Curated OER
Variations in Living Things
Biology beginners observe traits in a collection of plant parts to realize the tremendous amount of genetic variation within a species. They consider rules of nature and discuss what would happen if they changed. They also examine data...
Curated OER
Taking Age into Account
Have your class consider the issue of minors' accountability for their crimes. They discuss specific cases and the general issue of juvenile crime in round table discussions. Use this lesson to emphasize the rules and individual roles...
iCivics
Hey, King: Get Off Our Backs!
Young historians explore the reason American colonists were unhappy under British rule. Class members complete hands-on activities and participate in a group discussions to understand why colonists drafted the Declaration of Independence.
NPR
Same-Sex Marriage
The battle over same-sex marriage is a prevalent issue in the United States, and a valuable topic to be discussed in your social studies classroom. Here is a basic outline of introductory questions, focus questions, vocabulary, and media...
Education Development Center
Consecutive Sums
Evaluate patterns of numbers through an engaging task. Scholars work collaboratively to determine a general rule reflecting the sum of consecutive positive integers. Multiple patterns emerge as learners explore different arrangements.
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Building Ecological Pyramids
Looking for a fresh take on traditional food/energy pyramids? Conduct an innovative activity where pupils build their own! The lesson uses research data from Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique for a real-life safari touch. Scholars...
Curated OER
Exploring Transformations
Students explore what happens when geometric figures are transformed on the coordinate plane. They work in pairs, moving geometric shapes in the plane, and formalize their rules as functions.
Curated OER
Researching African Americans Who Made a Difference
Celebrate Black History Month with this instructional activity, in which middle schoolers create an essay about a famous African-American. Writers conduct research online, take notes to write an essay in proper format, and use ideas,...
Curated OER
Complete the Sentences 3
Develop vocabulary in your young learners with this resource. There are a series of sentences here, and elementary schoolers must choose a word from the list to complete each of the 12 sentences. Example words include abolished,...
University of California
Seasons Lab Book
Unlock the mystery behind seasonal change with a collection of worksheets and activities. Whether they are drawing pictures of Earth's orbit around the sun or graphing the temperature and daylight hours of different locations from around...
Curated OER
Let's Play Scrabble!
What do Alfred Mosher Butts, James Brunot, and Jack Straus have in common? They were all instrumental in the development of Scrabble. Class members will discover these facts and many more as they conduct a WebQuest to gather, organize,...
Curated OER
Commanding Performance
Students identify the many aspects of their daily lives that are guided by rules or laws.
Curated OER
Doing Our Jobs
First graders identify traits of good listeners and speakers and role-play these traits in pairs. They brainstorm acceptable and unacceptable behaviors for the classroom and identify what jobs are appropriate for first-graders to perform...
Curated OER
We Are a Comm-un-it-y. I've Got All My Classmates with Me-Part I
Students investigate the meaning of community. In this community lesson, students look at the concepts of civic engagement, civic responsibility, and common good. They determine how a classroom is a community and the need for having...
Curated OER
Practice Spelling Plurals
Fourth graders review the rules for spelling plural nouns. In this plural nouns lesson plan, 4th graders review the six rules for making nouns plural. They apply the rules as they complete the associated worksheet.
Curated OER
Lesson Plan: U.S. Government
Students examine reasons for studying government. In this U.S. government activity, students brainstorm the reasons for rules. Students draft their own class constitution in the style of the U.S. Constitution.
Curated OER
Invading the enemy
Students participate in a physical outdoor activity in order to develop individual and group trust. In this interpersonal relationship lesson, students play attempt to find hidden objects in the dark. Students must trust their partners...
Curated OER
Give Respect
Young learners explore what it means to be respectful. This resource includes a two page chart depicting rules for different settings at school such, as the cafeteria and the playground. What does following the rules look like? What does...
Curated OER
Making Good Decisions
Students engage in some form of classroom decision making and look at possible options and consequences of each decision. In this investigative lesson students look at different options in solving social issues and can debate each.
Curated OER
Hey Classmates! Let's Get to Know One Another!
Two word puzzles encourage collaboration among learners. One sheet has numbers and initials that show a relationship and the other has pictorial images that represent a phrase. Partners cooperate in order to develop functional working...
Curated OER
Rules and Responsibilities Youth and the Process of Change
First graders learn vocabulary in regards to laws, courts, and policeman. They read and discuss the book, The Value of Respect: The Story of Abraham Lincoln. An attorney visits the classroom and discusses the roles of judges and juries.
Curated OER
Economics: Property Rights and the Rule of Law
Learners examine the economic value of property rights. In a classroom activity, "You're the Economist," they analyze actual research data from establishing land holding titles in Para, Brazil. They assess several case studies about the...
Curated OER
Cool to Rule: A Game of Prediction and Measurement
Students demonstrate measurement and estimation skills. In small groups, they are given a measurement, predict what object in the classroom is equal to that specific measurement, and record their data in a table that includes the...
Curated OER
Playing By Different Rules
Students explore the concept of American imperialism by researching and analyzing historical examples of American imperialism. They draft a set of laws that would govern the actions of powerful nations in other countries.