US Institute of Peace
Defining Conflict
Conflict is everywhere—but is it avoidable? The first activity in a series of 15 peacebuilding lessons examines the nature of conflict at home, school, and across the world. Learners develop a definition of conflict through group work...
Curated OER
All About Groups & Community
Second graders examine the various kinds of groups in our communities and lives. They make charts and drawings of different groups and complete a worksheet imbedded in this plan. The groups are a true cooperative format, with each...
Curated OER
Do I Have What it Takes to be an Entrepreneur - and is My Community Ready?
Discover the attributes of entrepreneurs and define what entrepreneurship is while examining data based on local businesses. Learners determine whether their community is supportive of entrepreneurs as they research economic development...
Smithsonian Institution
Vaccines! How Can We Use Science to Help Our Community Make Decisions about Vaccines?
Uncover the fascinating world of vaccines in a multifaceted activity. Investigators explore community perception and the science of vaccines with eight tasks. Scientists continue their studies by giving and reviewing surveys, analyzing...
Facing History and Ourselves
Taking a Stand: Models of Civic Participation
How does an individual take a stand for a principle or belief? what skills are required to do so? What are the challenges and risks in doing so? Class members study examples of individuals engaging in such activities and then identify...
US Department of Commerce
Constitution Day
Give your Constitution Day celebration a timely slant by discussing the census! An activity that includes analysis of the Constitutional call for a census, along with scaffolded worksheets, help pupils understand the connection between...
Social Media Toolbox
About Facebook
If everyone is on Facebook, should the school's news publication be as well? Scholars study a social media giant in the 11th lesson from The Social Media Toolbox's 16-part series. The activity combines individual study and collaboration...
Curated OER
Introducing the Idea of "Community"
Students work in groups to define the term "community". They draw on personal experiences and create posters to explain and depict various aspects of community life.
Curated OER
The Many Roles I Play in My Community
Second graders are asked: "What roles do people have in the community?" They view a large web on chart paper. Students discuss the roles that they play in their community. They are told that just as the principal or teacher has many...
Curated OER
Create Your Own Service Project
Students develop a community service project. In this service project lesson, students identify a concern within their community, set a goal, from a plan, and carryout a service project using the project guidelines.
Curated OER
Animal Shelter Service Project
Students complete a community service project. In this community service lesson, students discuss the needs of animals in animal shelters. They contact an animal shelter and help with one of these needs.
Curated OER
Homeless Shelter Service Project
Pupils research ways to help a homeless shelter and design a service project to meet the needs. For this service project lesson, students identify and develop a list of ways to meet a homeless shelter's needs. Pupils then conduct a...
Curated OER
Women's Shelter Service Project
Students research ways to help a women's shelter in a service project. In this service project instructional activity, students develop ways to meet needs of a women's shelter. Students select a need, plan, and conduct a service project...
Curated OER
Community Careers
Students explore services in their community. In this community services lesson, students discuss community services and work in teams to list the jobs within the service. Students may also shadow a worker from that community service area.
Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary
Benjamin Franklin’s Community Contributions
Students research Benjamin Franklin's community contributions. In this social studies lesson plan, students create a collage showing things they can do to improve their communities.
Curated OER
Community Helpers
Young scholars identify the different jobs of people in the community. In this careers instructional activity, students read Helpers in My Community and have parents come into the classroom to do a short presentation on their jobs.
Curated OER
Opening Lesson: Community
Students participate in a community service project and present an art project. In this lesson on community service, students read Rainbow Fish and discuss its meaning for them as it relates to community. Students create an art...
Curated OER
Our Community Helpers
Students explore community helpers in order to explain how they fit into their community and the world.
Curated OER
Service Project
Learners participate in a service project. In this community service lesson, students use their special talents to help others. Learners draw or write about the service they've provided. The class turns this into a class book.
Curated OER
Aerobic and Anaerobic Conditioning
Young scholars view the A.D.A.M. computer simulation of aerobic and anaerobic exercise. They break into groups and members brainstorm and list as many aerobic and anaerobic exercises as possible in five minutes.
Curated OER
Building Community in the Classroom
Young scholars build a sense of community within the classroom. In this community lesson plan students create individual pieces of a puzzle that when put together represent the community within their classroom. The central piece is...
Curated OER
The ABCs of Our Nation
In this social studies instructional activity, students are directed to a Web site to find out what makes our Nation special. Students create an acrostic poem about our country. Students then explore the need for responsible living...
Curated OER
A Walk on the West Side
Students comprehend what makes up the physical community. Read and construct scale drawings and models. Explore the history of infrastructures and how the contributions of science, math and industry have led to the development of their...
Facing History and Ourselves
Life for German Youth in the 1930s: Education, Propaganda, Conformity, and Obedience
The German youth faced an onslaught of propaganda when they went to school, thanks to the Nazi regime led by Hitler during World War II. Pupils relate their education experiences to German youth by analyzing primary source readings,...