Browse lesson plans

Archaeobotany

In Intrigue of the Past, page 2.6

Students will use pictures of seeds, an activity sheet, and a graph to identify seven seeds and the conditions in which they grow. They will also infer ancient plant use by interpreting archaeobotanical samples and determine changing plant use by Native North Carolinians by interpreting a graph of seed frequency over time.

Format: lesson plan (grade 4–5 and 8 Science and Social Studies)

Benjamin Banneker

In The Walking Classroom, page 10

In this lesson for fifth grade language arts and science, students learn about famous inventor, scientist, astronomer, and writer, Benjamin Banneker.

Format: lesson plan

CSI Dublin: The Hunt for the Irish Potato Killer

In these lesson plans, students will act as CSI agents investigating the mysterious pathogen that caused the massive potato crop failure and resultant Great Famine of 1845 in Ireland.

Format: lesson plan (multiple pages)

Galileo Galilei

In The Walking Classroom, page 9

In this lesson for fifth grade language arts, students learn about Galileo Galilei's life and work.

Format: lesson plan

Good medicine

Students will examine changes in technology, medicine, and health that took place in North Carolina between 1870 and 1930 and construct products and ideas which demonstrate understanding of how these changes impacted people living in North Carolina at that time. To achieve these goals, students will employ the eight intelligences of Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligences Theory.

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies)

By Leslie Ramsey.

History of astronomy scavenger hunt

A unit on astronomy inevitably and rightfully begins with a look at the history of astronomy. This activity provides students with an opportunity to learn the basic facts of the history of astronomy by using the internet.

Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 Science and Social Studies)

By Mark Clinkscales and Carrie Palmer.

History of atomic theory

This lesson is developed for a regular low level physical science class. In small groups, students will use media and written script to learn and teach each other about major contributions to the development of the atomic theory.

Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 English Language Development and Science)

By Anya Childs and Rhonda Garrett.

Profiling a potato killer

In CSI Dublin: The Hunt for the Irish Potato Killer, page 3

In this lesson, students use internet resources to determine the factors behind the potato blight that led to the most destructive famine in human history. Students will use the scientific method and inquiry to determine how the pathogen spread over the world and learn some of the historical context surrounding this tragedy.

Format: lesson plan (grade 8–12 Science)

By Rebecca Hite.

Salt trading in Asia

In this interdisciplinary lesson, students explore the mineral salt from a variety of perspectives — scientific, geographic, and cultural. The lesson incorporates images of salt production in Nepal and Vietnam. It may be used with grade 4 or grade 7.

Format: lesson plan (grade 4 and 6–7 English Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies)

By Edie McDowell.

The Walking Classroom

Lesson plans and podcasts aligned to the fifth grade curriculum.

Format: lesson plan (multiple pages)

Resources on the web

Annenberg Media: Learner.org

This project provides immediate and FREE access to Annenberg Media productions for educational purposes. This site includes educational resources such as in class videos for viewing on demand or for purchase, teacher workshops and courses, and telecourses.... (Learn more)

Format: website/lesson plan

Provided by: Annenberg Media

C-SPAN Classroom Resources

Lesson plans include video clips, discussion questions, and booknotes for selected units. Some plans, such as the Checks and Balances lesson plan, contain a Fun Fact, Capitol Question (with link to the answer), Learn More, and Review Quiz, in addition to... (Learn more)

Format: website/lesson plan

Provided by: C-SPAN

The Center for Innovation in Engineering and Science Education

A New Jersey-based organization whose mission is to provide "real world" resources for classroom education in engineering and science. Professional Development opportunities in New Jersey available. (Learn more)

Format: website/lesson plan

Provided by: Stevens Institute of Technology

Erosion in the Outer Banks

In this environmental science lesson, students examine different perspectives on erosion in the Outer Banks over the past century by implementing research and map comparisons between Google Earth and early 20th-century coastal maps. This lesson assumes a basic... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 Science)

Provided by: UNC Libraries

How are we changing North Carolina?

In this lesson for eighth grade science, students examine soil maps from different periods in North Carolina history, analyze the differences between them, and draw inferences about how North Carolinians have affected their environment. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 Science)

Provided by: UNC Libraries