Teachers' Resources 

LESSON PLANS BY SUBJECT MATTER:

Lesson Plans

Noodle Tools  A place to find curriculum mapping tools, NoodleTeach - where you can find literacies, good place to find biography materials

Knowledge Loom.org The Knowledge Loom, what works in teaching and learning

http://www.eduhound.com/ Eduhound, a great place to get lesson plans, indexed by subject

http://www.teachingideas.co.uk/ Teaching ideas for teaching various concepts

Library of Congress American Memory Library of Congress lesson plans and teacher resources

http://www.teachersdomain.org/  Great website for Life Science movies, organized by grade level.  This is free, but you have to sign in.  To sign in, type SamuelStaples (no space) and password sses

http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/navigator/students.html Student Navigator for New York Times.  Here you can find great educational websites about all kinds of subjects, but geared to the teacher, not K-4 students.  It will give you the answer and background for your own instructional enhancement.

http://www.ifsi.org/websites.htm A collection of teachers' lesson plans and resources for various subjects

http://www.eduplace.com/graphicorganizer/ Some great graphic organizers of many types

American Heritage book of English Usage This site tells you the meanings of suffixes and prefixes

Animals of Kapiti Plains:

http://teacherlink.ed.usu.edu/tlresources/units/byrnes-africa/AngGla/index.html  Lesson plan all about the savannahs of Africa

Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain Lesson plan on Kapiti Plain story, choral reading for your class, and more

http://teacherlink.ed.usu.edu/tlresources/units/byrnes-literature/Wright%20homepage/Wright.html  Great ideas on cross-curricular ties for Kapiti Plain

http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/storiesfromafrica/index.html Lesson plan on Africa to link to the Kapiti Plain story

http://teacherlink.ed.usu.edu/TLresources/longterm/LessonPlans/africa/sardav/index.htm Another lesson plan on wildlife

http://teacherlink.ed.usu.edu/TLresources/longterm/LessonPlans/africa/aindex.htm#Wildlife%20in%20Africa Africa, it's not a country

 http://teacherlink.ed.usu.edu/tlresources/units/byrnes-africa/tamtue/index.htm Lesson Plan for teaching about the Rains of Kapiti Plains, geography tie-ins of land forms, Print out map of Africa, blackline

Apple websites (for K):

http://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/score/apple/appletg.html Activities and websites about apples

http://www.geocities.com/teachermom22/apples.html A Kindergarten teacher's website about apples and apple activities

http://www.alphabet-soup.net/dir2/apple.html Apple links designed by a Kindergarten Teacher

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/plants/types/apple/shapebook/ Apple shape books and links to more about apples from Enchanted Learning.

http://www.mcps.k12.md.us/curriculum/littlekids/archive/lesson_applewriting.htm  Apple writing lesson, using word processor and drawing tools

http://www.nyapplecountry.com/teacherkits/bibliography.pdf Bibliography of books at K and above levels about apples!

http://www.eduref.org/cgi-bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/crossroads/sec3/k2/unit5/u5kinl1.htm Kindergarten Lesson Plan about Johnny Appleseed with books, lesson plans, ideas

http://viking.stark.k12.oh.us/~greentown/Apples/appleunit.htm#Lesson Plans   A list of lessons and websites on apples with descriptors

http://www.bow.k12.nh.us/pcain/visitto.htm Virtual trip to the apple orchard, story, questions

Astronomy:

http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/ NASA's Educational webpage- a wealth of projects and information regarding space and astronomy

http://connect.larc.nasa.gov/ More activities and information for teachers and students, provided by NASA

http://nesen.unl.edu/ Lesson plans for all areas of science, including Astronomy

ALSO SEE THE VAST RESOURCES ON 4TH GRADE PROJECTS UNDER LEARNING RESOURCES

Balance and Motion, Simple Machines:

Math Cats Balance Exploration Balance many things virtually with Math Cats

Math Cats Virtual Mobile Make a Calder-like mobile online

http://www.coreknowledge.org/CKproto2/resrcs/lessons/03_2_ITSSIMPLE.PDF

http://www.coreknowledge.org/CKproto2/resrcs/lessons/299machine.pdf Keeping the simple in simple machines

