Curated OER
Gargoyles, Black Death, and Scary Music
Students research the Dark Ages using books, the Internet, and other media. In this Dark Ages lesson plan, students study poetry, music, art, and the architecture of the Dark Ages.
National Endowment for the Humanities
The Beauty of Anglo-Saxon Poetry: A Prelude to Beowulf
Riddle me this! What do kennings, caesura, and alliteration have to do with the Nowell Codex? Introduce class members to Anglo-Saxon poetry and prepare readers for a study of Beowulf with a series of activities that includes asking...
Curated OER
Casting Light On The Dark Ages
Students research life in the Middle Ages on the internet and write a comparative analysis of the differences between life in the Middle Ages and life today.
Curated OER
The Odds of Dying During a Plague
Sixth graders explore plagues in the middle ages. In this social studies lesson, 6th graders examine the impact of deadly plagues on past societies and how the governments were forced to make drastic changes in response to the plagues
Curated OER
Checkmate: Chess, and the connection to the Middle Ages
Students investigate the different aspects of Medieval Times and the connection to chess. In this world history lesson, students complete a chart answering questions about the lifestyles of men and women in the Medieval Times. Students...
Curated OER
Exploring Arthurian Legend
Students use the internet to track the growth of the King Arthur legend from the Dark Ages to its arrival on the silver screen.
Curated OER
Reading in the Dark
Students explore the possible link between nearsightedness and reading in low light.
New York City Department of Education
Geography and Early Peoples of the Western Hemisphere
Young historians discover the early people of the western hemisphere. The unit explores how the land changed, how it was used and homes of early Americans such as Incas, Mayans, Inuits, Aztecs, and Pueblos. Individuals also examine these...
Curated OER
Controversial Columbus
Seventh graders examine the controversial role of Christopher Columbus. In this Christopher Columbus lesson, 7th graders determine what Columbus was like and what his motivations were as they research print and Internet sources.
Curated OER
A Prelude To Beowulf
Students study the literature and literary techniques of the early Middle Ages, thus preparing students to read Beowulf with an appreciation for its artistry and beauty. Students solve online riddles, write riddles and study Anglo-Saxon...
Curated OER
Tree-ring Dating
Students complete activity sheets and participate in discussions while they study dendrochronology. They determine a tree's age and recognize how the climate varied over time.
Curated OER
How To: Friendly Letter Writing
Second graders investigate the proper mechanics of a letter by writing to fictional characters. In this friendly letter lesson, 2nd graders read the book Stars in the Darkness, analyzing the story and characters with classmates. Students...
Curated OER
Love of Learning
Third graders discuss times when learning has been fun and when it hasn't. They imagine that the are going for a ride in an aeroplane. Students imagine that they are looking through the window at the land below, they see the uneven shape...
Curated OER
Cooperative Conjectures
Students compare and contrast how animals have coexisted with humans. They also identify industrial changes and how animals were affected. They use the internet to research information and present their findings to the class.
Curated OER
A Sample of What?
Students are introduced to the connection between women and the textile industry. Using primary source documents, they complete a handout on how gender roles have changed over the years. They examine a sampler which is connected to the...
Curated OER
Texture Hunts and More: Madonna and Child with Saints
Young scholars investigate different painting techniques by studying classic works of art. In this art history lesson, students observe the famous Madonna and Child with Saints painting and describe the texture and images they notice....
Curated OER
Novice Drivers
Students explore the concept of social trade-offs in the context of graduated driver licensing. They discuss the benefits and drawbacks of the graduate licensing program.They create a list of factors that contribute to traffic accidents...
Scholastic
Thomas Jefferson and Monticello: An Introduction to Writing Historical Fiction
Thomas Jefferson is one of the most recognized names and faces in America—but is there more to the third president of the United States? Upper elementary and middle schoolers conduct research on Jefferson, his famous home at Monticello,...
Curated OER
Cracking the Maya Code
Young scholars analyze the meaning of Maya glyphs. In this Mayan communication lesson, students use Mayan symbols to calculate their birthdates according to Maya Long Count.
Curated OER
Cave Diagram
Students examine limestone cave geology and hydology. They study cave vocabulary.
Curated OER
Cave Stories - Tales of Adventure
Learners list three things about caves that interest them and list reasons why writers choose caves as settings for stories.
Curated OER
Coffee & Chocolate: Knowing Healthy Foods
An article relaying vital information about health and nutrition are the backbone of this lesson on eating the right foods. A series of activities are used to help upper graders understand the science supporting our understanding of what...
Curated OER
Global Warming: Life in a Greenhouse
Students investigate the evidence and consequences of global warming. They read and discuss an article, conduct a debate, evaluate their community's climate statistics, log their gas consumption for a week, and develop a panel discussion...
Curated OER
Now, That's a Bright Idea!
Students explore the role that electricity plays in their daily lives, both in school and at home. They conduct research on energy usage in various rooms of the school and in their homes and create posters, graphs, and analyses of their...