motions.