Chicago Botanic Garden
Understanding the Greenhouse Effect
The greenhouse effect is important, for without it, life on Earth would not exist. An activity that includes modeling the greenhouse effect and acting out the Earth's energy balance makes up the first part in a series of seven lessons....
Trinity University
Julius Caesar: The Power of Persuasion
"Friend, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears..." Those words begin one of the most persuasive speeches in literature. Explore the elements of persuasion in a series of lessons related to William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. In addition...
Library of Congress
Determining Point of View: Paul Revere and the Boston Massacre
If you're teaching point of view, this is the lesson for you! First, decipher the writer's point of view from a primary resource, then compare and contrast the primary source with a secondary source to explore the Paul Revere's engraving...
Candlewick Press
A Classroom Guide to Peter H. Reynolds's Creatrilogy
Help young readers find, identify, and use their voices with a set of empowering activities based on Peter H. Reynolds' trilogy of books. Sky Color, Ish, and The Dot focus on recognizing moods and treating each other kindly, and their...
Curated OER
A Stranger Among Us
Eighth graders give their own definition to the terms race, religion, culture, character and ethnicity and write them on the board. As a class, they discuss the differences and similiarties between the terms. In groups, they complete a...
Curated OER
Literary Response and Analysis
Students analyze the archetype of 'the fall' in Shakespeare's Macbeth. In this literary analysis lesson, students work in tiered learning groups to analyze the characters of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Students use the book of Genesis as...
Curated OER
Skirmish Ball
Build character while playing a fun game. The class practices throwing and catching in this game, which is based on honesty and team work. Take a look at this lesson plan and see if your class is up to the task.
Curated OER
Character Traits and People in Black History
Third graders, after reading a one-page biographical essay, write in paragraph form how an African American has demonstrated a certain character trait.
Curated OER
The Sorcerers Shown
Students consider the different genres of literary and movie characters. In this character types lesson, students brainstorm character genres from books and movies. Students read the article 'Which Wizard Beats 'Em All?' and develop...
Curated OER
In-Group Favoritism
Students discover how to cross social boundaries. In this character education lesson, students discuss the positive and negative impacts of favortism they witness in their local community as well as the international community. Students...
Curated OER
You've Got to be Taught to Hate and Fear
Students explore themes of prejudice and acceptance. In this character education lesson, students listen and respond to several fiction books, poems, and lyrics with a similar theme. Students locate articles with the main idea of...
Curated OER
I Am a Star
Students explore the unique qualities of themselves and others. In this character education lesson, students read the book A Unicorn Named Beulah Mae and create a paper star displaying their unique personality traits.
Curated OER
Understanding Justice, Kindness and Tolerance
Ninth graders consider the implications of racism and prejudice. In this character education lesson, 9th graders participate in a classroom activity that requires them to consider how self-deception and self-betrayal contribute to racism.
Curated OER
Bee Kind Hearts
Students promote random acts of kindness. In this character education lesson, students record acts of kindness that they witness on paper hearts. Students create a chain of hearts to hang in the school.
Curated OER
Peace Journals
Young scholars create peace journals. In this character education lesson, students record their thoughts about peace and their innermost thoughts and feelings. Young scholars use various journal starters, including describing someone who...
Curated OER
Tattling and Telling
Young scholars identify ways to prevent bullying. In this character education lesson, students discuss the difference between tattling and telling and perform a puppet show to illustrate these differences.
Curated OER
International Women's Day
Learners complete activities to learn about International Women's Day. In this women's importance lesson plan, students discuss the roles women play in learners' lives. Students create a collage of special women in their lives and give a...
Curated OER
I Am Special and You Are Special Too
Students discover how everyone is special in his or her own way. For this character traits lesson, students demonstrate how they are special by drawing a picture or writing. Students listen orally to the book We Are All Alike...We Are...
TED-Ed
Tycho Brahe, the Scandalous Astronomer
Who says scientists are boring geeks? Certainly not the narrator of a short video who dishes up the scandals associated with Tycho Brahe, a Danish scientist and alchemist (now that's two labels you don't often see together) who used...
Curated OER
Shakespeare: Standing on the Bookshelves of Giant
A phenomenal lesson on Shakespeare! Middle and high school learners create WebQuests about the texts and authors that Shakespeare himself studied when he was in grammar school. They use a variety of media in order to create dramatic...
Curated OER
Don't Give Up
Eighth graders demonstrate perseverance. In this character education lesson, 8th graders define the word perseverance and identify difficult tasks they face regularly which require perseverance.
Curated OER
Taking on a Task
Eighth graders identify ways to persevere. In this character education lesson, 8th graders work in small groups to complete a task using strategies to persevere.
Curated OER
Good Judgement and Honesty
Seventh graders write about the importance of honesty. In this character education instructional activity, 7th graders reflect about the value of honesty and following the rules. This instructional activity is part of a larger unit on...
Curated OER
Pen Pals
Students write to a pen pal and learn about their lives. In this pen pal lesson, students learn about a person from another country. Students develop an understanding that they have many things in common with people from other parts of...