Curated OER
Where Did It Begin?
Young scholars work together to research the oldest forms of writing in the world and the materials used to create them. They explore the cultures that used this early form of writing and draw conclusions about why specific symbols were...
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A Sense of Place
Students evaluate stories, customs, and pieces of literature and draw conclusions about people who have lived in New Mexico. They analyze how water helps define the character of an area.
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Solve a Mystery
Fourth graders use text clues to solve mysteries. In this text clue/mystery solving instructional activity, 4th graders access a teacher assigned web site, Cyberkids.com, where they solve a mystery. They read chapters of, Encyclopedia...
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School-Home Links/ Book Links
In this recognizing the main idea worksheet, students read a book, record the title and author, state the main idea, explain what the author wants them to think about the main idea, and tell how they know. Students write five answers.
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Census and Gold Rush Town
Learners analyze data and form a mental picture of the make up of a gold rush town. They explain social life in a gold rush town. They use online sources to see paintings of camp life and read accounts of miners' lives.
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Mapping an Empire
How did the expansion of the Roman Empire during the first century contribute to its downfall? Using a map of the Roman Empire in 44 BC and one of the Roman Empire in 116 AD as references, class member use critical reading skills to...
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"Angel Child, Dragon Child"
Students read and analyze the book "Angel Child, Dragon Child" by Michele Maria Surat. They chart the main story elements on a graphic organizer, and write three sentences about themselves and draw a self-portrait. Students then create...
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Tsunami
Students examine the impact of tsunamis. In this tsunami instructional activity, students read clues and use critical thinking skills to determine why the HMS Chatham was diverted from Dubai in 2004. Students also research tsunamis and...
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Understanding James Madison The Father of the Constitution
Learners research James Madison and create a table of his strengths and weaknesses. For this James Madison lesson, students read Jean Fritz's, The Great Little Madison, while developing their research skills, vocabulary strategies, and...
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Language Arts: Plotting Stories
Second graders read the story, "The Foolish, Timid Rabbit," as part of a unit on appearances. After reading with partners, they write their own stories that include elements about some forms of matter from their science studies. Students...
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Finding Historical Evidence: David Brion Davis
Students study the Tran-Atlantic Slave Trade and learn to evaluate historical arguments. In this slave trade lesson, students read about the Atlantic Slave System. Students take notes on slave trade and make a timeline for the...
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What Plants Need in Order to Survive and Grow: Light
Students conduct an experiment to evaluate whether plants need light to survive and grow. They observe and gather data about plant responses to different growth regimes, analyze the data, and make conclusions about basic plant needs.
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The Family: Louisiana Family Folklore
Students explore and identify family treasures and research the history to each one. They also organize a variety of artifacts into various categories and research traditional Louisiana artifacts online. Each student draws inferences...
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Woody Guthrie: Ain't Got No Home
Learners examine the music of Woody Guthrie and how the political and economic climate influenced his work. They read and discuss online articles, define key vocabulary words, take a Political Orientation Survey, and write a position...
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Human Migration
Students explore human migration, refugees and human rights. They read articles about immigration, create a migration journal, and participate in a mock human rights commission meeting. After collecting information about immigration,...
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The Cherokee: Trail Where They Cried
Students read the Trail of Tears about the Cherokee Nation removal and write a letter pretending they are the grandparent of a Cherokee child. In this Trail of Tears lesson plan, students understand the changing of boundaries.
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True Tales of Adventure for Young Part 3
Learners explore the Passageways website. They read to compare and contrast the motivations and accomplishments of two explorers.
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Twisting Versions of Little Red Riding Hood
Students read orally two versions of Little Red Riding Hood (Classic and Cajun) They compare and contrast the two Little Red Riding Hood versions. Students create a concept map to demonstrate the comparisons/contrasts. They could also...
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Teaching Kindness across the Curriculum: Kindness for a Day, a Week, a Month, a Year
Learners investigate the concept of character kindness in literature. In this human character lesson plan, students read about kindness and write about their understanding of it.
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The Beginnings of Constitutional Government
Students examine excerpts of Thomas Paine's Common Sense. In this early American history lesson plan, students read Paine's pamphlet and analyze the information according the rubric provided.
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Winter at Valley Forge
Students assess the events leading up to the American Revolution. In this United States History lesson, students read "Crossing the Delaware: George Washington Fights in the Battle of Trenton," then discuss the highlights in the story....
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Strawberry Girl: Lesson 3 - Trains, Sails, and Trails
Students read two chapters of Strawberry Girl by Lois Lenski and complete activities about Florida's transportation history. In this literacy and economics lesson, students read two chapters of the book, talk about their journal entries,...
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A Tree is a Friend
Fifth graders discover the value of trees in our society. In this ecosystem instructional activity, 5th graders read the book, A Tree is Nice, and discuss with classmates how trees are essential to our existence due to creating oxygen...
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Freedom and You
Students research the American Revolution. In this Revolutionary War lesson plan, students research facts about the American Revolution, write an expository essay, and peer edit for good content. The paper is suggested to be written...