Curated OER
That Was Then, This is Now
Students read about the effect of strict fur trading laws on the lives of the Inuit people in Canada, then use print and digital resources to compare past and present-day ways of life of several indigenous peoples around the world.
Curated OER
Does a Picture Always Say a Thousand Words?
Students read and discuss "Enigmatic Portraits of Teen-Agers Free of All Context," then choose a photograph and write a first-person narrative from the perspective of the subject.
Curated OER
Making History Relevant
Young scholars maintain a weekly news journal in which they summarize current news articles and then relate them to topics previously studied in history class.
Curated OER
Don't Be a Square
Students analyze the relationship between radius and diameter. Students read Sir Cumference and the First Round Table then take measurements of circular items from around the room. Students compute the radius, diameter and...
Curated OER
Reduce Reuse Recycle
Young scholars discover methods that can save the planet by recycling. In this sustainable planet lesson, students read The Berenstein Bears Don't Pollute Anymore, and practice memorizing the 3 R's. Young scholars write commitment...
Curated OER
Seeing in 3D: Interpreting Two-Dimensional Diagrams of Three-Dimensional Objects
Students hone in on their skills at reading diagrams. In this dimensional instructional activity students collect information on the functions of organs then figure out how all the parts work together.
Curated OER
Watergate Revisited
Students review Watergate Files and the Watergate Trial using Internet sites. They read about the people involved in Watergate. They discuss the events leading up to and after Watergate.
Curated OER
Outlining Main Ideas and Details Adapted from: Expository Writing by Tara McCarthy
Middle schoolers examine articles from a number of sources to determine their main ideas and details, and discuss them as a class. Using a worksheet, they practice outlining a report after watching a teacher demonstration of the...
Curated OER
Color, Play, Podcast
Students encounter the format of a podcast and plan what content they will include. They work in small groups or with the whole class to develop an outline. Students practice reading their scripts to other students.
Curated OER
Pumpkin Science
Young scholars investigate how plants grow by analyzing pumpkins. In this agricultural lesson, students read The Biggest Pumpkin Ever by Steven Kroll, and draw pictures of a pumpkin in each of its growing stages. Young scholars measure...
Curated OER
Locating Words
Students locate various basic sight words in an article or a story. They read the word list/worksheet, and independently locate and circle each word from the list on the article.
Curated OER
Reading and the Appreciation of Style
Students are introduced to hurricanes by answering questions. They practice using new vocabulary words. They work together in pairs to compare the words used in different levels of the text.
Curated OER
It's ALL Good!
Students work on summarization as a skill to increase their comprehension of full texts. They focus on determining the most important ideas from the texts they read by using the four steps to summarization. Using an online article, they...
Pimsleur
The Weather
What's it like out today, and what do you plan to wear? These are the two main topics for this Italian lesson plan. By the end of the plan, pupils should have a grasp of basic weather and clothing terms as well as a general understanding...
Texas State Energy Conservation Office
Investigation: Automotive Emissions and the Greenhouse Effect
It is recommended that you conduct this fabulous experiment as a whole-class demonstration. Collect air samples from the environment, human exhalation, and car exhaust, then compare them for carbon dioxide content using bromthymol blue...
Curated OER
Summarize This!
Students explore how to summarize a reading passage. They read non-fiction books. Students use a Venn Diagram to compare and contrast the two animals they read about. They write a summary using the information in their Venn Diagram.
Curated OER
Sum Stuff
Students are introduced to informational text. Students explore nonfiction as a genre. They identify the components and text structure of text nonfiction. Students read a nonfiction passage and write a summary of the passage.
Curated OER
"Beary" Super Summarizing!
Students practice the the strategy steps of summarization to assist them in remembering what they've read. They read and analyze a copy of the article "Hey, Bear' Beware" from Ranger Rick Magazine for content and important details.
Curated OER
News View
Students read and analyze three different news sources that describe the same event. They compare/contrast the similarities and differences of the news sources, and write an essay describing the main event.
Education World
Human Nature- Good or Evil?
Students explore the philosophical nature of good vs. evil. In this literacy/philosophy lesson, students read and discuss media articles that illustrate human nature as inherently "good" or "evil." Students practice debating skills and...
Curated OER
Africa Today
Students examine the AIDS crisis in Africa. In this global studies lesson, students watch "Medical Crisis in Africa," and read articles about AIDS in Africa. Students then research the topic and create awareness posters.
Curated OER
Summarization Made Easy
Students explore the concept of summarization. They discuss the importance of summarization and the steps to summarize a text. Students read a text and highlight the important or main ideas within the text. They discuss the information...
Curated OER
Simply Summarize
Learners review the concept of silent reading. Through modeling and guided practice, they follow five given steps in summarizing a written passage. Then they read a passage independently and follow the same steps in summarizing the...
Curated OER
Easy Steps for Summarization
Students practice techniques and strategies to assess mastery on the concept of summarization. They read, discuss and summarize the story, "How Goose Got Ready for Winter," by David Wingfield. Each student picks out the most important...