Austin Independent School District
Social Studies Strategies: Concept of a Definition Map
Model for your class members how to use a definition map to make connections between new words and prior knowledge. Although the strategy is designed for social studies classes, the approach can be use at any grade level and in any...
Keys to Literacy
Story Map
Recording the key elements of a story (title, setting, characters, problem, ending) on a story map graphic organizer provides primary readers a chance to practice identifying these elements and promotes reading comprehension. The...
Curated OER
Mapping the Human Genome
Students study DNA and how it was discovered. In this biology lesson students see the effects of mapping the human genome would have.
Keys to Literacy
Story Map
Here's a graphic organizer that promotes comprehension by asking class members to record the elements of a story. Using the provided template, readers identify the setting, the major characters, the problems they face, and the...
Curated OER
Understanding Stage Design: Using Visual Elements to Provide Information to an Audience
Middle schoolers study about theatrical design by developing environments for improvised and scripted scenes. They develop focused ideas for an environment using visual elements.
Curated OER
Playground Mapping
Students review their physical models of the objects on their playground at school. Using the model, they convert it into a map with a scale and key. To end the lesson, they use the map to locate different objects and measure the...
Curated OER
Taxonomic Keys
Seventh graders create their own dichotomous key. In this biology lesson, 7th graders classify animals based on their observable features. They explain how to use their dichotomous key.
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Scientific Inquiry Using WildCam Gorongosa
How do scientists determine what questions to ask to meet their research goals? Help your class develop an inquiry mindset with a lesson based on studies in the Gorongosa National Park. Partners create their own research questions by...
Radford University
Parallel Lines Cut by a Transversal
Use the parallel lines to find your way. After first reviewing geometric constructions and the relationships between angles formed by parallel lines and a transversal, young mathematicians write proofs for theorems relating to parallel...
Gfletchy
Deep Freeze
Warm up to the idea of subtracting integers. After watching a video where the contents of a cup instantly freeze when tossed into the air, pupils estimate the air temperature of Duluth, Minnesota (where the video was made). They then use...
Simon & Schuster
A Teacher's Guide to 1776 by David McCullough
David McCullough's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, 1776, is the focus of a 28-page teacher's guide. The guide includes pre-reading questions, background information about key British and American figures, and chapter-by-chapter lessons.
Mathematics Assessment Project
Buying Chips and Candy
As a middle school assessment task, learners first two write equations representing their purchase of chips and candy bars. They then solve the system of equations to find the price of each item.
National Wildlife Federation
Go with the Flow
The quality of a watershed has a direct impact on the community it services. Learners study their own watershed using a topographical map. They recreate the watershed components using colored pencils to track the upstream and downstream...
Alpha Omega
History and Geography—Two World Wars
Here's a combination textbook/workbook that examines the conditions in Europe that lead to World War I. Ideal for homeschoolers as well as classroom use.
Discovery Education
Sonar & Echolocation
A well-designed, comprehensive, and attractive slide show supports direct instruction on how sonar and echolocation work. Contained within the slides are links to interactive websites and instructions for using apps on a mobile device to...
EngageNY
Reading Closely to Expand Understanding of Adaptations
Third graders work to determine the main idea, recall key details, and answer questions using an informational text on the topic of animal adaptations. Using the non-fiction text "Staying Alive: Animal Adaptations" (provided) the teacher...
EngageNY
Mid-Unit Assessment: Close Reading of Bullfrog at Magnolia Circle: Bullfrog Life Cycle
The sixth lesson plan in this Bullfrog at Magnolia Circle unit assesses your third graders' ability to read and understand informational text. The included assessment asks learners to take notes about the main idea and supporting...
Curated OER
Neighborhood Map Machine
Second graders study building placements in a neighborhood. They discuss businesses, roads, houses, rivers, police/fire stations, and use Neighborhood Map Machine to create a new map. They complete an exploratory map and community of...
Curated OER
Hemingway Hangouts
Students use printed maps and websites to estimate driving distances and plan routes to Hemingway's home. They visit several locations online and record facts about each location.They calculate, distances, driving time, and other factors.
Curated OER
Using Literature to Introduce the Five Themes of Geography
Pupils listen to a read aloud of "If You Grew Up With Abraham Lincoln". Using the text, they identify examples of the five themes of geography and write them down. Using a map, they plot the places mentioned in the book and sort facts...
Curated OER
Regions of South Carolina
Third graders explore the 5 regions of South Carolina. In this regions instructional activity, 3rd graders locate the regions on a map and compare and contrast the areas. Students have sentence strips that have facts about the regions on...
Curated OER
Fourth Grade Social Studies
In this social studies worksheet, 4th graders answer multiple choice questions on state maps, city maps, road maps, political maps, and more. Students complete 25 multiple choice questions.
Curated OER
Our World With MapsQ
Students examine and compare different types of maps. In this map skill lesson, students look at neighborhood and national maps on the overhead projector while making comparisons of the symbols and locations. They use a T-chart to record...
Curated OER
Finding Your Way on the Farm
Third graders make a grid map. In this directionality lesson, 3rd graders review how to use a grid to locate objects or places on a map. Students draw a grid map of the classroom and locate seating assignments. Students create a grid of...