Vanderbilt University
Dia de Los Muertos
To honor El Dia de los Muertos, scholars work together to create Day of the Dead displays—paper sugar skulls and banners—that bring a festive and memorable flare to the classroom.
Cornell University
Exploring Rocks and Minerals
Investigate the properties of rocks and minerals through a rockin' hands-on activity. Learners test rocks for various properties and, using a guide, attempt to identify different samples. They use various properties including hardness,...
Curated OER
Getting Graphs: Researching Genealogy-A Piece of Pie
Third graders research their genealogy. In this math lesson, 3rd graders collect data and create graphs and charts. A presentation of their findings is given.
Curated OER
Primary Grade Historians
Young scholars read and analyze books about elders and develop a set of interview questions. They define respect and ways to show respect to elders and conduct an interview with elders. Finally, students write an oral history of a senior...
Curated OER
Philanthropy in Michigan? Civil War Lesson 1: What is Philanthropy?
Learners determine the meaning of philanthropy and find examples of it in Mary Francis Shura's, Gentle Annie: The True Story of a Civil War Nurse. They discuss act of philanthropy that they have personally witnessed.
Curated OER
Lessons From the Lorax
Pupils read and discuss Dr. Seuss's The Lorax. They explore the changes the characters could have made to preserve the environment and relate the plot to real-world places and events.
Curated OER
Famous African Americans ABC Book
Students create an ABC book with short biographies of famous African Americans in history. They utilize teacher-selected and/or student-researched library sources about African Americans in history.
Curated OER
Plant Identification Pictionary
Students examine ecosystems and the variety of plants and animals that can be found in them. In this plant identification instructional activity students identify the basic parts of a plant and categorize them according to their...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Honeybees
Pupils explore the various functions of bees within the hive and explain the process of making honey. They use numerous resources to find their information including the internet, library books and their science texts.
Curated OER
Book Report Bingo
Students choose books based on their interests. They complete book reports and share their ideas with the class. They participate in a book bingo game to complete the lesson.
Curated OER
George and Sam Save for a Present
Third graders develop their algebraic thinking by recognizing a variety of patterns using concrete objects, numbers, tables, and pictures. In this George and Sam Save for a present lesson, 3rd graders communicate their mathematical...
Curated OER
Heroes and Their Characteristics, Past and Present
Learners create a PowerPoint presentation. In this Internet research and technology lesson, students pick a hero to research on the Internet. After conducting research, they create a PowerPoint presentation on the hero of their choice.
Curated OER
Navigating Nonfiction
Third graders explore the arrangement of nonfiction. In this library skills lesson, 3rd graders examine Dewey Decimal classification as they collaborate to locate nonfiction materials in the library/media center.
Curated OER
Health: Protecting the Community
Third graders examine the roles of health and safety workers. The lesson includes reading and research about the health services offered and how they have changed over the years. Once they choose habits a health worker would endorse,...
Curated OER
Eggs of the World (World Egg Day)
Young scholars celebrate World Egg Day. In this egg-decorating lesson, students research egg traditions from other countries and then use their findings to decorate an egg in the tradition of the country they studied.
Curated OER
Embrace Space
Students use the internet to gather informatino about the solar system and space. In groups, they create a slideshow in which they use illustrations from the internet and include their own text. They complete the activity by going on a...
Curated OER
Myths of the Wild West
Students examine the Wild West as it was depicted in films and books. In groups, they compare this information to what it was really like as they find out in books. They also discover the role of the Native Americans in the Wild West...
Curated OER
Family History
Students create photographic family histories. In this technology skills lesson, students create family trees with digital photographs that they take of the family members.
Curated OER
Using Similes, Synonyms, and Antonyms
Children study similes, synonyms, and antonyms and identify examples in the book Quick as a Cricket by Audrey Wood. They write short stories about themselves using antonyms, synonyms, and comparisons of themselves to animals. They draw...
Curated OER
Gifts from the Hopi
Students examine the gifts a community of long ago can give the community of today in terms of artistic, economic and spiritual areas. Using the Internet, they conduct searches to find information about kachina masks and pottery. They...
Curated OER
Using Geometric Shapes in Architecture
Third graders identify two and three dimensional shapes used in architectural designs by viewing images on the Internet. In this geometry lesson, 3rd graders create their own building designs and identify the geometric shapes that will...
Curated OER
The Pirates of the Caribbean
Third graders participate in a demonstration lesson that shows a map of the Caribbean Islands. They examine a natural resource that each island is known for. Next, they listen to a read aloud of Gail Gibbons, "Pirates: Robbers of the...
Curated OER
If I Were President?
Young scholars are ushered into the Oval Office with our patriotic Presidents Day activities. For this civics lesson plan, students explore the presidency as they research an American president and participate in up to 11 activities.
Curated OER
Tutors & Readers Theater
Students complete literacy service learning projects. In this literacy lesson, older students work with younger students to tutor them in reading and writing. They help prepare a Readers Theater for the younger students.