Curated OER
Chameleons Are Cool!
Have your learners review what they know about camouflage using this lesson. Learners fill out a graphic organizer listing what they know or have questions about. This could be enhanced with the addition of a writing assignment in which...
Curated OER
Creative Inventions
Ninth graders develop ideas for an invention and write a persuasive essay explaining why their invention is best. In this invention essay lesson, 9th graders review persuasive essay writing. Students create a graphic web for an original...
Curated OER
I Want to Be a Beachcomber
Middle schoolers, in teams, examine the advantages and disadvantages of reading the news from the print format or from the online newspaper format. Students compare and contrast a printed newspaper with an electronic version using...
Curated OER
Maize to Maquiladoras: Movement from Mexico to Arizona
Fourth graders label maps of Arizona and Mexico to show the people, goods, and ideas that have moved between the two places. In this Arizona and Mexico lesson plan, 4th graders summarize the effects of the movement on Arizona life.
Curated OER
A River Through Time
Learners explore how construction of a dam on the Gila River affected the lifestyle of Pima Indians. In this social studies lesson, students locate the Gila River and the Coolidge Dam. Learners record dates on a timeline and discuss how...
Curated OER
Take Me to the River
Students learn about a different way of life. In this river and dams lesson plan, students discuss the Hoover Dam. Students then view pictures of the Hoover Dam, discuss the impact of dams, and compare life before and after building a...
Curated OER
Gold Mountain
Students read primary and secondary sources to find jobs as a Chinese immigrant. In groups they create a chart listing jobs for Chinese and write a letter about employment and living conditions to a Chinese friend.
Curated OER
Reflections on Poetry Readings
Eighth graders design and compile a booklet of published and original poems reflective of a specific theme.
Channel Islands Film
Arlington Springs Man: Lesson Plan 1
Learning to craft quality questions is a skill that can be taught. Class members use the Question Formulation Technique to learn how to create and refine both closed-ended and open-ended questions. They then view West of the West's...
State Bar of Texas
Schenck v. US
Freedom of speech is absolute—or is it? The Supreme Court case Schenck v. United States has learners research what free speech really looks like. A short video along with paired work creates open discussion and thought on what speech is...
State Bar of Texas
Mapp v. Ohio
Do you have a search warrant? Scholars investigate the concept of illegal search and seizure through the eyes of the Supreme Court case Mapp v. Ohio. A short video clip along with paired group work opens discussion on the concept of how...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Saved from the Gallows — the Trial of Leopold and Loeb
Was justice served for Bobby Franks? An informative article about the 1924 trial of Richard Loeb and Nathan Leopold includes an overview of the murder of Bobby Franks, the defense’s legal strategy, and excerpts of closing arguments from...
Curated OER
Produce a Nonfiction Text
In this language arts worksheet, middle schoolers look for the facts and create several nonfiction texts while including useful information for the reader.
Curated OER
Skateboard Renegade
Students read the novel, "Skateboard Renegade." Reading pairs read the novel with an eye out for characteristics of responsibility. They add to a responsibility chart as they find examples. They also read to identify vocabulary, cause...
Curated OER
What Type of Community?
Students compare and contrast suburban, rural and urban communities. They read books such as The Little Red Hen and identify the type of community in each book. Using computer software, they write about each type of community and...
Curated OER
Cause and Effect
Students identify cause and effect relationships in a short story. After reading a short story, they participate in a discussion of how one event in a story can lead to several others. Students are then paired for a matching task that...
Curated OER
A Novel Idea
Fifth graders read a historical novel. In groups they reenact chapters of the novel.
Curated OER
Strategic Skill: Evaluating Information Quality Using Electronic Sources
Fourth graders review and complete evaluating information quality. In groups, they research the diversity of the numerous Native American tribes in Montana. They complete a worksheet on evaluating sources on the Internet and share...
Curated OER
It's the Real Thing
Students listen to a read-aloud of Shel Silverstein's, The Giving Tree, identifying which parts of the story and which are make believe.
Curated OER
Historic Headline
Learners develop a newspaper headline based on factual events obtained from viewing a Florida Archives film clip. They brainstorm ideas and prepare a rough draft of their headline. They post headlines around the room for the entire class...
Curated OER
A Race to Watch: Campaign 2008, The Role of Technology and the Internet
Students listen to a statement about the role the Internet plays in the political process and respond by placing a card under the appropriate agree/disagree sign at the front of the room. Students brainstorm reasons to select their...
Curated OER
The Farmer Cares for the Land
Students identify cause and effect relationships in issues relating to agriculture and the environment.
Curated OER
Maize to Maquiladoras: Movement from Mexico to Arizona
Students label maps of Arizona and Mexico of the products that moved from one place to another. In this Arizona and Mexico lesson plan, students also summarize the effects of the movement on life in Arizona.
Curated OER
Why Did You Write That?
Second graders use actual written media to identify and discuss an author's purpose for writing. They identify the author's purpose in a selection from the newspaper, and write a short description of how they came to their conclusion.