Curated OER
Peter the Great
Students recognize that Peter the Great modernized Russia. They write letters and complete journal entries in first person as if they were Peter the Great. In addition, they decorate their journal entries with scenes from his travels.
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I spy (Camouflaged Animals in Art!)
Students create a picture of a camouflaged animal in its habitat. In this visual arts lesson, students look at Hans Hoffmann's painting A Hare in the Forest and discuss the animal's camouflage. They research their own animal to create a...
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Energizing Resources
Seventh graders describe electrical energy and how it is produced. In this natural resource lesson, 7th graders explain the various ways of obtaining and using natural resources for energy and the environmental consequences. They will...
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Compare Human-made Objects with Natural Objects
Students examine and observe how many human-made objects get their basic design from things in nature. They listen to the book "Nature Got There First," compare/contrast hollow bones with drinking straws, bird beaks and tool pliers, and...
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Wild or Tame?
Students explore wild and domestic animals. In this animal activity, students define wild and domestic. Students are shown pictures of animals and choose if they are wild or domestic. Students name pets and name their wild counterpart....
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Rules of Force and Motion
Students view a video and complete experiments with force and motion. In this force and motion activity, students examine small pieces and how they affect the motion of a toy car. Students also experiment with sand paper, bubble wrap...
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A Distant View
Students investigate the essential concepts of how lenses work to magnify vision, and then build simple telescopes to demonstrate their understanding. They write a description of how their telescope could be improved and how it works.
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2002: The Year In Review
Young scholars research and create a book highlighting significant events and trends throughout the world in the year 2002. Then, through creative writing, they respond to the events or trends themselves and how they affected our world.
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Seasoning the School Year
Students observe the changes a class tree goes through as the seasons change and record observations in journals. They investigate changes in the weather, changes in the length of the day, and how that affects people. They create...
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The Earth Moves Under My Feet
Students study earthquakes, monitor seismic activity using the Web, and plot real-time activity. They examine movement of the Earth's tectonic plates. They create an earthquake preparedness project.
The New York Times
Researching the Researchers
Students match scientists with their major discoveries, choose one figure to research further, and co-author articles profiling the scientist and his or her achievements.
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How Electric Current Produces Energy
Fifth graders are introduced to the concept of electric currents. In groups, they develop their own game board to test different circuits to determine if they are complete. They record their observations of the energy transfer between...
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Earthquakes
Learners inspect the causes and effects of earthquakes and examine how seismic waves travel. For this earthquake lesson, students determine where earthquakes happen and why, before determining how to build an earthquake resistant...
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Human Fingerprints: No Two the Same
Sixth graders explore scientific observations by analyzing a group of data. In this fingerprint identification activity, 6th graders identify the reasoning behind fingerprinting and create their own ink fingerprints. Students discuss the...
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Changing Places
Students investigate the Chinese-American immigration experience. In this assimilation lesson, students watch "Becoming American: The Chinese Experience" and then participate in classroom activities regarding the topic. The activities...
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Parasite Development and Life Cycle
If you are new to teaching agriculture classes, this outline may be helpful when you are preparing a lecture on parasites in livestock. In addition to lecturing on this topic, the lesson plan suggests that learners research the life...
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Pebbles Sand and Silt
First graders investigate soil, sand and silt. In this environment lesson, 1st graders discuss how changes occur in the environment and the effects of weather. Students perform their own investigation and record their predictions,...
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How Are Boundaries Made, Kept, Broken?
Students write a first draft of an essay reflecting their opinions of Things Fall Apart. They complete their circle diagrams, have them approved by the teacher, and write their essays. They write in their dialectical journals as they...
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How Are Boundaries Made, Kept, Broken?
Students complete essays reflecting themes in Things Fall Apart. They use Microsoft Word to revise, edit, and complete their essays. They complete their dialectical journals for Things Fall Apart.
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Disaster Victims and Relief Efforts
Students examine the challenges faced by relief workers. In this earth science lesson, students brainstorm on things they want to find out about relief agencies. They research the answer to these questions and write a reflection journal.
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Teen Health: Talking with Your Doctor
Learners discuss common health care issues they're facing today. In this health science lesson, students explain the benefit of seeking professional help. They write a journal to keep track of their own health issues.
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Nest Construction and Area Management Activities
Students construct a nest for a fictitious ground-nesting bird.They create models of the bird (along with its eggs) that might theoretically live in this habitat. They write in a daily journal about what happens to their nests in a...
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Environment: Valley Walk-A-Thon
Students go on a nature hike and observe the different plants along their route. Various plants are circled with hula hoops and identified with flash cards. Older students write in their journals about their hiking experience while the...
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The Different Fresh Water Ecosystems
Students summarize the characteristics of an ecosystem. In this biology instructional activity, students identify five major fresh water ecosystem. They define terms and write a journal about what they learned.