National Gardening Association
Migration Mishaps
Elementary ecologists pretend to be migratory hummingbirds. They fly between wintering and nesting grounds, trying to reach a habitat haven. In a musical-chair fashion, some birds will miss out, and are removed from the game. To further...
Chicago Botanic Garden
Faces of Climate Change
You know global warming is real when your squirrel feeder is full of popped corn instead of kernels! Activity two in a series of five allows learners to explore climate change through the eyes of another. After briefly analyzing their...
Curated OER
Making Decisions About Public Land
Learners write a proposal. In this public land lesson, students discuss the difference between private and public property and brainstorm what problems might occur if a citizen changed public property. Learners work in groups to write a...
Curated OER
Bits and Pieces
In this activity, students will use a collection of objects as the basis for writing a tale about the people who used them.
Curated OER
What's In A Name
Second graders write a paragraph about their findings on what their name represents. In this writing lesson plan, 2nd graders will research their name and why they were named that. They will draw a picture that represents them along with...
Curated OER
Eastern Woodland and Plains Indians
Second graders are introduced to the American Indian tribes - Eastern Woodland and Plains Indians. They complete various comparison activities to explore how differently they lived.
Curated OER
Panther Scavenger Hunt
Students research a website to learn about the Florida panther. In this animal research activity, students use the scavenger hunt directions to search a website about Florida panthers. Students also solve word puzzles within the activity.
Curated OER
Comparing Ratios
In this comparing ratios worksheet, students solve and complete 3 different problems using the screens shown. First, they write a ratio that compares the shaded part to unshaded part illustrated. Then, students use the same grid to...
Curated OER
Town Growth and Immigration
Fourth graders describe how Michigan has changed and stayed the same over time. They explain reasons why people settled/settle in Michigan, then explain the role of geography on the settlement of Michigan.
Curated OER
What's In a Name?
Students examine the origins of the names of U.S. states, focusing on names that were derived from Native American words. They are provided with lists of the names of the 50 states, and then research online or in library resources the...
Curated OER
Polar Bears and Ice
Students explore the Arctic food chain. They examine the needs of the polar bear and the threat that global warming poses to them. Students write a letter to a local political representative explaining what they have studied and...
Curated OER
Basic Guide to Writing an Essay
Introducing your class to essay writing? The gentle tone, concise explanations, and clear examples provided by a 17-slide presentation introduces young writers to the expository essay format. All that's missing is a complete essay with...
Curated OER
Leaf, Tree and Prairie Study
Students are introduced to the topic of Botany and the process of photosynthesis. Using various habitats, they research the amount of destruction it is facing and how to solve the problem. They make a leaf booklet with leaves they find...
Curated OER
What Effect Does Climate Have on Wildlife?
Students explore the international scope of climate change. They identify variables that cause changes in the climate. Students examine how changes in climate affect the food chain.
Achievement Strategies
CCSS Unit Design Template for Art
Art classes, like any lab class, require extensive preplanning and set-up time. Use this planning template in the quiet before the storm to identify the equipment and materials that will be needed, the procedures and processes...
Curated OER
Jack-O-Latern Lesson
Have a Happy Halloween and build strong oral language skills. Special needs Pupils functioning at a moderate level can practice sequencing, writing lists, and using oral language by explaining how they carve a pumpkin.
Curated OER
Understanding a Legislator
Using a videoptaped segment of a Connecticut legilative session, learners role-play designated legislators, researching positions, and making presentations. They compare their class votes with the actual outcome.
Curated OER
Battlefield Walks
Young scholars create a picture of a Civil War battle using Google Earth. In this Civil War lesson, students pick a battlefield and research it with a partner. They find the location on Google Earth and use colors and overlays to show...
Curated OER
Visualizing Vocabulary in an Ecosystem
Sixth graders observe the pond ecosystem. In this ecosystem activity, 6th graders observe the organisms at the pond and create a poster that illustrates the pond.
Curated OER
Hi, Deer!
Students collect, organize by table, and examine census data in a simulation, estimate the size of the population in the simulation and make predictions based on the collection of census simulation data.
Curated OER
Introduction to Materials Science
Students locate, identify and describe the purpose and proper use of all safety equipment in the classroom. They describe the processes involved in following the scientific method, and classify matter according to natural or synthetic...
Curated OER
Lead Contamination Scenario
Students are introduced to a scenario, and students use an inquiry-based learning module to generate questions, draft a research plan, and generate possible solutions. They create a dossier on each of three identified cases.
Curated OER
Scientist Tracking Network
Students correlate surface radiation with mean surface temperature of several geographic regions. They observe how these parameters change with latitude and construct an understanding of the relationship of solar radiation to seasonal...
Curated OER
The Power of Words in "Charlotte's Web"
Students analyze the text in Charlotte's Web. In this language arts lesson, students dissect the passages from Charlotte's Web, specifically the adjectives Charlotte used to describe Wilbur. Finally, students play a game using "word...