Curated OER
Where Did Foods Originate? (Foods of the New World and Old World)
What do papayas, peanuts, pineapples, and potatoes have in common? Why, they are foods explorers brought back to the Old World. Young researchers use the Internet to investigate how New World explorers helped change the Old World's diet....
Illustrative Mathematics
Sarah, the chimpanzee
Is Sarah, the chimpanzee, smart or just a lucky guesser? Here, learners set up a simulation and read a dotplot to find out the likelihood of getting 7 out of 8 questions correct. One suggested modification would be to have your class...
Curated OER
Calling All Teens: Exploring Product Designs and Marketing Strategies Geared Towards Teenagers
Learners consider the marketing of cellphones to teenagers as a springboard to designing products and related marketing strategies aimed at specific segments of the teen market.
Curated OER
Slick Moves
Students examine the Bush Administration's plan to drill for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge from varying points of view.
Curated OER
Small Wonders
Students investigate some of the 'mysteries' of the animal, marine and insect worlds, and create student books explaining their findings to younger students.
Curated OER
Critical Path
Students widen their understanding of the different points of view surrounding current news topics. They research a current controversy on which public opinion is divided and write a concise commentary on the topic expressing a strong...
Curated OER
Rebuiding Houses of Worship
Students explore architecture as a reflection both of culture and history as well as practical/functional considerations. They discuss examples of local architecture they find beautiful or interesting, and their criteria for making such...
Curated OER
Un-Presidented Election
Students explore the results of the 2000 presidential election. They look back at important issues in the campaign and write newspaper articles which cover specific angles on the election.
Curated OER
Trading Cards for the 21st Century
Students are introduced to sports trading cards that can be 'played' in a compact disc player. They discuss why improvements are made to entertainment products, why they often become successful, and then develop and market an innovative...
Curated OER
MP3-Ring Circus
Students explore the meaning of copyright and copyright issues surrounding the use of downloaded music.
Curated OER
Setting the Stage from the Page
Pupils examine the differences between the portrayal of characters in books and in motion pictures. Using the novel, The Kite Runner, students discuss the ways in which the characters can be interpreted. Pupils create original artwork...
Curated OER
Immigration to the Golden Land: Jewish Life in America
Pupils examine Jewish life in America. For this social studies lesson, students read the article "We Shall Go to America" which features the experiences of Jewish immigrants in America. Pupils respond to questions regarding the document...
Curated OER
'And Maybe I Can Change That Too'
Students consider their own prejudices and stereotypes. In this social justice lesson, students monitor their own reactions to people who are different from themselves. Students watch a video featuring Toni Morrison that presents a...
Curated OER
Who Is Family? Analyzing Family Photos
Young scholars examine families through photography. In this interdisciplinary lesson, students examine photographs of families and discuss the attributes of families. Young scholars select family photographs to analyze in writing.
Curated OER
Is There A Formula for People?
Young scholars explore proportions which are typical of the human body. Given a list of classic proportions from earlier centuries, students work in pairs to test the validity of the proportions. Pupils share their personal...
Curated OER
Accountable Terms
Students examine concepts, terms and organizations necessary to explain the basis of a speech by President Bush on corporate responsibility. They read and analyze the speech.
Curated OER
Justice Served?
Students familiarize themselves with high-ranking Bush administration officials who have recently resigned and with various elements of political cartoons. THey research the role of the attorney general and the issues that surrounding...
Curated OER
High-Tech Heaven?
Young scholars read and discuss, "Post-Christmas Comes a Geek's Gizmo-Rama" by David Pogue. They consider how technologies they use impact their lives.
Curated OER
The Wind-Up and the Pitch
Students consider how sound affects one's experience at a ballpark and the ways that the acoustics at a baseball stadium might be improved. Students then recommend their own designs for a "soundly built" baseball stadium.
Curated OER
Spring Harvest
Students engage in a instructional activity that is interested in the foods related to the season of Spring. They conduct research using a variety of resources while creating menus to match the regions of The United States. Students...
Curated OER
Love Them or Leave Them?
Students describe their pet and their feelings towards it and record their descriptive phrases on the board. They arrange comments on a spectrum from negative to positive. They read the article The Ambivalent Bond With a Ball of Fur and...
Curated OER
Japan: A Cultural Study
Third graders "take a trip" to Japan. They discover what life is like for a typical Japanese child and compare/contrast it to life in America. They give an oral presentation of Japanese holidays and festivals.
Curated OER
Why We Count
Students visualize census data on a map and use a map key to read a population map. In this census lesson, students use a map of the Virgin Islands and corresponding worksheets to gain an understanding of population density.
Curated OER
Pond-life Safari
Students determine the living and non-living parts of pond life. In this pond life lesson, students examine the plants, animals, and insects that live in ponds. They look through a variety of print media, cut out pictures, and arrange...