LEARN NC

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

CEU courses open for enrollment

Differentiating Instruction in Online Courses - Carolina Online Teacher Program
Tailor your online instruction to meet the unique learning styles of specific students. You'll develop differentiated components of your own online courses through practical assignments, and modify content, learning experiences, and assessments to address individual students' needs.
Take this course: Begins March 22.

From the education reference

research cycle
Research method that emphasizes information problem-solving and positions students as information producers (versus information consumers). Students repeatedly revisit stages in the research cycle as they refine data gathering processes.
teacher research
Intentional and systematic inquiry by a teacher or teachers in order to improve classroom practice. Teacher researchers begin with a question about classroom life, design and implement a research plan, collect and analyze data, and adjust practice to better meet the needs of students.

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Rethinking Reports
Creative research-based assignments provide alternatives to the President Report, Animal Report, and Famous Person Report that ask students to think about old topics in new ways, work collaboratively, and develop products that support a variety of learning styles.
Format: series (multiple pages)
Alternatives to the animal report
In Rethinking Reports, page 2.1
Year after year, students are assigned an animal report, a factual report on a species of their choice. My son chose the Harpy Eagle for his third-grade animal report — and proceeded to re-submit that report with only slight modifications for years thereafter!...
By Melissa Thibault.
Zeke's Island North Carolina National Estuarine Research Reserve
Part of the North Carolina National Estuarine Research Reserve, Zeke's Island has interpreter led field trips which focus on the importance of estuaries to the North Carolina coast.
Format: article/field trip opportunity
Bringing current science into the classroom
Activities for middle and high school on groundwater, water quality, and environmental stewardship have students exploring current environmental research without leaving the classroom.
Format: series (multiple pages)
Introduction: Rethinking reports
A little creativity can make research a rewarding learning experience for students and teachers alike.
By David Walbert and Melissa Thibault.
Role plays from research on Native Americans
In Teaching about North Carolina American Indians, page 5.3
Introduction Dramatic role plays make history come alive. Research has a purpose! Students select a North Carolina American Indian to research. (I find students feel more connected if they do the selecting. Drawing names from a deck of 3x5 cards adds...
Format: lesson plan (grade 8 and 11 English Language Arts and Social Studies)
By Linda Tabor.
National Estuarine Research Reserve Systems - The Rachel Carson Component
Located in one of North Carolina's fastest growing areas, the Rachel Carson site is a center of marine research and education. The reserve is a diverse and productive estuarine system for birds, mammals, and fish.
Format: article/field trip opportunity
Decisions, decisions: A career exploration
In CareerStart lessons: Grade seven, page 1.10
In this lesson for grade seven, students complete personality profiles to explore career options, then conduct internet research to learn about specific careers. Students write evaluative essays about the careers they choose.
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts and Guidance)
By Jen Presley.Adapted by Kenyatta Bennett and Sonya Rexrode.
Sea Grant North Carolina
With a variety of research and outreach programs, this organization provides several educational opportunities for marine science educators including workshops, marine science and environmental education curriculum development, research opportunities and grants, and field trips.
Format: article/field trip opportunity
Literature biography project
For this project, students will learn to develop the various processes used in researching and writing a biographical research paper, including brainstorming, note taking, outlining, creating a bibliography, and writing the final draft. This project is designed to act as an independent study geared toward AG or Level 3 and Level 4 students, but each step in the research process can also be taught directly to students in the classroom.
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts and Information Skills)
By Sandra Dail.
Alternatives to the President Report
In Rethinking Reports, page 1.1
The "President Report" is a common assignment in social studies classes from second grade, where biography is first introduced, through high school U.S. History. You know what we mean: students are asked to pick a U.S. president and write a biographical...
By Melissa Thibault and David Walbert.
Currituck Banks
One of the four North Carolina National Estuarine Research Reserves, Currituck Banks operates as a living laboratory for research, education and management.
Format: article/field trip opportunity
Bringing current science into the classroom
In Bringing current science into the classroom, page 1
How your students can experience current environmental research without leaving the classroom.
Format: article/best practice
By Michele Kloda.
Tour of the solar system
Students, in groups, will research, design, and create a PowerPoint presentation on the planets. The class will then take a “tour of the solar system.”
Format: lesson plan (grade 6 Science)
By Jennifer Mott.
Masonboro Island
One of the four sites of the North Carolina National Estuarine Research Reserve. Interpreter led field trips must be reserved two seasons ahead. This is a favorite field trip for many teachers.
Format: article/field trip opportunity
Beginning biography research
Encyclopedia research skills will be taught using biographies of famous people. This is one lesson in a collaborative unit taught by both the classroom teacher and library media coordinator
Format: lesson plan (grade 2–3 English Language Arts and Information Skills)
By Joan Milliken.
Opening an Hispanic restaurant
This lesson focuses on vocabulary and currency associated with food, restaurants, and menus. Students conduct research to create an authentic menu with a companion recipe books. The lesson culminates in short presentations and food samples.
Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 Second Languages)
By Susan Canipe.
Around the world in one semester!
This lesson is a semester-long project that focuses on countries that speak the target language. Students will research a chosen country and do an oral presentation for the class. They will then research and present a current event weekly for the remainder of the semester.
Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 Second Languages)
By Crystal Humphrey and Michelle Chrismon.
Career research and acrostic poetry
In CareerStart lessons: Grade six, page 1.6
In this lesson for grade 6, each student will research a chosen career and will use the information to create an acrostic poem.
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts and Guidance)
By Holly Grout, Deborah Smith, and Natalie Summers.Adapted by Jennifer Brookshire and Julie McCann.
Appalachian Highlands Science Learning Center at Purchase Knob
Visit the Learning Center at Lake Junaluska and participate in a scientific research program that focuses on the scientific method, air quality, or soil health.
Format: article/field trip opportunity