Curated OER
Historical Heroes
High schoolers determine whether the ends truly justify the means by examining the behavior of historical and fictional heroes. They view and discuss film versions of Gangs of New York and Les Miserables. Then they break into small...
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Animal Signs
Students discuss the many different types of animal signs that can be used to identify and track animals. They participate in an hands-on activity in which they examine tracks, trails, homes, territory markings, and even "scat" left by...
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Teacher-Astronaut Offers New Lessons
Students read about teacher-in-space Barbara Morgan and life in space. In this space science and current event lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a vocabulary activity, then students read the news piece and participate in a...
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American History Digital Movie
Fifth graders create a video. In this historical presentation, 5th graders watch a video clip of a dramatization of a historical event in American History. Students discuss how this video was put together. Students divide into small...
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Designing "Green" to Save Our Green Planet
Students design an environmentally friendly home. In this middle school math/science lesson, students watch videos on creating green design. Students work in collaborative groups to determine what makes a house green and to design a...
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Investigation of Immigration
Students assume the role of a crime scene detective and examine the lives of various immigrant groups. In this immigration activity, students examine evidence, websites, and pull from existing knowledge to determine which group they are...
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Image Conscious
Students take a stand on the concept of changing their appearance. In this changing of ones image lesson, students create a design that would change their image and discuss the age they think they should be to make that change in their...
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'Twasn't the Night Before Christmas
Learners describe the elements that make up particular writers' styles. Small groups then choose an author, write something in his or her style, and invite other groups to play 'literary detective' in identifying whose style they have...
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Making Poetry Writing Fun!
Young scholars find a group of words from an unlikely source and turn them into a poem. They discuss the central image in two well-known poems by Langston Hughes and Emily Dickinson. They write their own short poem expressing one...
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A Historic Gamble
Young scholars explore and evaluate the economic impact of legalized gambling on Native American Indian communities. They draft short, persuasive speeches that take the perspective of a tribal elder appearing at a town council meeting.
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Do the Twist...(Learning about Screws)
Learners investigate how screws are a twisted incline plane. They observe the teacher screw a screw into wood and participate in a class discussion. Next, they make and test a prediction about how the spacing of the threads on a screw...
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Blood type Switch
Students read a text about blood groups and answer such questions as what, where and why regarding a scientific discovery. They complete vocabulary worksheets, comprehension exercises and utilize problem solving skills to decide who...
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Substance Abuse
Middle schoolers describe the effects of drugs on the human body, both short-and long-term consequences. They create personal approaches to substance abuse control and prevention. Students demonstrate effective practices in working...
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An Essay Concerning Human Understanding - Essay Questions
In this literature worksheet, students respond to 29 short answer and essay questions about Locke's "An Essay Concerning Human Understanding." Students may also link to an online interactive quiz on the novel at the bottom of the page.
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Halogens
Students identify the elements that belong to the halogen family on the periodic table. In this chemistry lesson, students describe the common characteristics of elements in this group. They research about hydrochloric acid's effect on...
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Encapsulating Moments in Time
Students look back at this year in history and evaluate important events, discoveries and people from 1998. They, in groups, create 1998: Year in Review. While 1998 has come and gone, the idea and intent for this lesson plan can be used...
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Tutu Calls For More Respect
Students read a newspaper article about a lecture given by Desmond Tutu on the topic of respect. They define vocabulary, complete comprehension worksheets, analyze the use of reflexive pronouns and prepare a short oral presentation on a...
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Grappling with Trade-Offs
Students are divided into groups representing different departments of the United States government. They identify the goals and needs of their department. They present their information to the class and answers comprehension questions.
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The Wright Stuff
In this instructional activity, students design an exhibition on the history of aviation for a science museum. For homework, they write short stories envisioning the future of flight in the year 2014.
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Recombinant DNA to Protect Crops
Students are asked to recount their greatest hopes and fears concerning DNA. One article states how worthwhile gene manipulation in plants can be. Classroom discussions arise after reading one article on this issue.
National First Ladies' Library
There's Only How Much? Rationing in World War II
Students discuss the idea of rationing as a restriction on the amount of something or the frequency with which something may be purchased or used in order to contribute to the greater good of the group which was what happened during...
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Far Out!
Students research and compare/contrast how routine tasks on Earth would be without gravity. They read and discuss the article "The Life Galactic: A Lot of Work, a Little Play, Plenty of E-Mail." In groups they write a pitch for a TV...
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Record or Perform Your Own Pod Cast
Students present a pod cast. In this information technology lesson, students determine the vital components to an informative and entertaining pod cast. Students discuss the purpose of a pod cast. Students write, rehearse and record a...
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Insulators and Conductors
Students conduct an experiment in which they create open and closed circuits. In this insulators and conductors lesson, students review open and closed circuits and then get in groups to make both kinds of circuit. Students use a...