Curated OER
Video Game Violence: Explore Possible Impacts
Introduce middle schoolers to the issue of video game violence with a multifaceted approach. Learners complete a gaming survey, as well as read and discuss a news feature about violent video game sales and a handout on stimulus...
Curated OER
Modern Minstrelsy: Exploring Racist Stereotypes in Literature and Life
Satires may be designed to expose a bias to ridicule but if misunderstood can they reinforce that bias? Langston Hughes poem, “Minstrel Man” opens a discussion of racist stereotypes, the minstrel tradition, and the musical, “The...
Curated OER
The Boy of a Thousand Faces
Students discuss what an illustrator is and illustrations help readers follow the story line. Using the illustrations, they identify the characteristics of facial proportions and draw their own face. They use glue to cover the lines...
Curated OER
The Ethics of the Bomb: What Would You Do?
Learners research the use of the atomic bomb in WWII, analyze the human costs of dropping the bomb and identify the pros and cons. They develop a PowerPoint presentation on the effects of an atomic bomb dropped on their hometown.
Curated OER
The Oceans
Learners read books and create a classroom museum based upon things they learn about the ocean. In this ocean lesson plan, students use 2 weeks to read and complete activities on the culture and environment of the ocean.
Curated OER
Bee a Reader
Use a fun tongue twister to help your class remember the /ee/ sound! With this activity, they distinguish between the sounds for short vowel e and long vowel e. They are introduced to the vowel patterns that comprise long vowel sounds,...
Curated OER
Manga and Me
Upper elementary and middle school learners study Manga cartooning and create a Japanese character based on their own features and personalities. This style of cartooning is easily-accessible for most young scholars. With a little...
Curated OER
Coming Home:From the Life of Langston Hughes
Third graders listen to the non-fiction book: COMING HOME: FROM THE LIFE OF LANGSTON HUGHES. They identify examples of metaphors and similies within the book and understand how this figure of speech is used in writing. They then create...
Curated OER
Investigating Stereotypes
Students study 'stereotype' in literature and life and give examples. they provide examples from life or literature on the origins and impact of stereotypes. they
3. Cite 3 - 5 individual African Americans from literature or life who...
Curated OER
Depicting Motherhood in Family Stories
Young scholars examine the roles of mothers and grandmothers by looking at black-and-white photographs of one American family and comparing that family's multi-generational story with their own. In this mothers and grandmothers lesson...
Curated OER
Heroes
Learners demonstrate racial awareness. In this diversity lesson, students read the book Heroes by Ken Mochizuki. Learners participate in a discussion about how the character was discriminated against. A follow-up reading of How Baseball...
Curated OER
Graphing Data
Second graders graph data about their classmates. For this data analysis lesson, 2nd graders ask each other several questions about their hair color and eye color. Students graph the data that they collected.
Curated OER
Folk Traditions in the Blues
Click here to download a PDF of this lesson. (2.8 MB) Overview This lesson will enable teachers to use the blues to explore selected topics in African American folklore. Students will learn about some of the African American cultural...
Curated OER
All About Me!
Students write about themselves. In this descriptive writing lesson, students view a PowerPoint for examples of descriptive writing and then write sentences describing themselves. Students use a computer program to type their sentences...
Curated OER
Retell the Story
Young scholars identify bias in books. In this character education lesson, students read a text and discuss any gender or racial bias which may be present. Young scholars retell and rewrite the story in a fair way.
Curated OER
Universal Suffrage
Young scholars explore concept of suffrage. For this voting rights lesson, students participate in a classroom activity that excludes girls from voting. Young scholars discuss gender issues and write essays regarding the restriction of...
Curated OER
Mystery and Mayhem
Young scholars use literature to examine the violence and loss of innocence during the 1960s. In this U.S. history lesson, students read Robert McCammon's Boy's Life to investigate the social unrest, violence and loss of innocence in the...
Curated OER
Spring Egg
Students create their spring egg out of construction paper. They design and complete a pattern on their egg made of pastel colors. They share their egg design with the class.
Curated OER
Robot Ratios
Students measure the activity and parts of a robot. In this algebra lesson, students explore ratio and proportion using their classroom. They apply properties of fractions as they cross multiply to solve problems.
Curated OER
Robert Plant and Jimmy Page, The Minstrels
Students explore "Stairway to Heaven". In this music history lesson, students examine the music and lyrics of the Led Zeppelin song. Students compare the song to Renaissance madrigal music.
K5 Learning
Hide and Seek
Hide and seek is a lot of fun whether you're the hider or the seeker! Second graders read a short passage about a game of hide and seek before answering four reading questions.
Digital Public Library of America
Teaching Guide: Exploring To Kill a Mockingbird
Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, considered by many to be a seminal piece of American literature, contains many complex literary themes that carry through United States history. Use a series of discussion questions and classroom...
Curated OER
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: Childhood Stories of Truth and Nonviolence
Fifth graders explore the childhood of Martin Luther King, Jr. In this nonviolent resistance lesson, 5th graders listen to their instructor present a lecture regarding the details of King's early life and how that life contributed to his...
Curated OER
Where I Am From
Students study selected poetry to gain an understanding of influences on values and personal identity. They explore language terms such as personification, imagery metaphors and allusion. After reading a poem and discussing it,...