Curated OER
Civil War
Students explore rules of conduct in a political body, first drafting rules that apply to their classroom, then adapting them to political actions in Congress.
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Artscapes
Students consider "The Gates" and other environmental art projects, and create an original public art project for their local community. They draw sketches and write proposals outlining their ideas.
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Digesting the News
Students explore the editorial concepts, site designs and business models of online news digests. They propose detailed plans for Web sites that demonstrate their own areas of expertise.
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Frighteningly Fabulous Festivals
Students explore the significance of holiday foods, first by researching Halloween-type festivals from around the world, and then by reporting on foods related to different holidays celebrated in their homes.
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Teen Scene
Students examine what teenagers value most, and discuss the trend of decadent sixteenth birthday parties. They read an article, analyze forms of teen-focused media, and create a visual presentation on their media analysis.
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Life on the Edge: Land Use, Food Supply, and Economics in a Small African Village
Students examine the roles that natural events (such as droughts), population growth and other human factors play on land use and food supply.
National First Ladies' Library
The Education of Abigail Adams
Learners read the biography of Abigail Smith Adams from the First Ladies Library web site. They work in small groups to write a description of her education. Students discuss their findings, and extend this to the education of girls in...
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The Pentagon Papers
Students examine national security issues. In this Vietnam lesson, students research the background and controversy surrounding the Pentagon Papers. Students discuss press rights in light of maintaining national security.
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Quilting
Second graders make a quilt. In this cultural diversity lesson, 2nd graders review their knowledge of the Metis people. Students work in groups to create a class quilt that illustrates the lives of these people. Quilt themes include...
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Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence
Students examine readings and symbols to learn about the War of Independence and Thomas Jefferson. In this War of Independence lesson, students explore the role of Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration for Independence. Students answer...
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How is Gold Found in the Ground?
Fourth graders participate in a series of activities designed to simulate mining for gold. They pan for "gold" and create a safe tunnel.
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Moving On Up!
Students complete a game-like simulation to determine a career and salary. In groups, they collect information and decide what is the "best" city in which to live. They create a monthly budget for their "best" city based on salary from...
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Manners and Etiquette, Practice Lab and Quiz
Students watch video, "When It's More Than Burgers - Dining Etiquette at its Best," practice proper table setting according to rules of etiquette, demonstrate acceptable eating styles and table manners while serving and eating mock meal,...
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No Day
Students learn about discrimination and the Jim Crow laws. In this discrimination instructional activity, students are presented with new classroom rules that discriminate against certain types of clothing. Students discuss the effects...
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Reading About Children in Other Communities
Students read about children from other communities. They describe ways in which members of other communities meet one another's needs and design a Venn diagram that compares and contrasts their own way of living to another culture.
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Math & Social Science
Students are given data and are to calculate averages and yearly totals of how many cars travel the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. They also make a graph of the data.
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Discovering the Journal of Augustus Pelletier
Students explore journals. In this Discovering the Journal of Augustus Pelletier lesson, students read the historical fiction book and conduct research activities to validate events in the plot that reflect the Lewis and Clark...
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Charles Lindberghs's Flight to Paris
Students practice map skills. In this map skills lesson, students locate the cities of New York and Paris on a map. Students read about the flight made by Charles Lindbergh in May 1927 from New York to Paris. Students answer 8 questions...
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Befriending Bullies
Young scholars discuss how to create a bully free classroom. They share teasing and bullying stories and read books on bullying and teasing. Students buddy read with second grade young scholars in order to create friends at the school....
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Welcome to Venice
Students read the opening scene of the play, The Merchant of Venice without receiving any background information. They analyze and discuss the relationships between the six characters, and determine the social status of the characters.
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Spanish - "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes"
Students begin lesson by singing, "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes" in English as a class. They then are introduced to the song in Spanish using one body part at a time and repeat the song with the teacher singing slowly. Next, they...
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Families and Neighborhoods
Students explore the concepts of family and community. In this diversity lesson, students read Bear About Town and then design and build their own classroom neighborhood homes out of individual shoeboxes.
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All About Me
Learners answer short answer questions, state their likes and dislikes, say what roles they have, and more about themselves. In this all about me lesson plan, students read books about how we are all different and the same.
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Getting to Know You
Young scholars interview each other to find similarities and differences with their partner. They create a Venn diagram that displays their findings and then using hula hoops as a large scale model present their Venn diagram to the class...