Bears and Animals in Winter websites:

http://www.proteacher.com/prosearch/search2.cgi?c=nil&s=Bears&n=1 A list of websites about bears

http://www.kidport.com/GradeK/GradeKHome.htm Links to all kinds of K learning

http://floridaconservation.org/educator/blkbear.htm A nice lesson plan and PowerPoint of what makes a bear a bear, how is it different from other animals

http://www.preschooleducation.com/winteranimal.shtml Some cute ideas based on animals in winter

Geography:  Teaching the Five Themes of Geography-

http://www2.una.edu/geography/statedepted/themes.html  Lisa Keys- Mathews simple outlay of the five themes of Geography.  Basic definition that is easy to understand

Fun Social Studies Five Themes of Geography Learning Haven.com's article on how to teach the five themes of Geography

Education World's Five Themes Lessons Education World's lesson plans for teaching the five themes of Geography in many different ways

National Geographic's Five Themes Resource Page National Geographic's resources on teaching the five themes of geography

Gingerbread Man:

http://www.kidzone.ws/thematic/gingerbread/index.htm  Great lesson plans and links, literature resources, all geared toward the gingerbread man theme

http://www.thelearningleap.com/gingerbreadman.html Units for Gingerbread man activities

Guidance Curriculum:

Life Skills  Great explanations of various life skills, and posters created by children that exemplify these skills (such as responsibility, perseverance, caring, common sense, integrity, etc.)

Health Lesson Worksheets:

http://home.att.net/~teaching/health.htm

Holidays:

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/books/holiday/  Shape and counting book for K's and 1st graders for all different holidays and seasons

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/holiday/ Crafts for the holidays from Enchanted Learning

http://kinderart.com/seasons/dec5.shtml Make an easy Menorah craft

http://www.christmas.com/worldview/ Christmas celebrations around the world

http://www.algonet.se/~bernadot/christmas/info.html  A lesson plan for sharing holiday traditions and exploration of Christmas around the world

Pilgrim Hall Museum Pilgrim Hall museum's webpage with LOTS of information about Thanksgiving

http://www.education-world.com/a_lesson/02/lp248-04.shtml  Good lesson on Dr. Martin Luther King

http://www.fair.org/media-beat/950104.html Interesting information about Dr. Martin Luther King and his work in the later years

http://members.aol.com/MrDonnLessons/USHolidays.html#BLACK Black History lessons

http://www.edhelper.com/BlackHistory.htm Black History Links

Hundredth Day:

http://users.aol.com/a100thday/ideas.html Lesson plan ideas for the 100th day of school

Insects:

http://www.insectsafari.com/game/  A very cute game where you guess the name of the bug of which a silhouette and hints are provided.  Elementary, but need to be able to read

http://makostek.epsb.net/Insect.html Insect webquest

http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/kids/insects/story8/piratebugs2.htm  Not all insects are bad

http://www.ivyhall.district96.k12.il.us/4th/kkhp/1insects/bugmenu.html Amazing insects

http://www.uky.edu/Agriculture/IPM/teachers/bug-go/bug-go.htm  This site has a bug-go card (like a bingo card) and bugs for an insect identification game - what a great way to learn the insects

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/alienempire/multimedia/maskindex.html  Make insect masks, either in black and white or color

http://projects.edtech.sandi.net/brooklyn/insects/  What's Bug'n You... cute web page with printable activities for children to recording what they have learned about insects (observation logs, Venn diagrams, etc.)

