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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Where Is Japan? How Are We Alike And Different?

For Teachers 1st
First graders use literature, maps, and globes to explain how physical environments in various parts of the world are similar to and different from one's own, and that certain areas have common characteristics and can be called regions.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Day-to-Day Life in a Small African Village

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Learners experience just a bit of what it's like living in a village in Tanzania-from language to geography to health and hygiene issues. They compare aspects of school and home life in the United States with those in Tanzania and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ceramics: A Vessel Into History

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students examine ceramic vessels from different time periods. In this ceramic vessel instructional activity, students work in small groups to look at images of ceramic vessels from a number of time periods. They identify the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Renaissance Trade and Exchange

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders map out trade routes. In this Renaissance time period lesson, 6th graders complete a Christopher Columbus Map Activity, discuss and identify the parts of a map, and locate Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Students...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

You're Invited to a Ceili: Exploring Irish Dance

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students recognize a Ceili as an Irish dance of celebration and investigate Ireland while studying the dance.  In this Irish dance lesson, students search the geography of Ireland, read poetry, identify costumes, draw and perform a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

New Food Saves Lives, Could End Hunger

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students locate the country of Niger, then read a news article about a new type of food that is being used to fight childhood hunger in Africa. For this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with map and vocabulary...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rising Temperatures Threaten Penguins

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students examine the continent of Antarctica, then read a news article about the decline in the Antarctic penguin population. In this current events instructional activity, the teacher introduces the article with a discussion and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Understanding Latitude, Longitude, and Time Zones

For Teachers Higher Ed
Students take an imaginary world tour by locating cities with latitude and longitude. They plan an itinerary and calculate the time zones from which they would call home. Then they construct word problems involving travel across time zones.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hunters and Gatherers

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders participate in mapping and other activities to understand why ancient civilizations developed as they did. In this ancient civilization lesson, 6th graders recognize that there were three important climate zones and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Why Koala Has A Stumpy Tail

For Teachers 1st
First graders read the story Why Koala Has A Stumpy Tail and complete language arts activities with it. Students have discussions, read, write, spell, and act out the story.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Letters from Rifka

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders read Letters from Rifka and discuss the feelings of people forced to leave their homes and countries.  In this migration lesson, 4th graders relate their feelings about moving from their home forever. Students trace...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Minerals and the Products of Mining

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students plot where minerals come from and have an awareness of how mineral use makes the world interdependent. They examine how to identify some sort of mineral products they use each day.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mapping West Virginia

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore West Virginia. In this Unites States geography lesson, 4th graders discuss the type of land and the cities in West Virginia. Students create two overlays, with transparencies, that show the natural land and the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Makes a Tropical Rainforest Special?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students examine the characteristics of the tropical rainforest. Using a map, they locate the rainforests found around the world, continents and the equator. Using the internet, they research the various layers of the rainforest and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Kids for Conservation: Animal Unit

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students discuss animal needs and characteristics. In this animal mini-unit, students complete three activities studying different animals, their needs, how they have evolved, and how to protect them.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Coral Reef Conservation

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students conduct discussions on current threats to coral reefs around the world and write letters to conservation organizations urging support for coral reef protection.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Well of Truth

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders explore the Egyptian folktale, The Well of Truth. In this folktale lesson, 2nd graders read the tale and discuss the events from the text. Students write a diary entry from the point of view of a character in the text....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plate Tectonics: Movin' and Shakin'

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students are introduced to the causes of plate movements and the hazards they present. They plot the location of 50 earthquakes and 50 volcanic eruptions on a map and explore the relationships between plate tectonics, earthquakes, and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Operation Iraqi Democracy

For Teachers 6th - 12th
For this lesson, students consider various forms of government and examine the idea of political sovereignty, then prepare outlines for oral presentations on international models of government. For homework, they write response papers...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pandemic Flu

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Young scholars review the difference between viruses and bacteria, and provide examples of illnesses that each can cause. To help students comprehend how quickly an influenza infection can spread, they perform an activity. They are...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Family Sells House to Help the Hungry

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students compare their wants and needs, then read a news article about a family that downsized their home to help African villagers. For this current events and poverty in Africa lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

History in the Making: The Tortilla

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders examine the history of the tortilla and extend the study across the curriculum. In this history of the tortilla instructional activity, 4th graders research the background of the tortilla, determine the ingredients, and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

An American Spy with Money To Spend

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders use their imagination, math, reading, computer, geography, and social studies skills in this unique, innovative, and fun lesson where students pretend to be international spies!
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plate Tectonics: Recycling the Seafloor

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students classify earth's layers and plates using Ocean Seismicity data. In this plate tectonics instructional activity, students outline where the plate boundaries are on the world map. They then compare these predicted boundaries with...