Do your students respect their peers' opinions? This lesson teaches first graders that their opinions matter by encouraging them to write out opinions and back them up with reasons.

How? In this lesson, your students will become familiar with using this question word to investigate how things work.

Use this lesson plan as an introductory activity to kick-off a short, project-based learning unit where students will research black visionaries and share what they learned.

Rad (awesome, brave, radical, cool) women have been around since the beginning of time, but so often their stories are overlooked. Take your students on a journey through history with this lesson that uses the book Rad Women Worldwide by Kate Schatz. The lesson exposes students to the stories of 40 rad women from around the world and throughout various time periods, who challenged and changed the world. Students will read the profiles of a few of the women before analyzing their journeys and accomplishments using graphic organizers.

Spirituals have a long history in the United States, and often serve to strengthen and motivate people. Students will compare three types of spirituals from different time periods and share their understanding with their peers.

Mae Jemison was the first African American female astronaut to enter space. Use the Get to Know Mae Jemison lesson plan to learn more about this famous scientist. Children will then read and write about her, and create their own paper rocket.

Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz was a 17th century writer and philosopher who today is considered one of the first documented feminists and advocates for women’s education. In this lesson, students will read two nonfiction texts about Sor Juana and discuss her life and accomplishments before writing an opinion piece about her.

This engaging lesson plan provides students with an opportunity to learn all about America's prima ballerina, Maria Tallchief.

What kinds of homes do we live in? In this lesson, students will explore and describe different types of homes. By the end of this lesson, students will have created a visual of their own homes and write about them!