Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Lost Frescoes

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Learners explore the life and art of Giotto and his use of perspective in his drawings. They then write a short paper about how political support needs to be generated for community action to save objects of art. They investigate what...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reasons to Settle in America

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Learners complete a research project.  In this American History lesson, students work in groups to research reasons that people wanted to settle in America.  Learners record the information, share what they found and write down...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Great Depression in North Carolina: Experiences of the People

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore the Great Depression. In this research skills lesson, students interpret historical evidence presented in primary and secondary sources. Students write their own WPA interviews after they have examined...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Create a Board Game

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students research, design, and create a game board based on information learned in ancient civilizations' social studies units. They utilize computer technology to research the project, as well as, textbooks, in-class library and video...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Peacemaker Biographies

For Teachers 3rd - 7th
Students examine the lives of people who stood up for their beliefs. In this biography lesson, students research the lives of people such as Gandi, Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks and Robert Kennedy. Students use a graphic organizer to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fishing for Facts!

For Teachers 1st Standards
First graders visit the library or media center to research sea creatures using encyclopedia. They find two facts and research the Internet to find a picture of the sea creature. They create a class sea creature booklet.
Lesson Plan
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Expedition Stories

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students use the Internet to research and discover information about expeditions that were formed to observe the transit of Venus. In groups, they work together to present information about the expeditions and create a visual aid.
Lesson Plan
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Ralph Ellison

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students read and analyze the novel, "The Invisible Man," by Ralph Ellison. They participate in class discussions, write an essay, and in small groups create a multimedia essay on a group that they consider socially "invisible."
Lesson Plan
National First Ladies' Library

The Education of Abigail Adams

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students read the biography of Abigail Smith Adams from the First Ladies Library web site. They work in small groups to write a description of her education. Students discuss their findings, and extend this to the education of girls in...
Lesson Plan
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History of Chemistry: The Alchemists

For Teachers 11th - Higher Ed
Students research alchemy and the history of chemistry. In this chemistry history lesson, students examine laboratory apparatus and compare it to those used by the Alchemists. Students complete a research paper on an important...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Transportation Transformed America

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders focus on the role of transportation. In this transportation instructional activity, 11th graders look at the lives of Americans at the turn of the centuries. They compare and contrast 2000 to 1900. 
Lesson Plan
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A Day In The Life Of An Egyptian

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students divide into research groups, and are each assigned a research topic. They access an award-winning Ancient Egypt site, which is an interactive book about the history and culture of the Ancient Egyptian civilization.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

SeaWorld: Education, Entertainment, or Exploitation?

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Learners discuss SeaWorld, research marine animal biology, investigate one animal currently collected by SeaWorld, and decide whether they oppose or support SeaWorld's collection policy. Students then gather information relating to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Conquistadors:Francisco Pizarro

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students determine the reasons for Francisco Pizarro's success in vanquishing the Incas. They research the factors that played the greatest role in the conquest of the Inca Empire and write a paper explaining their conclusions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring Pioneer America

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders research pioneers who had a strong influence on westward expansion. In this westward expansion lesson, 4th graders write an essay about four pioneers and an interview script about one. Students work in pairs to present...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Teaching the Novel in Context

For Teachers Higher Ed
Students write a context paper.  In this teaching the novel in context activity, students view a primary sources to recreate the cultural and historical context of the novel.  Students make the connection between the literary...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Travel Agent Presentation

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students participate in a role play as an employee of a country's tourism bureau. They research their country using a variety of resources and create a travel brochure encouraging travel to their country.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Everyday Objects

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students reflect in their journals about an everyday object they take for granted. After reading an article, they examine what a cook's tools can reveal about their life. In groups, they research everyday objects and write a museum...
Lesson Plan
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Introducing Biographies-Getting to Know You

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners study biographies as a nonfiction genre while examining a variety of examples. Next, they access and complete an online tutorial about biographies. They choose one person that interests them to conduct further research using a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Yuccy Situation

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students examine the concept of nuclear waste storage. For this interdisciplinary lesson, students research Yucca Mountain in order to compare and contrast opposing views regarding the nuclear waste site there. Students compose a letter...
Lesson Plan
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Underground Railroad

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Young scholars explore the Underground Railroad.  In this U.S. history and technology lesson plan, students research an assigned topic related to the Underground Railroad, such as "abolitionist," "conductor," or "station...
Lesson Plan
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Woodland Indians

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders research Woodland Indians. In this Woodland Indian lesson, 3rd graders have a classroom discussion and write facts about the Miami Indian group. They write a narrative from the perspective of an Indian child.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Musculoskeletal System The Muscoskeleton System

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners research the Internet on physical fitness and sports.  In this physical fitness report lesson students write a report on an athlete of their choice.
Lesson Plan
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History of the Local Community

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young scholars research their local communities and identify the founding fathers of their city and county. In this communities lesson plan, students research using the library and internet. Young scholars also interview citizens who...