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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Could the Solar System have Ten Planets?

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students react to statements about the solar system, then read a news article about a recently discovered object that could be another planet. In this space science and current events lesson, the teacher introduces the lesson with a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sequencing: Pictures Tell a Story

For Teachers K - 8th
Students listen to a story and observe five illustrations of the main events drawn by the teacher. They arrange the illustrations in sequential order. Then, working in groups of five, they read stories and select five events, one for...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"The Big Orchard Book of Funny Poems"

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students read and analyze various poems from the book "The Big Orchard Book of Funny Poems." They clap to the rhymes, identify patterns, compare and contrast poems, and write an alternative poem based on the poem "Christine Crump."
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

African Slaves in Haiti

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders examine how Africans were treated in the Caribbean and Haiti after reading about the Atlantic Slave Trade. From a multicultural information passage, they complete a time line on Toussiant L-Ouverture and write an obituary.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pets are Popular with U.S. Presidents

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students discuss their pets and read about pets that have lived in the White House. In this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a vocabulary activity and pet survey, then the students read the news article and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

National Turkey Off to Disneyland

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students share their holiday traditions, then read about an American Thanksgiving custom. For this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the news article with a discussion and vocabulary activity, the students participate in a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

No Choice!

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students investigate freedom. In this character development and U.S. history lesson, students participate in role playing in which the teacher assigns recess restrictions including whom they play with and what they play. Students discuss...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Responding to Literature

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders examine how to respond to literature. In this literature response lesson, 5th graders discuss how to respond to literature. They write a response in a literature log each night based on their reading and the connections...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Picture Books, Retelling, and Writing

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students create stories using only pictures.  In this visual storytelling lesson, students read Pancakes for Breakfast by Tomie de Paola and analyze the wordless story.  Students create new text for the book by writing on sticky notes.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

It's in the Elements - Lesson Four

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Young scholars compare and contrast story elements in two versions of Cinderella.  In this literature elements instructional activity, students are read two different versions of Cinderella, they identify the characters, plot, and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plot Mobiles

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Learners read folktales and identify the plot of the story by making a mobile. In this inventive and colorful lesson, students listen to a variety of famous folktales, and practice identifying the plot. Then, they work together to create...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Now and Then

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students record transformations and their effects within and across cultures. Students study the life of specific people in a former time period and then in the present time period. This teacher focused on the Winnebago tribe, using her...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

ESL Network: Tezen, A Haitian Folktale

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders brainstorm various types of friendships prior to reading "Tezen," a tale about a young girl's friendship with a fish. After writing story reviews, they work in small groups to create dramatic skits based on the text and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Planting Trees to Help the Planet

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students react to a series of statements about trees, then read a news article about the planned planning of millions of trees to celebrate Arbor Day. In this planting trees lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a discussion...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Magic Pot

For Teachers Pre-K
In this reading comprehension lesson plan, students use the book "The Magic Pot," to explore many concepts including; story elements, sequencing, and phonics. Students also practice making doubles using coins and "magic pots." This very...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Responsibility

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders make posters.  In this good citizens lesson, 2nd graders read Arthur's Pet Business, discuss the examples of good citizenship, share their responsibilities, and make responsibility posters.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

One Story, Many Tales

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students compare and contrast Cinderella stories. In this folktale lesson, students discuss the attributes of the genre and then read and research different cultural versions of the tale. Students present their findings to their classmates.
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Lesson Plan
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Post-Civil War American History

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders examine significant events in Post-Civil War America. In this Post-Civil War lesson, 5th graders investigate the important events after the war in 19th century America. They read primary source documents about six topics...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

African Americans Seen Through the Eyes of the Newsreel Cameraman

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders learn about this history of jazz music. For this musical influences lesson, 5th graders read God Bless the Childand listen to a recording of it. Students create a KWL chart on jazz and early 1900s music and dance. Students...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reach for the Stars

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students investigate the Underground Railroad. In this slavery instructional activity, students read books about slavery, the Undeground Railroad, and how slaves escaped the south. Students develop knowledge about coded songs and...
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French and Indian War: Make A Map

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders create a map of the battles that occurred during The French and Indian War. In this history lesson plan, 5th graders read about the war in their text books, then divide into groups to create a detailed map of a famous...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Stories of Hope: Dragonfly and Mosquito

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students identify and interpret the value of the dragonfly as a predator of the mosquito. They create their own folktales using the dragonfly or a creature of their choice to solve the malaria problem or another issue. Students also...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Common Good

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners explore the concept of philanthropy. In this service learning lesson, students read stories and then discuss the meaning of philanthropy as they identify ways the characters contribute to the common good.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Adventurous Magic

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students investigate storytelling by creating their own dialogue. In this writing development lesson, students read the story Jeremy Thatch, Dragon Hatcher in class and discuss their own magical object they wish to write a story about....