Vanderbilt University
Stories from the Panama Canal
The stories of the Silver People, the West Indies immigrants hired to work on the Panama Canal, come to life in a instructional activity about the building of the Panama Canal. Groups research why the canal was built, how it was build,...
Macmillan Education
Changing Your Mindset
Why do some people achieve their goals and persevere despite the setbacks they face? This question is the focus of this life skills lesson, which includes worksheets, discussion, and collaborative activities on developing a growth mindset.
West Contra Costa Unified School District
Matching Quadratic Functions
Ever sigh when learners ask why they have to know so many different forms of the quadratic equation? Here is a lesson that comes in handy! Using hands-on matching activities, quadratic equations are explored through...
Curated OER
Reflexive Pronouns
What a great review of reflexive pronouns! Grammarians of all ages will benefit from this packet. The first page gives descriptions and examples of different reflexive pronouns and common mistakes. The second page holds two, short...
Curated OER
American Flag History
Young historians explore US culture by investigating the US flag. They will use their textbooks, prior knowledge, and sources provided by the teacher to research the history of the American flag. They will design and create a trading...
Curated OER
Ella y Él
Take a trip to Costa Rica with th popular song "Ella y Él" by Ricardo Arjona. After listening to the song (and possibly reading the lyrics) the class discusses the general message of the song, the political nature, and other US bands...
Curated OER
Identifying Theme
What's theme, and can texts of every length have one? Explore the themes of fives short reading passages with your middle school class. Encourage them to highlight specific places in the text where they recognized the theme.
iCivics
Foreign Policy: War
What is the difference between foreign and domestic policy? What are the primary differences in what the United States hopes to accomplish through foreign aid, the military, and the creation of treaties? Your class members will examine...
Curated OER
Peer Editing Worksheet
The strength of this peer editing activity is that it addresses all the elements that should appear in a well-written essay. In addition, editors are encouraged to avoid one-word responses and instead, to make specific suggestions for...
Curated OER
Similes and Metaphors: An Interactive Review
Get your pupils' attention with this lesson on similes and metaphors, which features two poems by Tupac Shakur. A SMART board presentation guides them through the lesson, which includes a BrainPop activity (linked). After they have...
Curated OER
Following Their Footsteps
Students research and create a book report on a famous person. In this character education lesson, students examine the positive traits exemplified by a famous person and present an oral presentation for their classmates.
Curated OER
Finding Main Ideas
What is the main idea? Previewing a text is a great way to identify the main idea without even reading, but what areas of a text do you preview? Teach your third, fourth, and fifth graders the most important areas to preview before...
Curated OER
Justifying Answers
Young scholars study story problems and learn how to find and justify their answers. They will use a story problem and then respond to the prompt questions from the teacher. They must add and subtract facts to 6 and learn how to justify...
English Enhanced Scope and Sequence
Identifying Persuasion in Media Literacy
As part of a study of media literacy, groups examine advertisements from Money, Fortune, The New Yorker, or Good Housekeeping and identify the types of rhetorical appeals used in the ads. After groups present their findings, the whole...
Curated OER
Aerospace Engineering
Students are introduced to aviation history and aerospace engineering achievements. They assemble a class aviation history timeline from individual student research on people and events.
Curated OER
Comparing Sea Horses and Knights
Students investigate sea horses and knights. In this marine biology lesson, students read the book How to Hide an Octopus and discuss the purpose of camoflage. Students research knights and sea horses and record their research on...
Curated OER
Defending Great Literature
Students defend Mark Twain and the study of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn using persuasive techniques, appropriate word choice, and correct letter format, in response to a fictional letter by an upset parent.
Curated OER
Cloze Instruction And Herringbone Technique
Young scholars sort out important information and create a visual framework for reviewing in the future. They organize a large quantity of information thus helping with learning and remembering details, cause and effect, comparison...
Curated OER
Comparing Spiders to Insects
Third graders research spiders and insects through a variety of Internet sites and compare them. In this spider and insect lesson, 3rd graders complete a Venn diagram comparing and contrasting insects and spiders. ...
Curated OER
Cycles in Nature
In this nature cycle learning exercise, students complete 12 word scrambles and 4 fill in the blank questions about the different cycles of nature.
Curated OER
Korea Lunar New Year
Students explore Korean Lunar New Year traditions, examine Korean culture, practice saying "Happy Lunar New Year" and other greetings in Korean, and discuss common foods, games, and other activities enjoyed by Koreans on Lunar New Year....
Curated OER
The Creative Process
Students conceive and create works of visual art that demonstrate comprehension of how the communication of their ideas relates to the media, techniques, and processes they use. They initiate, define, and solve challenging visual arts...
Curated OER
Mood
Students analyze their feelings after reading or listening to music. In this moods lesson, students react to the feelings generated by the story or music they heard. Students pair edit their stories.
Curated OER
Exercise and Water
Second graders discover the needs of their body by trying different types of aerobic exercise. In this physical education lesson, 2nd graders analyze The Busy Body Book by glancing at the pictures inside and predicting what the...