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Lesson Plan
National Gallery of Canada

My Treehouse

For Teachers K - 3rd
If you could build your own treehouse, what would it look like? Using a piece of contemporary art as inspiration, learners draw their own treehouses and add geometric and organic shapes. The lesson touches on Visual Thinking Strategies...
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Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Building Background Knowledge: Challenges Bosnian Refugees Faced Fleeing and Finding Home

For Teachers 8th Standards
What challenges did Bosnian refugees face as they fled home during the Bosnian War? Scholars read an interview with four refugees and identify common themes that connect the universal refugee experience. They also engage in a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Phineas Gage: “How Do You Get Through Hard Times?” Chalk Talk

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Hold a discussion in writing about coping strategies to prepare your pupils for reading Phineas Gage: A Gruesome but True Story About Brain Science by John Fleischman. After journaling, pupils come up in an organized fashion and write...
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Lesson Plan
Bully Free Systems

Bully Free Lesson Plans—Eighth Grade

For Teachers 8th Standards
Middle schoolers are likely very familiar with the concept of bullying and cliques. Discuss their experiences and brainstorm ways to handle peer conflict and feelings of exclusion with a poem that focuses on bullying, and a second lesson...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Written Conversation

For Students 4th - 6th
For this recognizing meanings of phrases worksheet, students use context clues and the word bank to complete conversation sentences. Students fill in 6 blanks.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Achievements and Challenges of Zimbabwe

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Here is an excellent set of five short lessons and activities intended to help learners not only gain an understand of current issues in Africa, but build critical thinking, synthesis, analysis, expository writing, research, and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson: Tomma Abts: Abstract Painting

For Teachers 9th - 12th
One must first learn how to analyze art before they can properly respond to it. Here, young analysts examine six abstract pieces in a systematic and formal way. They then respond to one of the pieces in either a poem or an essay. An...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson: More Than Meets the Eye

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Older learners analyze a controversial painting entitled The Cutting Scene, Mandan O-kee-pa Ceremony 1832. They use the issues raised in the image to construct debate arguments questioning if the artist's painting exploits Native...
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Lesson Plan
Brookly Museum

Mickalene Thomas: Origin of the Universe

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Modern art is great to experience because it brings contemporary issues into everyday conversation. Upper graders consider the work of Mickalene Thomas, an artist that uses photo collage techniques to capture the beauty of African...
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Unit Plan
2
2
Curated OER

Building Empathy Creating Community

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Learners thrive in a classroom where they are part of a strong community. Foster a collaborative atmosphere in your classroom with a series of activities focused on conflict resolution, communication, empathy, and defense against bullying.
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Activity
Cornell University

Study Soil

For Teachers 4th - 5th
What's in soil? Young scientists study the pH levels of soil from their school yard. They observe the land and area the soil came from to decide if location has anything to do with acidity level.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Things That Bothered Farmer Brown

For Teachers K - 2nd
Link language development to literacy skills. This lesson template provides a comprehensible way to use the Braidy Web to maximize language and reading skills. It would be appropriate for developmentally disabled pupils reading at a K-2...
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Lesson Plan
1
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Encyclopedia Britannica

Election Issue Comparison Chart

For Teachers 9th - 12th
As part of a study of the issues raised in the 2020 presidential election campaign, class members investigate and then create a pro-con comparison chart that reveals each candidate's position on a variety of issues.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Twelve Wild Ducks (Norway)

For Students 1st - 3rd
How exciting! To break an evil spell that was cast on her 12 older brothers, a princess must face frightening trials and dangers. Youngsters build literacy and comprehension skills as they read a fun fairy tale from Norway. After reading...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fighting Fake News

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Fake news. Alternative facts. Internet trolls. In an age of Newspeak, it's increasingly important to equip 21st century learners with the skills needed to determine the legitimacy of claims put forth on social media, in print, and in...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The World's Tallest Building

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students investigate the world's tallest buildings. In this architecture lesson, students discover how humans change the physical environment. Students read about and view pictures of famous buildings in the world. Students make lists of...
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Lesson Plan
Pyro Innovations

Get into Shape

For Teachers K - 1st Standards
Shapes are so fun! Little ones explore, identify, and create shapes using tangrams or pattern blocks. The activity is intended to stimulate critical thinking while engaging learners through play and shape identification. Each child will...
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Lesson Plan
Macmillan Education

Challenging Assumptions

For Teachers 6th - Higher Ed Standards
After experiencing how quick and easy it is to make judgments as part of an opening activity, learners discuss the concept of a stereotype and the need to think critically and question our immediate assumptions.
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Lesson Plan
1
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EngageNY

Building Background: A Short History of Human Rights

For Teachers 5th Standards
Before continuing to read the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, learners need to understand why and how this document was written. First, show and discuss a video from UNICEF to demonstrate the need for such a document. Then have...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Cartoons for the Classroom: Geographic Inspiration

For Students 10th - 12th
A wonderfully graphic cartoon entices learners to read more about issues near the Arabian Peninsula. They will use the provided cartoon and critical thinking question to practice building their analytical and critical thinking skills....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Electricity and Food: From Glowing Pickles in Citrus Batteries

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders explore electrical concepts and host a guest speaker. This lesson sets up guidelines for students to follow when they have a guest speaker. Students are primed to become actively involved in a lecture or discussion, while...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Structured Academic Controversy (SAC) in the History Classroom

For Teachers 8th - 12th
SAC is a specific approach to discussing history and controversial issues. Rather than adhering to an either/or debate-style paradigm, it fosters speaking and constructivist listening to enable learners to build consensus through...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Cartoons for the Classroom: Presidential Candidates

For Students 11th - 12th
Build critical analysis skills with this cartoon for the classroom. Upper graders answer three critical thinking questions to help them analyze a political cartoon, which depicts how Presidential Candidates are judged and chosen. Put...
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Interactive
DocsTeach

What Else Was Happening During the Civil War Era?

For Teachers 5th - 8th Standards
Examine a time of political division and upheaval— not unlike our own—using firsthand accounts. While study of the Civil War often takes center stage in the classroom, the 1850s and 1860s were a period of profound change in other areas...