Curated OER
Pictures Telling Stories
Students see the importance of primary sources in the study of history, but also the limitations of relying only on primary sources of taking the money, as it were, at face value.
Curated OER
Money Talks
Students move from fact finding to interpretation as they examine paper money from the time of the American Revolution. In the final exercise, they use the issue dates of the bills to construct a chronology of political changes during...
Curated OER
Name Geneology Essay
Students research the meaning of their names and write an essay about their findings.
Curated OER
J’adore Blackpool, Chuck*: YouTube Lures the French to the British Seaside Resort
Ninth graders explore the British seaside resort Blackpool. In this British Travel ESL lesson, 9th graders read an article and answer guided reading questions. Students create a short story about what a person did in Blackpool.
Curated OER
Electricity 4
Fifth graders create a timeline of the most important dates and events involved in the history of electricity. Each student researches one scientist and designs and illustrates a piece of a poster board for the timeline.
Curated OER
Delving Into Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Rhetoric
Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech can inspire students to explore the world of rhetoric.
Curated OER
Meet Mikhail Ippolitov-Ivanov!
Learners listen to music and review instruments of the orchestra. They explore musical terms, solo, texture and theme of the music and discuss other features of the music. Students research and discuss the life of Mikhail Ippolitov-Ivanov.
Curated OER
Celebrating the Smithsonian's Birthday
Students examine online objects from the Smithsonian website and use them as subjects and inspiration for creative writing exercises.
Curated OER
Fujiyama
Students examine and discuss Mt. Fuji (Fujiyama) and its effect on the culture and philosophy of Japan. This high school lesson is ideal for a Social Studies, Humanities, or Asian Studies class.
Curated OER
Jam Sessions
Students examine the connection between sense of humor and jazz improvisation by identifying the musical instruments imitated by comedian Bill Cosby. They listen to another recording by Clark Terry and write what they think he might be...
Curated OER
Earth Connections
Students explore the concept of the planet Earth and its connection to the Native American traditional beliefs of 'Mother Earth.' Students describe and illustrate the Native American beliefs for 'Mother Earth.' Students interpret words...
Curated OER
A Cultural Look into the Faces of Mexican History
Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, Manuel de Elias, and Alfonso Garcia Robles have greatly inspired and sculpted Mexican cutlure and history.
Smithsonian Institution
Watching Crystals Grow
Amazing science can sometimes happen right before your eyes! The class gets cozy as they watch crystals grow. They use Epsom salts, rocks, and food coloring to create crystals. They'll observe the entire process, documenting every step...
Curated OER
Revolutionary Money
Examine paper money from the American revolution! Historians study the paper bills and discuss the history of money. How has money changed over the times? Activities are included.
Curated OER
Bill Robinson: Mr. Bojangles
Mr. Bojangles was born just after slavery was abolished and became one of the most beloved entertainers of his time. Explore key vocabulary, the life of an African-American entertainer, and the impact of the Harlem Renaissance on...
Curated OER
Looking at Photographs
Students evaluate photographs as historical documents and photographs as propaganda.
American Museum of Natural History
Being An Anthropologist: Laurel Kendall
Imagine studying Korean culture, especially the role of women, as well as marriage and religious rituals from home! Anthropologist Laurel Kendall shares what she has learned from her many trips to this fascinating country half a world away.
Curated OER
Reading Comprehension 8 Level 9
Interest your class with the idea of exquisite paintings and the forgeries created from them. This is a reading task; English language learners or native speakers read the text and answer the six questions that follow. Questions focus on...
Curated OER
Windows of Wisconsin (History)
Fourth graders research the history of Wisconsin. They explore Wisconsin's culture, sovereignty and environment. Using multiple computer technology resources (computer, scanner, camera, internet), 4th graders develop a book on the...
Curated OER
Views of the American West: True or False?
Young scholars explain that a landscape painting may or may not accurately represent a specific place. They identify techniques that create the illusion of three-dimensional space on a flat surface.
Curated OER
Plan an Advertising Campaign to Attract New Citizens
Students examine how to use visual media as a creative way of thinking about and responding to immigration issues. They conduct Internet research, and design and create a poster or brochure to attract new immigrant to Indiana.
Curated OER
Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad
Students examine Harriet Tubman's contribution to the Underground Railroad. They read and discuss an excerpt from the book "The Tamarack Tree," listen to the CD for the book "Follow the Drinking Gourd," and write a journal response from...
Curated OER
Country/State Flip-Book
Students produce books on a chosen state or country. The pages are cut to be the shape of the area being studied, and students creatively design each page to reflect the information being presented.
Curated OER
Lewis and Clark: The Language of Discovery
Students replicate some of the trailblazing methods of Lewis and Clark on a fifteen-minute "writing journey" through the school or neighborhood.