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Lesson Plans and Ideas (Websites)

• (Last updated: 4/10/2013)

• A to Z Teacher Stuff - click on "Lessons" tab, then click on grade level (preschool through high school)

• Adolescent Literacy (WETA) -- motivating reluctant readers; resources for parents & educators of kids in grades 4-12. Left Sidebar has links to "Classroom strategies" and "For Teachers"

• Annenberg Classroom  -- resources for civics education (secondary level) from the Annenberg Institute.  Scroll to bottom to choose either: "PDF Lesson plans" or "Critical Thinking Lesson plans" or "Games & Interactives"

• Ben's Guide -- to teacher resources from federal agencies & museums. Select your grade level, then Click the last line on the Blackboard "US Govt Website for Kids" to see all of the Subject areas

• Center for Innovation in Engineering & Science Education (CIESE) - projects for K-12; also Click on "Educational Links" & the "Instructional Resources" to discover additional lesson plan resource sites for Math & Science.  AND notice the Link for "Primary Sources" (diaries, letters, photos, maps)

• Eisenhower National Clearinghouse for Mathematics and Science -- must subscribe (& pay a one-time fee of $30 for individuals, NO annual fees) to use.  NOTE: Many school districts subscribe, so you will probably have access once you are student teaching or hired!  At the site, open the drop-down box for "All resource types" and select "Lesson plans", and use 2d drop-down box for Grade Level selection.

• HSI: Historical Scene Investigation - K-12 lesson plans using Primary sources.  Click "Investigations", then click on one of the Folder Tabs (topic), then click on "Teacher View".  Use Historical Inquiry (link) to get to databases of Primary sources

• Lessonopoly (related to: NBC Learn) -- includes Lesson Plans for: Science of NFL Football, Science of Olympics, Stepping up to Algebra, Smart Skies, etc. (PreK-12)Thinkfinity -- use the right sidebar SearchBox to find Lessons for PreK-12

• Math Forum -- from Drexel Univ. (Pre-K thru college). Open "Educators" Tab.

• Microsoft Education -- mouse-over "Teacher Resources" tab

• NARA (National Archives & Records Administration) -- K-12 online lesson plans for using primary sources.  Scroll to bottom and click "Lesson plans"

  ShareMyLesson - the American Federation of Teachers' new online community

• Thinkfinity -- use the right sidebar SearchBox to find Lessons for PreK-12

• NEA (National Education Association) -- Free "Lessons & Activities"  (PreK-12)

• NEA Members get 20% discount access to commercial site: Lesson Planet (Regular price is: $50/year; also offers a FREE 10 day trial)

• PBS TeacherSource -- Correlates its classrom activities to 46 sets of national and state curriculum standards with more than 1,200 lesson plans. Mouse-over Grade level (PreK-12), then select subject; next refine by clicking "Media Type" & selecting "Lesson plan".

• Share my Lesson - Free K-12 Resources by teachers/for teachers

  SMILE (Science & Math Informal Learning Educators) -- is another NEA affiliated site. Offers 1,000s of lessons for K-12

  Smithsonian Quests - a program that fosters project-based learning.  Students complete a series of online activities and submit their work for review by Smithsonian education experts to earn digital badges.  Cativities include: creative writing, photography, oral histories, and graph-making.

  Strong Men & Women: Excellence in Leadership-- Positive role models of African-American men & women (SOL connections, K-12)

   

• Related WEBSITES:

• Virginia Dept. of Education -- includes link to the Virginia SOLs (Standards of Learning AND Common Core Standards) -- includes link to "Technology Standards for Instructional Personnel"

• Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment

• National Standards of Learning -- as well as links to Standards/Assessments of the 50 States

• No Child Left Behind -- U.S. Department of Education website.

• Catholic School Standards -- new 2012

Websites with Lesson Plans / Teaching ideas

(Last updated 2/03/2013)

•  History Museum of Western Virginia (building will re-open May 18, 2013 after construction project; Elementary Outreach programs remain in full-swing 2012-2013)
• Virgina Museum of Natural History - website currently "broken" (2/3/13) - for now, please see info at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_Museum_of_Natural_History   Note:VMNH is affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution, and was re-accredited by the American Association of Museums in 2010.
• Music Teachers National Association (click on: "Member Resources" then click "Teaching Tips")
• American Chemical Society - Educator Resources, including Lesson plans, for Elementary school - Graduate education
• Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (Richmond) - At the Educators webpage select one of the Topics & scroll down to see if it includes a Lesson plan. (As of Feb.2013 the "Picasso" and the "Mummy" have Lesson plans.)  Other Topics have Activities. All are coordinated with recent exhibits at vmfa.