Smithsonian Institution
Water/Ways: The Poetry of Science
Water is the source of life. It appears in poetry in both peaceful and torrential descriptions; it appears in earth science in its liquid, gaseous, and solid states. Combine these interpretations of our planet's most precious and...
Curated OER
Activity Guide for Snow
Create a cross-curricular learning experience around a shared reading of Cynthia Rylant's book Snow. From writing poetry and a singing a song about snow, to creating paper snowflakes and solving math story problems, this resource uses...
K12 Reader
They See with Their Ears
Sometimes bats get a bad rap, even though they are fascinating creatures! Teach your class about echolocation with a reading passage. After reading, class members respond to five questions based on the text.
Curated OER
Day and Night
Good Night, Moon is a classic little ones absolutely love. It's a sweet book that can be used, as in this lesson plan, to start a conversation about the difference between night and day. After reading the story, the class brainstorms...
Curated OER
Do the Hokey Pokey in Many Languages
Students replace the body part words in the tune The Hokey Pokey with the same body part words in other languages. They learn the vocabulary more readily because of the connection to music.
Curated OER
Weather: A Global Awareness Tour
Upper graders and middle schoolers make up a scenario of planning outdoor concert locations for their favorite musical group. They do this by looking into the weather patterns in a variety of tropical regions. They research where and...
Curated OER
Labeling the Body
First graders sing about their body. In this music instructional activity students sing the songs "I Shake My Thumb" and "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes". After they sing the songs and add different body parts to extend the songs they...
Curated OER
Blog Your Truth
Students explore communication by participating in a digital journalism activity. In this aboriginal research lesson, students view a sample blog on the Internet and identify the techniques behind blogging and Internet journalism...
Curated OER
Wildflower Beautification Project
Students, in cooperative groups, design and create a wildflower garden for the community. They write letters to property owners requesting use of their land and then write invitations to their parents and to local, state, and federal...
Curated OER
Investigating the Climate System WEATHER
Students research, interpret, and become able to explain general characteristics of weather in tropical regions. Students observe and compare tropical and mid-latitude weather patterns.
Curated OER
Goal Setting
Students understand how they can incorporate dietary guidelines in their daily life. In this investigative instructional activity students set dietary goals and incorporate an activity to learn how to create a new seed variety while...
Perkins School for the Blind
Learning to Identify Sounds Made by the Body
Sneeze, snap, tap, and whistle; Did I do that? Explore the parts and sounds of the human body with your learners with visual impairments. First you'll name the parts of the body, make a sound with each part, and then have the class guess...
Gobal Oneness Project
Building a Community of Trust
Barrio de Paz is the story of Nelsa Libertad Curbelo, a nun, who works with the gang youth of Guayaquil, Ecuador. The 17-minute documentary focuses on her explanations for the rise of gangs and for how gang culture reflects societal values.
Curated OER
Aboriginal Web Design
Students explore world history by participating in a web design activity. In this aboriginal history instructional activity, students discuss the different jobs associated with designing a web site and identify the types of media that...
Curated OER
Detectives in the Landscape
Fourth graders explore landscapes. In this landscape activity, 4th graders investigate different elements of landscapes. Students design a visual presentation using photographs taken during a nature walk.
Curated OER
A Matter of Survival
Fourth graders dance with inspiration from wild animals. In this creative movement lesson plan, 4th graders watch a video clip and then move like an animal might move in their natural surroundings.
Curated OER
Recycling & Our Environment
Students present information about recycling to other students. In this environmental protection lesson, students create a puppet show or commercial about the importance of recycling for other students to view.
Curated OER
Life in the Arctic
Students create a model of an arctic animal. In this animal adaptation lesson, students research an arctic animal, create a 3-D model of their animal, and explain the physical characteristics animals in the arctic need to survive.
Curated OER
The Meaning of Flowers
Students explore the messages sent in bouquets. In this messages lesson, students research the meaning of various flowers by researching online. Students draw a picture of a bouquet with the meanings of the flowers written under it.
Curated OER
What Type of Snow Makes a Good Snowman
Students attempt to build a snowman. For this comparison lesson, students divide into groups, are given different types of snow (dry and wet) and try to make a snowman. Students discuss and record the characteristics of the snow and if...
Curated OER
Mittens! Mittens
Students investigate the warmth of different mittens. In this cold weather clothes lesson plan, students decide which pair of mittens are the warmest. Students record and discuss their results.
Curated OER
Slippery, Slippery Ice
Students investigate how salt affects ice by experimenting in class. In this water properties instructional activity, students utilize a penny, salt and pans of ice to examine the sliding ability of a penny across a layer of ice....
Curated OER
Mapping the Circulatory System
Students investigate the circulatory system in human beings. In this human body lesson, students create an outline of a human body using colored markers and butcher paper. Students use red and blue colors to simulate the oxygenated...
Curated OER
Energy Efficient Homes
Students evaluate their home to see how energy-efficient it is. In this energy efficiency lesson students complete a worksheet and search the Internet to find ways of making their home more energy-efficient.