LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

CEU courses open for enrollment

Reading, Writing and Research: Integrating Literacy across the Curriculum
Turn your students into savvy consumers of information. Explore reading and writing instruction and information literacy concepts, and learn to effectively integrate these literacy skills into your teaching, regardless of the subject or grade level.
Take this course: Begins May 4.

From the education reference

Drop Everything and Read
DEAR is classroom time set aside for teachers and students to Drop Everything and Read. The goal of DEAR is to encourage independent silent reading for extended periods of time on a daily or weekly basis. Students choose the book they wish to read based on interest and ability.

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Exploring colors
The learner will develop the ability to use science process skills through exploration with primary colors.
Format: lesson plan (grade K Visual Arts Education)
By Kristin Gray.
Jack-o-Light
We use pumpkins to demonstrate that fire needs air to burn. This goes really well with Fire Safety Week and our pumpkin unit. Also, we 'guesstimate' how many pumpkin seeds are in the pumpkin. We roast them afterwards by following a recipe. You can also create a Kids Pix picture of pumpkins.
Format: lesson plan (grade 1 Mathematics and Science)
By Michele Tipton.
Twisters in a jar
The class will discuss the motion, causes and effects of a tornado. The student will also be able to name the safety steps one should take when a tornado occurs.
Format: lesson plan (grade 1 Science)
By Andrea Allen.
Understanding the Columbian Exchange
In Two worlds: Educator's guide, page 5.1
This lesson will help students think about the effects of the Columbian Exchange, particularly the exchange of disease as it affected the psychology of the Europeans and Native populations in the early settlement of the Americas.
Format: lesson plan (grade 8 Social Studies)
By Pauline S. Johnson.
Finding lesson plans on the LEARN NC website
This document explains how to find lesson plans by browsing the collection, by goal & objective of the North Carolina Standard Course of Study, and by searching.
Format: article/help
A renaissance of jazz and poetry
The Harlem Renaissance was the birth of a creative plethora in all fields of art for African Americans. The poetry and jazz composed during or inspired by this era naturally complemented each other. Furthermore, many of the themes from the musical and literary worlds are universal and provide a great lesson on how two different works can have a parallel theme.
Format: lesson plan (grade 8–12 English Language Arts and Music Education)
By Janet Fore.
Fitness with a jumpstick
The lesson includes a variety of activities for strength, endurance, and flexibility with the use of a jumpstick. Intervals of jogging and exercises of major muscle groups include an element of fun. The teacher's leading role adds intensity and excitement to these activities.
Format: lesson plan (grade 1 Healthful Living)
By Bozena Mielczak.
Weathering the water cycle: Conclusion
This lesson concludes the unit "Weathering the Water Cycle." As a result of this unit, students will understand that the water cycle is a continuous cycle made up of the three stages; evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.
Format: lesson plan (grade 2 Computer/Technology Skills)
By Cathie Hill, Jackie Parker, and Karen Neilson.
Real-world approaches to reading
Techniques for providing children with the literacy-rich environment that is crucial to both reading and writing success.
By Alta Allen.
Nephelococcygia - Cloud watching
As part of the 2nd grade science objectives dealing with weather, students will learn the various types of clouds as well as the term and the act of nephelococcygia -- cloud watching.
Format: lesson plan (grade 2 Computer/Technology Skills and Science)
By Kelley James.
Data gathering - Linear regressions
In groups of three, students gather data by experiment or observation in one of nine activities. Each group models the data they gathered, creates a display, and presents results to the class using an overhead projector.
Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 Mathematics)
By Judy Pickering.
Grandparent interview
Students will interview a grandparent and write a news article based upon their interview. They will also do research on historical events to develop questions to be asked during the interview.
Format: lesson plan (grade 7 English Language Arts)
By Jim Carson.
Making “Oobleck”
The students will discuss what they think will happen when mixing specific ingredients to create an unknown substance labeled “Oobleck.” Next, the students will work together in small groups of four or five to create this substance. Finally, the students will individually illustrate and write one to three sentences describing the results.
Format: lesson plan (grade 1–2 English Language Arts and Science)
By Paige Hoffman.
The middle school challenge for English language learners of Mexican origin
In Bridging Spanish language barriers in Southern schools, page 3.2
English language learners of Mexican origin face numerous challenges in American middle schools, including cultural segregation and assumptions made by schools regarding the students' educational backgrounds. This article offers strategies for educators to help students overcome those challenges.
Format: article
By Mary Faith Mount-Cors.
Lincoln's plans for reconstruction
In North Carolina in the Civil War and Reconstruction, page 7.5
In Abraham Lincoln's second inaugural address, with the Civil War nearly over, Lincoln called for reconciliation between North and South.
Format: speech
Commentary and sidebar notes by David Walbert and L. Maren Wood.
Spell check: What a tool!
Students, through guided practice, become familiar with how a spell check program works and learn to use it effectively. They will then be able to use it independently as they word process on their own.
Format: lesson plan (grade 2–5 Computer/Technology Skills)
By Mary Rizzo.
Science Family Fun Night
One night a month Vivian Smith opens her classroom to families where they work together to solve logic problems and conduct experiments. Learn how this science teacher increases family involvement in her students' education and find ideas for science experiments, webquests, projects, and construction contests.
By Waverly Harrell.
Concept maps: an introduction
Using concept maps can help students make connections among subject areas. This article explains how teachers can use concept maps effectively and provides links to tools for creating them online.
By Bobby Hobgood.
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, and may be used with grade 4 or grade 7.
Format: lesson plan (grade 4 and 7 Science and Social Studies)
By Edie McDowell.
Outer Banks English
In this lesson plan, students view a video about the dialect of North Carolina's Outer Banks and develop an understanding of linguistic patterns.
Format: lesson plan (grade 8 Social Studies)
By Hannah Askin.