Unit Plan
Curated OER

Exploring the Dark Heart of an Obsessive Mind

For Teachers 8th
Students complete a unit of activities for "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe in part to analyze short stories, playwriting, and video production. In this Edgar Allan Poe lesson, students complete a 37 page packet of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Poems "I Feel Happy"

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders discuss various things that make him/her happy.  In this I feel happy lesson, 2nd graders express feelings in a poem.  Students reflect on the poems they have written.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Monoprints With Markers

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students make prints without a printing press. In this printmaking lesson, students make a monoprint by drawing a picture with washable markers, briefly submerging the paper under water, and pressing it onto a new sheet.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Historical Markers

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students read the "Chicago Tribute Markers of Distinction," and pick one famous person to write about. In this creative writing worksheet, students write about this person's home. Additionally, students pretend that 100 years from now, a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

First Grade, First Grade, What Do You See? (Elementary, Reading/Writing)

For Teachers 1st
First graders assist in making a list of the many things that Brown Bear saw in the story. They create an illustration of the person, place, or thing that they wrote about in their pattern sentence.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Inuit Family: A study of its history, beliefs, and images

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Learners study the Inuit in terms of their geographic location and its influence on their way of life. They investigate Inuit imagery as a reflection of their belief system and focus on the objects of the Inuit to introduce...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"Let's Write a Song"

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders analyze, brainstorm and practice playing a melody/pattern with rhythm, tempo, dynamics, and instrumental pieces of many styles. In addition, they create an original piece of music.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

CREATE A NEW RHYME

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders develop basic narratives. They retell a focused story and create a basic publication using available resources (e.g., pictures, colors, computer, copier). They experiment with different forms of creative writing (e.g.,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Chinese Dragons

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Learners identify where China is in relation to the US. They investigate the history of dragons in Chinese culture. Students explore the nine different parts of a dragon and incorporate them into their own dragon. Student identify the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Thomas Hart Benton: The Sources of Country Music

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students examine artwork by Thomas Hart Benton. In this interdisciplinary instructional activity, students analyze the painting The Sources of Country Music, listen to folk music, and examine how recording technology and the movies...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Tale of Peter Rabbit

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
Students practice their reading comprehension while investigating vegetables.  In this children's literature lesson, students are read The Tale of Peter Rabbit in class and analyze the concept and themes.  Students complete...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Readers Theatre: The Three Snow Bears

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students dramatize the story, Three Snow Bears by Jan Brett. In this readers theatre lesson plan, students read the story and then dramatize the events during readers theatre. There is an included script.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Writing to Photography/Photography to Writing

For Teachers 10th - 11th
Students improve their' writing by incorporating photography into descriptive and narrative writing exercises. They write descriptions of various professional photographic collections. Later they use their own and other classmates'.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Built Environment-An Integrating Theme

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students observe, record, and present knowledge of their local built environment while conducting a walking tour of their community. They develop written and photo journals, drawings, time lines, graphs, and charts to engage in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Meet Matisse!

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders discover the life and works of French artist Henri Matisse in this one day, introductory lesson for the 2nd grade classroom. This first lesson can be used by itself or as the first day activity to a three to four day unit...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Harlem Renaissance and Toni Morrison's Jazz

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students study the historical time of the Harlem Renaissance, including key events and figures. They read literature that weaves fiction and history and survey some of the references to the Harlem Renaissance in the novel, Jazz, by Toni...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Much Ado About Illumination

For Teachers 11th - Higher Ed
Students analyze the language and characters in the Shakespeare play, Much Ado About Nothing. In this Shakespeare play activity, students read section of the play and discuss the speech of Benedick and Claudio. Students record the speech...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Marc Brown's Author Study: Arthur's Nose

For Teachers Pre-K - 2nd
Student's read Arthur's Nose and view the changes in Arthur's nose. In this Arthur lesson, students define difficult vocabulary, discuss choices and sing to the tune of Old MacDonald had a Farm. Students create a new nose for Arthur.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Topic Sentences and Supporting Facts

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders write a paragraph. In this topic sentences instructional activity students are read the book The Matzah Man: A Passover Story and try Matzah bread in class. Afterward the students write a detailed paragraph about Passover.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

First Lady Fashions

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders research and explore the fashion of a certain time while identifying with the personal convictions and tastes of the famous first ladies of the past. They practice what they explore adjectives to describe what they see and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

DRYWALL CARVING

For Teachers 2nd - 8th
Students study relief sculpture and architectural elements, discuss Egyptian hieroglyphics and relief sculptures that can be seen on Roman and Greek structures, and create a relief sculpture using drywall.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

VH1 All Access Spotlight: Josh Groban

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students discuss the lyrics to You Raise Me Up, sung by Josh Groban, and identify the structure and markings in the song that show expressive qualities. They explore how composers use musical concepts to show meaning and mood in a piece...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

VH1 100 Greatest Women of Rock & Roll Lesson 3

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students examine female artists who perform in the genres of rhythm & blues, jazz, soul, and hip-hop/rap. They compose lyrics and melody in one of these genres.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young: Exploration of Folk Music

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students use the music of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young to examine Folk music.