This unit focuses on measurement and data for second-grade. The second-graders learn how to accurately measure natural objects using nonstandard units (unifix cubes) and standard units (inches). During field experiences, the students learned how to use field guides and how to collect data for a BioBlitz. Students used their data to create bar graphs, picture graphs, and analyzed their data.

This kit explores how sustainability has been presented in the media with a particular focus on issues related to food, water and agriculture. Each of the 19 lessons integrates media literacy and critical thinking into lessons about different aspect of sustainability. Constant themes throughout the kit include social justice, climate change, energy, economics and unintended consequences.

The medicine wheel has many teachings about balance in life: from ourselves to directions, to life stages, to medicines, to seasons, to elements, and many more. Here to share a few teachings through meditation, drawing, and CGI math. 

Through the use of culturally-relevant texts in a 3rd and 4th social studiens unit on Menominee history, students took a deep dive into learning about the significance of the Lake Sturgeon. Traditional stories as well as nonfiction pieces from and about the Menominee people, students experienced the interconnectedness of the people and their environment.A summary of student learning experiences as well as a bibliography of texts are included as part of this OER.

What do Prairie Chickens Need in Order to Survive Today's Prairie?

This middle school unit covering ecosystems, animal behavior and symbiosis was developed through the Storyline approach. Middle school students will be figuring out why prairie chickens have a very unique dance and understand the role cows play to help ensure the dance takes place. Using this approach, students engage in science concepts to help ensure the survival of the prairie chicken.

This project is addressing the needs of a consistent standards-based curriculum for our middle school. The new Wisconsin Social Studies Standards have altered what needs to be taught at all levels and our current middle school social studies curriculum does not address these standards. We are also in a situation that several teachers teach social studies along with other subjects and this curriculum will address the need for consistency and providing these teachers with exact objectives and standards for their classrooms. The project's intended audience is middle school teachers and students. Grades 6-8. The anticipated impact is that students taught under this curriculum will have a solid base of knowledge in all areas of the social sciences. This will impact their ability to be successful in future social studies classes- specifically high school classes that are more specific and will build off the knowledge learned in middle school. It will also impact the teachers that will be teaching the curriculum as it will provide a well-laid out plan and expectations that will hopefully make their planning easier and more consistent. This will also in term alleviate some of the issues the high school teachers are currently seeing with students coming in with a weak knowledge base.

This unit will examine the scientific concepts of water cycle and watersheds. It will also go into historical events that have contributed to increased access to clean water as well as crises that exist around the world. We will explore the question ‘is water is a right’ and explore if it should be a shared societal priority to keep it clean. Finally, students will advocate for the importance of caring for and cleaning the water around us.

Students prepare an already published scholarly article for presentation, with an emphasis on identification of the author's thesis and argument structure.

"The Rohingya, a religious and ethnic minority in Burma, went from being citizens to outsiders and became the targets of a sustained campaign of genocide. By exploring the online exhibition Burma’s Path to Genocide, students learn how government policies and the proliferation of hate speech led to genocide of the Rohingya. Rohingya are still at risk of genocide today."

This module is intended to support a team of educators, or individual educators, in thinking through ideas for modifying an existing science unit to bring in more NGSS and storyline elements. It could also be used by a facilitator to guide a workshop (or series of workshops). The hope is that this type of unit will better support all students’ understanding and engagement.

Author: Ned Dorff, Teacher, Aldo Leopold Community School, Green Bay Area Public SchoolsUnit Title: Monarch MathGrade Level: 2nd gradeContent Areas: Mathematics, Science, Social StudiesContext: Second grade students engaged in a seven-lesson integrated math, science, and social studies unit of study of monarch butterflies, migration, life cycles, and habitat needs. The unit concluded with students proposing environmental actions to help protect and support the endangered Monarch butterfly.

In this online, interactive module, students learn how enhanced Earth remote-sensing capabilities are used by dozens of satellites that are continuously collecting data from multiple vantage points. This allows scientists from different countries to transcend political and geographical boundaries by sharing data and ideas towards the common mission of caring for planet Earth. The module is part of an online course for grades 7-12 in satellite meteorology, which includes 10 interactive modules. The site also includes lesson plans developed by teachers and links to related resources. Each module is designed to serve as a stand-alone lesson, however, a sequential approach is recommended. Designed to challenge students through the end of 12th grade, middle school teachers and students may choose to skim or skip a few sections.

This three-part lesson plan provides information about weather, climate, tides, and changing sea levels.

Judy Moody is on a mission to save the rain forest. Not only has she chosen to make this her mission, she is also determined to make it the mission of her unknowing family.

Students will whistle while they work on this lesson, creating a photomontage movie of their interpretation of a favorite song's lyrics that will end everyone's day on a high note.

This is a story about Saruni, a young boy, and his family, who are both consumers and sellers in a market in Tanzania. There are many enticing items at the markert, but Saruni decides to save his money so he can buy a bike to help his mother take heavy loads to sell at the market.

In this folktale, the town of Barletta faces destruction until Zia Concetta asks the towns giant statue for help. With a clever idea, help from the townspeople and an onion, the giant outwits the army and restores peace

Through two lessons and four activities, students learn about nanotechnology, its extreme smallness, and its vast and growing applications in our world. Embedded within the unit is a broader introduction to the field of material science and engineering and its vital role in nanotechnology advancement. Engaging mini-lab activities on ferrofluids, quantum dots and gold nanoparticles introduce students to specific fields within nanoscience and help them understand key concepts as the basis for thinking about engineering and everyday applications that use next-generation technology nanotechnology.

Detective Nate the Great searches San Francisco for a lost joke book. He discovers that the wrong place can be the best place to look for a lost item.

Teachinghistory.org (National History Education Clearinghouse) offers resources to teachers in multiple ways.  Three sections outline teaching materials, history content, and best practices in teaching history.  There are links for elementary, middle, and high school teachers, with everything from complete lesson plans to general outlines of historical events and skills.  You can also access research on the state of history education in the country, as well as a blog and the teachinghistory.org community.