Curated OER
The Daily Idiom
What is an idiom? Learners identify and read common idioms. They discuss what idioms are, and are given a black line master embedded in the plan that has 100 common idioms. Next, they complete "The Daily Idiom" worksheet, which is...
Curated OER
Introducing Industries
If you are looking for a way to explore Michigan's resources, physical features, and more, this lesson is for you. After discussing Michigan and the Great Lakes, learners fill out a graphic organizer identifying the state's natural...
Curated OER
For the Love of Publication!
What is a ‘Zine? Although the referenced PBS video that launches this study of self-published magazines is not available, the activities detailed and the step-by-step directions for creating ‘Zines would engage young writers. This...
Civil War Trust
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Through a careful reading and examination of Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin, scholars take part in grand conversations about the novel's contents, slavery, and the impact the book had on it. Furthermore, learners analyze an...
Chicago Botanic Garden
Weather or Not
What is the difference between weather and climate? This is the focus question of a lesson that takes a deeper look at how weather data helps determine climate in a region. Using weather and climate cards, students decide if a statement...
Library of Virginia
An Overview of American Slavery
The final lesson in a unit study of American slavery asks young historians to synthesize what they have learned about how slavery in America changed over time. Revisiting the many documents they have examined, they consider the economic,...
Curated OER
Glossaries and Indexes
Fourth graders identify parts of a book including the glossary, index, and dedication. In this glossary and index activity, 4th graders complete a worksheet after studying the glossary and index from a Houghton Mifflin Social Studies...
Curated OER
Religious Dissent
Learners perform a readers theater about Anne Hutchinson and her religious dissent. In this religious dissent lesson plan, students re-enact her trial through the reader's theater.
Curated OER
Sorting
Pupils explore how books are sorted in a library. In this sorting lesson, students play a game where they have to fill the shelves with books that share a common theme. Pupils compare this game to a real library. Students discuss how a...
Curated OER
Sorting
Students sort class books into categories to help classify and organize them so they are easier to find. In this sorting lesson plan, students go to the library and see how they organize their books and do the same in the classroom.
Curated OER
Mythology Spreadsheet
Students read a large variety of myths and discuss the characters and their attributes found in mythology. Then they identify and learn to set up an appropriate spreadsheet program. Students also enter the data to the class spreadsheet...
Curated OER
Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Program
Here’s the overview for a series of lessons about the Japanese American internment introduced by the resource entitled “A Fence Away From Freedom.” Included are the link to the Smithsonian website on which the lessons are based, a list...
Curated OER
Planets for Sale
Student develop their technology skills. In this solar system instructional activity, 3rd graders create a movie featuring planets that they research. Students use flip video cameras to film commercials to market their planets.
Curated OER
How To Start Your Own Book Club: Artichoke's Heart
Students read the book Artichoke's Heart and complete discussion questions about it. In this Artichoke's Heart lesson plan, students discuss the book with the class in a book club format.
Curated OER
Dewey Decimal System
Learners examine the Dewey Decimal System. In this Dewey Decimal System lesson, students participate in a Dewey Decimal System competition in order to learn how books are categorized in the library.
Curated OER
Civil War Trading Cards
Students research important figures in the American Civil War. In this research skills lesson, students create trading cards about selected key figures in the war that list details about the figures and their accomplishments.
Curated OER
Thurgood Marshall
Students read about Thurgood Marshall and answer discussion questions about him. In this Thurgood Marshall lesson plan, students discuss the biography and history of him.
Curated OER
Railroad Idioms Art Lesson Plan
Sixth graders research railroad idioms. In this idiom lesson, 6th graders read through a glossary of different railroad idioms and their meanings. They illustrate a chosen idiom.
Curated OER
Kidspiration Lesson Plan
First graders are able to successfully create a web featuring five community workers from the school. They are able to include a digital photograph of each of the five community workers. Students are able to write one way that each...
Scholastic
Perfect Postcards: Illinois
Connect the geography and history of Illinois using an art-centered lesson on the railroads. The railroad connected once-distant places, particularly in the Midwest. Using research, class members create postcards of fictional cross-state...
Curated OER
Math is in the Cards!
Is the rainy day schedule disrupting your class? Here is a great way to practice basic addition, subtraction, and multiplication skills while building automaticity and problem solving. This activity provides the rules to three different...
Curated OER
Probability
Here is a classic activity used to introduce your class to the concept of probability and data collection. They will roll one die 30 times, then record and discuss the results. Great introduction, but too shallow to be considered a...
Curated OER
Vocabulary Development and Writing
Engage pupils in practicing denotative and connotative strategies to understand particular words. They work in pairs and write a series of sentences using each word that has a positive connotation and negative connotation. Some example...
Curated OER
Library of Congress Learning Page: The Historian's Sources Lesson Overview
Young scholars study techniques for analyzing primary sources. Finally, students apply these techniques to analyze documents about slavery in the United States.