Curated OER
Medieval Castles: Ceramic Art Lesson
A lot went on in Medieval Castles, and they were an obvious symbol of feudal power. Have learners use clay to make a Medieval-style castle to show what they know about Europe during the Dark Ages. This resource provides basic background...
Curated OER
Casting Light On The Dark Ages
High schoolers write a 250-word report on their findings, comparing life in the Middle Ages to what they already know about life today. They explore a website imbedded in this plan to do their research.
National Endowment for the Humanities
The Beauty of Anglo-Saxon Poetry: A Prelude to Beowulf
Riddle me this! What do kennings, caesura, and alliteration have to do with the Nowell Codex? Introduce class members to Anglo-Saxon poetry and prepare readers for a study of Beowulf with a series of activities that includes asking...
Teaching Women's History
Medieval Women
Not all the women in the late Middle Ages (1400-1510) lived lives of quiet desperation. Young historians study images and read primary source documents to gain an understanding of what life was like for the elite class of medieval women.
Curated OER
Casting Light On The Dark Ages
Students research life in the Middle Ages on the internet and write a comparative analysis of the differences between life in the Middle Ages and life today.
Curated OER
A Medieval Mystery: Can you decode the dark secrets of this cartoon?
Students discover coding in medieval cartoons. For this medieval mystery lesson, students view cartoons from history to see if they can identify the clues or solve the mystery.
Curated OER
Aging of Trees
Young scholars examine tree rings to determine its age. In this tree ring lesson, students examine core tree samples, identify the tree rings, and then determine its age. Young scholars complete a worksheet, deciding which of the two...
Curated OER
Tree Rings
Fourth graders explore tree rings. For this plant biology lesson, 4th graders construct a KWL chart on tree rings and examine real tree rings. Students identify the changes that happened during the tree's life and its actual age....
Curated OER
The Odds of Dying During a Plague
Sixth graders explore plagues in the middle ages. In this social studies lesson, 6th graders examine the impact of deadly plagues on past societies and how the governments were forced to make drastic changes in response to the plagues
Curated OER
Checkmate: Chess, and the connection to the Middle Ages
Students investigate the different aspects of Medieval Times and the connection to chess. In this world history lesson, students complete a chart answering questions about the lifestyles of men and women in the Medieval Times. Students...
Curated OER
Exploring Arthurian Legend
Students use the internet to track the growth of the King Arthur legend from the Dark Ages to its arrival on the silver screen.
Curated OER
Feudalism
Young scholars have tournaments in teams after learning information about The Middle Ages. In this Middle Ages lesson plan, students learn that tournaments are mock battles, but that they will have these battles by answering questions in...
Curated OER
Lesson Plan: A Guided Tour
Albert Bierstadt's painting Wind River Country shows viewers how a reader progresses through a story. Your class studies the light and dark areas, how the eye moves across the painting, and what attracts the audience to the work, and...
Curated OER
My Own Backyard
Students explore and react to the painting The Road to Santa Fe. In this interacting with art instructional activity, students locate various objects in the painting. Students copy the angle of objects by using their bodies. Students...
Baylor College
Do Plants Need Light?
Turn your classroom into a greenhouse with a lesson on plant growth. First, investigate the different parts of seeds, identifying the seed coat, cotyledon, and embryo. Then plant the seeds and watch them grow! Measure the new plants...
Penguin Books
Addressing Text Complexity - Making Independent Reading Meaningful
Many English teachers dream of a classroom full of readers silently enjoying their books. A useful guide helps make that dream become a reality by providing book recommendations for a range of readers. Each suggestion includes the...
Curated OER
Songs About Age
Young scholars discuss common attitudes about aging that are found in popular songs and how music is a means to explore attitudes about aging in this one-day lesson plan ideal for a middle-level general music classroom. The lesson plan...
Curated OER
Reading in the Dark
Students explore the possible link between nearsightedness and reading in low light.
Curated OER
Crayon Resist
Kids usually love crayon resist projects. It is so fascinating for them to see how the dark paint accentuates and resists the waxy crayon. Here are instructions for executing a crayon resist project of your own. Tip: Make the project fit...
Curated OER
Controversial Columbus
Seventh graders examine the controversial role of Christopher Columbus. In this Christopher Columbus lesson, 7th graders determine what Columbus was like and what his motivations were as they research print and Internet sources.
Curated OER
A Prelude To Beowulf
Students study the literature and literary techniques of the early Middle Ages, thus preparing students to read Beowulf with an appreciation for its artistry and beauty. Students solve online riddles, write riddles and study Anglo-Saxon...
Curated OER
Tree-ring Dating
Students complete activity sheets and participate in discussions while they study dendrochronology. They determine a tree's age and recognize how the climate varied over time.
Curated OER
A Fish Tale
Students investigate the lives of fish. In this biology lesson plan, students demonstrate how fish cells respond to fresh and salty water, determine the age of a fish and if temperature effects the movement of a fish's operculum (gill...
Curated OER
Camping/Catching Fireflies
Young scholars create glow in the dark simulated lightning bug jars after reading stories about fireflies.