http://www.heatersworld.com/bugworld/ Ant Boy's page on ants, bees, roaches, other bugs, and spiders

http://www.libsci.sc.edu/miller/Insect.htm  Thematic Unit on insects... a bit advanced for first grade

http://www.naturesongs.com/insects.html Hear a bug.  Adults need to read the text

http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/bugs/index.htm Scholastic websites and activities on insects

http://teacher.scholastic.com/lucky/bugguide.htm Bug activities and a print out bug sheet

http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/bugs/tguide.htm Teacher lesson and activity guide on insects

http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/bugs/reco.htm#sites Web sites on bugs

http://search.yahooligans.com/search/ligans?p=insects A collection of Yahooligan's web links on bugs

http://sciencespot.net/Pages/kdzinsect.html LOTS of links about insects for students

http://www.denniskunkel.com/PublicHtml/EducationSplash.asp Great pictures of bugs

http://www.animalpicturesarchive.com/animal/keyword.cgi?keyword=insect&level=1 More pictures of bugs, by an alphabetical list

http://yucky.kids.discovery.com/ Yuckiest site on the Internet, roaches and worms!

http://www.bugbios.com/entophiles/index.html Very cool bugs- a list of 14 families of bugs

http://www.learningpage.com/free_pages/menu_wkshts/fact_insects.html Fact sheets on insects

http://www.geocities.com/flack46/insectheaven.html Many links about insects, different levels

http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/bugoff/index.html Very advanced site, for gifted

http://www.discovery.com/exp/spiders/spiders.html They're not insects, they're arachnids, but I like spiders!

http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/Entomology/  Great site with movies of bugs, and images of bugs

http://whyfiles.org/016skeeter/index.html  BZZZZZZZ mosquitoes!

http://www.exploratorium.edu/exhibits/mutant_flies/mutant_flies.html  Did you let the fruit get too ripe?  Check out the fruit flies

http://www.hhmi.org/coolscience/ A very COOL science website.  Explore and learn.  See caterpillars turn to butterflies and more!

http://www.ris.net/~lawnman/poems.html Poems about grasshoppers, invite us to send new poems in

Language Arts and Core Novel Sites:

Alfy.com's Eric Carle Thematic Unit A collection of Eric Carle (of Hungry Caterpillar fame) sites

ProTeacher.net's Abbie Ideas Some ideas for Keep the Lights Burning, Abbie Core novel-2nd grade

Math:

http://archives.math.utk.edu/k12.html Lesson plans and web links for teaching math

http://www.berea.k12.oh.us/~gviebranz/em.html Websites for elementary school teachers, lots of links.  Includes Marilyn Burns newsletters link

http://www.sbgmath.com/gr2/chapter7/teacher/teacher.html Lesson plan for teaching time, Grade 2

Oregon Trail and Westward Movement:

On the Oregon Trail  and If You Were a Pioneer  EDSITEment Lesson Plans for On the Oregon Trail.  Great questions to ask the kids.

Idaho Public TV Oregon Trail Lesson Lesson plan from Idaho Public TV to teach about the Oregon Trail

Learn NC.org's Oregon Trail Plans Learn NC's lesson Plans for the Oregon Trail

W.C. Britt Elementary's Oregon Trail Links List of links of Oregon Trail Websites

Best History Sites.net Best History Sites Westward Expansion links

http://www.42explore.com/pioneer.htm Great site with many links on pioneer life

Plants:

Plants and Seeds A wonderful compilation of websites about plants and seeds from Westport schools

http://pan.tcnj.edu/plant.htm All about plants

The Great Plant Escape Try to solve a mystery of the Great Plant Escape, and have fun while learning

Life Science Safari Go on a Life Science Safari to learn about plants

Kidport's How Plants Grow How plants grow- talks about pollination methods, great pictures

Photosynthesis Alien Explorer's explanation of photosynthesis

Yahooligans Ask Earl How are plants helpful to our ecosystem?

http://www.quia.com/custom/99main.html Plant games (requires flash)

EEK! Vegetation Fascination  Environmental Education for Kids Vegetation Fascination site, plant facts and fun, wetland plants

The Secret Garden Flowers taken with radiography.  This is a cool site to get a different view of flowers, seeing through the petals and seeing the veins in the petals and leaves.

http://pittsford.monroe.edu/jefferson/calfieri/plants/PlantsMain.html All about plants; stems, seeds, and more.

http://www.cnps.org/kidstuff/pollin.htm Why do plants have flowers, fun activities with plants, good diagram of a flower and its parts

BBC Plants Site BBC Nature site- Plants

Living Things Franklin Institute's Living Things Unit, plants, life cycles, and more

Plant Glossary Enchanted Learning's Plant Glossary

http://www.perspective.com/nature/plantae/index.html Plant classification (advanced)

http://www.sd22.bc.ca/hillview/treeid1.html Tree ID, perfect for 4th grade

Language Arts: Poetry, Literature Circles, etc.

