National Council of Teachers of English
Timelines and Texts: Motivating Students to Read Nonfiction
With the emphasis on incorporating more nonfiction in language arts classes the question arises about how to design activities that motivate kids to engage with informational text. How about an assignment that asks class members to...
Curated OER
THE TRAVELS OF BABAR: An Adventure in Scale :Interpreting the music of Raphael Mostel's Dance/Movement exercise
Students explore how dance/movement tell a story. They analyze the elements of dance through interpretation of the story. Students exercise how the feelings and moods of the music suggest certain body movements and actions.
Curated OER
Flat Stanley Letter
Fourth graders write a letter requesting that the recipient assist the student in his/her Flat Stanley project.
Curated OER
Senior Historians
Third graders interview seniors to see what Boise, Idaho was like in the past. In this Idaho lesson, 3rd graders come up with interview questions and they meet with a senior "historian." They write about what they learned from this...
Curated OER
Chinese New Year
Students explore the Chinese New Year celebration. Through the use of interactive video and the Internet, they will examine the sequence of events that occur during the preparation and festivities. Students compare the Chinese New Year...
Curated OER
Rocks, Minerals, and Fossils
Fourth graders do 5 different lab stations to explore rocks, minerals, and fossils.
Curated OER
WE HAD A RIOT
Students examine how one group reacted to government directives and how the government dealt with them. They describe how one non-governmental group acted to create NH history.
Curated OER
Incredible Book
Fourth graders examine the contributions made by famous Americans during the American Revolution. They conduct research using a variety of resources, and create an informational page in the form of "Incredible Books" to contribute to a...
Curated OER
The Pianist
Do you play any musical instruments? Consider using this question to interest readers in this short passage. Then, have them read the passage and answer the multiple-choice questions that follow.
Curated OER
Centripetal Force
In order to investigate cetntripetal force and angular momentum, youngsters compare the motion of erasers hung from a string. It is not clear what type of Amish toy is needed in the warm up activity, so you may not be able to use it. The...
Curated OER
Systems, UP, Up and Away!
Students discuss rockets and how they work. Students research basic information about the Space Shuttle. Students work in collaborative groups creating "rockets" with empty film canisters. Students launch their "rockets" and record...
Curated OER
Back to Basics
Students examine the unique and diverse historical artifacts that people have designed to fulfill their everyday needs in extraordinary ways. They identify ways humans have used design throughout history to enhance the ways they meet...
Curated OER
Transportation Fuels: Biodiesel
Students examine biodiesel as a fuel for transportation. In this biodiesel lesson students complete activities using their critical thinking.
Curated OER
My State of the Union
Fourth graders, in groups, research states and using various print and nonprint reference materials. The groups make a presentation to inform the class about all the information from the state. This lesson plan provides imbedded support...
Curated OER
Do Plants Need Sunlight?
Students investigate why plants need sunlight and what happens if they do not get the light they need.
Curated OER
Cloud Fun
Students observe cumulus clouds. In this weather lesson, students go outside to look at cumulus clouds and observe what the weather is like when they find these types of clouds. They create a cumulus cloud in an art project and complete...
Curated OER
A Delicate Balance
Students reflect on racial balance in their own schools, debate merits of policies that seek to create and maintain school racial diversity, and write essays on whether their school should promote racial balance.
Curated OER
The Scramble for Wealth And Power
Students participate in a simulation activity involving the distribution of the world's wealth and power. The activity starts when 100 pennies, representing wealth and power, are spread on the floor and students must grab as many...
Curated OER
Challenge to Communicate
Learners use Lewis and Clark's journals to identify the forms of non-verbal communication they used. They discover the problems they faced on their journey and how they overcame them. They practice using the non-verbal language of the...
Curated OER
Million Dollar Project
Students calculate how they will spend a million dollars. In this millionaire math lesson, students complete a worksheet and then make a poster of how they would spend a million dollars. Each item and its cost must be shown. a minimum...
Curated OER
Systems 1: Simple Machines
Students explore the parts of a system and develop schema of the interactions between those parts. They examine a variety of simple hardware devicesand observe the interactions between the elements of the devices, through both hands-on...
Curated OER
Solids, Liquids and Gases - Part 2
Young scholars experiment with balloons, soda water and raisins to find out about the states of matter. In this solids, liquids and gases lesson, students complete a group activity with balloons to recognize the state of matter in it....