Smarter Balanced
American West in the 1800s
To establish a context for an assessment or a study of pioneers and the American frontier in the 1800s, groups examine photos and record observations about clothing, housing, and travel.
Smithsonian Institution
The American Presidency: Grades 4-6
An interesting unit explains the American presidency from the campaign trail all the way to the role of the president. Historians participate in discussions, create posters, conduct Internet research, and more to gain an understanding of...
Curated OER
No Shadow of Doubt
Fifth graders must use a pencil to draw in the shadows they think will be formed by a house, a greenhouse, and a tree. The sun is behind each of these objects, and an open field is in front of them. That's where pupils draw their...
Poetry Out Loud
The Tabloid Ballad
What do the theme song from Gilligan's Island, the nursery rhyme "The Owl and the Pussy-Cat," and the poem "The Shooting of Dan McGrew" all have in common? Why, they're ballads of course! Challenge your young balladeers to compose their...
iCivics
Mini-Lesson: Executive Orders
Can the President of the United States pass a law all by himself? Scholars investigate the concept of the executive order in regards to the powers of the presidency. They use current issues and events to monitor media bias while also...
Curated OER
Families and neighborhoods
Students create their house to add to a class "neighborhood". In this activity on family and community, students read the book Family by Todd Parr and discuss how all families and houses are different. Then, students create their own...
Curated OER
Rebuiding Houses of Worship
Young scholars explore architecture as a reflection both of culture and history as well as practical/functional considerations. They discuss examples of local architecture they find beautiful or interesting, and their criteria for making...
Curated OER
Prairie Voices
Fifth graders compare and contrast a one room school house in Iowa in the past with how they go to school today. In this school lesson plan, 5th graders read about rural families and the controversies that they endured in the time of one...
Curated OER
Bedroom Floor Plan
Students discover how floor plans for houses, specifically, bedrooms are made. In groups, they compare the characteristics of floor plans and zoning ordinances in order to meet the needs of those using it. To end the lesson plan, they...
Curated OER
Firefighters
Students read books, learn about the letter f, and eat ice cream all to learn about firefighters. In this fire fighters lesson plan, students also string beads to look like fire hose and visit a fire house.
Curated OER
Faulty Powers?
Students explore the White House response to Richard A. Clarke's testimony and apology to the commission investigating the events of September 11, 2001.
Curated OER
Thoughts to the President
Students write a persuassive paragraph to the President stating their opinion on a topic. To do this, they start the message with a topic sentence such as "War is _____." The blank should contain a word or phrase expressing the student's...
Curated OER
Dear President Obama
Students write letters to the president as he begins his term. In this letter writing lesson plan, students discuss goals they hope the president will consider, and send good wishes to the president and his family. After the letters are...
Curated OER
Bears' House Vandalized, Witnesses Say Blonde Girl Spotted Fleeing from the Scene
Students explore journalism. In this expository writing instructional activity, students read several newspaper articles and note common features. After reading Goldilocks and the Three Bears by Jan Brett, students work with a partner...
Curated OER
The White Man's Opinion of the Plains Indians
In this plains Indians worksheet, students read a passage about the plains Indians and the "white man," then complete 3 related activities.
Curated OER
This Is My Home
Students listen to a read aloud of Mary Ann Hoberman's A House Is a House for Me before discussing the meaning of habitats and the different types of homes that people live in. Next, they pretend to be architects and design a home for...
Mary Pope Osborne, Classroom Adventures Program
Mummies in the Morning Egyptian pyramids, hieroglyphics
Visit the Magic Treehouse and take your class on a trip through time with a reading of the children's book Mummies in the Morning. Using the story to spark an investigation into Egyptian culture, this literature unit engages...
Curated OER
And You Thought Gasoline Was Expensive!
Students carry out a cost analysis. For this comparative math lesson, students compare the cost of equal measures of gasoline to mouthwash, house paint, fruit juice, white-out, and other liquids.
Arts & Humanities
Make a Souvenir Suitcase
Shoe boxes are fantastic for art projects! Kids create travel boxes, where they can store their travel memorabilia. Tip: Instead of using this idea to make travel cases, create social studies boxes instead. Kids will make these travel...
National First Ladies' Library
Women's Place is in the House...and Senate!
Students investigate the different women who have served in the United States Congress. They discuss Senator Hillary Clinton, conduct Internet research, and in small groups complete a grid that compares and contrasts the women who have...
Curated OER
Careers in the Capital
Students explore the role that the president plays in appointing persons into the Cabinet or White House positions. Various positions that they might like to hold are researched and the changes that a new administrations creates in those...
Curated OER
Women in Jazz
Students watch a video: "VH1 Millennium Jazz Festival From The White House" to become familiar with prominent women in jazz. They discuss the vocally oriented nature of jazz and the contributions made by women on and off stage.
Curated OER
Lincoln Home National Historic Site
Students investigate the community in which Lincoln and his family lived and explore how the citizens felt about him. The national issues that inspired Lincoln to act decisively in politics and that propelled him to the White House are...
Education World
Every-Day Edit: Alexander Graham Bell
In this everyday editing instructional activity, learners correct grammatical mistakes in a short paragraph about Alexander Graham Bell. The 10 errors range from capitalization, punctuation, spelling, and grammar.