Poetry Teachers.com A great place for ideas on how to teach poetry to children

Smart Quotes Click on the link Smart Quotes to practice putting quotation marks in the right place.

http://www.poetryzone.ndirect.co.uk/howto.htm Written by a teacher, ideas for teaching children all kinds of poetry

Magnetic Poetry   Online magnetic poetry, and scrambled online magnetic sentences.... http://home.freeuk.net/elloughton13/scramble2.htm

Funny Poems This is a site where you can do magnetic poetry, but you can also hold down the shift key, click and type in your OWN words to make into magnets for your magnetic poetry.  Pretty COOL!

Game Goo Games in the advanced area teach synonyms, antonyms, alliteration, and rhyming.  For synonyms, choose the tooth taker tally, for antonyms, choose tooth taker opposites.  For poetry types, choose wizards and pigs poetry pickle.

http://home.att.net/~teaching/litlessons.htm 

Pill Bugs Unit:

http://www.udel.edu/msmith/pillbugs.html Great set of experiments and investigations to do with pill bugs of third grade

http://www.ncsu.edu/servit/bodzin/pillbug.htm Here are some more pill bug investigations, and you could use some of these ideas and scale them down for your 3rd grade students

http://jrscience.wcp.muohio.edu/inquireohio/RevisionassignmentArticles/PillbugRevision.html Pill bug science instructional lesson plan

Dr. Whitey Pill Bug Races Pill bug races and discovering preferred habitat of pill bugs by experimentation

Rocks and Minerals:

Lesson Plan for Rock Hounds

http://www.mnh.si.edu/earth/  Three Smithsonian in Your Classroom lessons on rocks and minerals

http://ccsd.net/schools/mccaw/collect.html  More lesson plans for teaching about rocks and minerals

http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/lessons.cfm?DocID=365 This lesson plan has lots of links and information.  A really good one.

Social Studies, History, and US Government:

PBS Democracy for Kids/Teachers  Citizenship lessons from PBS

States Project

http://www.abcteach.com/Insects/theme/studresearch.htm Here is an example of how your student's research can be posted on the web, for all to appreciate and learn from.  This one is about the insect of our state, and was created by a 4th grade class.

Trees and Leaves:

http://riverdeep.net/current/2001/02/022801_tree.jhtml The importance of trees, and an American Tree.  Links to other sites on trees

http://k12science.ati.stevens-tech.edu/ike/summer99/resourcetff.html  More tree identification by leaf, bark, structure, and other methods of observation.  Good links and pictures.

Technology Resources:

Weather:

http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/crclm/home.rxml  Lessons and student projects in weather

Teacher's Net Lessons Teacher's lesson on weather

AskEric Lessons in Meteorology Lessons from AskEric.org in meteorology (grade levels listed to save time)

http://www.chias.org/ipsd/2001/index.html  Many lesson plans for a project teaching about the water cycle

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/themes/weather.shtml Enchanted Learning's weather theme page

http://whyfiles.org/teach/view.html?id=1  Teacher's links to science units for grades 5-8, but useable at older or younger ages too.

FOSS science unit website   Links to the Foss Units website

http://nasaexplores.nasa.gov/show2_k_4.php?id=04-005&gl=k4  Lesson plans and student sheets may be found on this link and the one that goes with it: http://nasaexplores.nasa.gov/show_k4_teacher_sh.php?id=040120153354 Weather instruments lesson for kids K-4th