Free Curriculum and Lesson Plans

History, Science, and Health for Elementary and High School Students

© Susan Hyde

Aug 5, 2007

Teachers and homeschool parents can add excitement to lesson plans with free teaching resources. Select grade-appropriate resources to create thematic units that support subject teaching objectives.

Science

• Dantec Dynamics offers eight free posters that promote laser safety and concepts in fluid mechanics. These posters would be most appropriate for advanced high school or gifted science students.
• As a part of the Water Resources Education Initiative, the US Geological Survey offers a complimentary poster series on topics such as water quality, coastal erosion, and wetlands. Request the posters by writing to the U.S. Geological Survey; Branch of Information Services; Box 25286; Denver, CO 80225. Be sure to include grade level and title of posters .
• Gene Gateway, in conjunction with the Department of Energy, offers online guides for teaching genetics and a free Human Genome Landmarks poster.
• International Paper offers cost-free "Life of the Forest" poster sets, student booklets, and teaching guides to promote responsible forest management.
• As a part of its Mars Exploration Program, NASA offers a beautiful color poster comparing Earth and Mars as well as robotics activities in .pdf format and Mars Curriculum designed for 4th-12th grade classrooms.
• The National Institute of Health provides a free "Women are Scientists" video collection.
• The U.S. Geological Survey provides online water education posters for elementary and middle school students.
• The New England Space Science Initiative in Science offers curriculum resources and free teacher workshops for science educators.
• The Environmental Protection Agency provides full-color brochures and posters to promote the National Estuary Program. Call 1-800 490-9198 for more information.

Health and Nutrition:

• The National Institute on Drug Abuse has free curriculum supplements (print, PowerPoint, and CD-Rom) and posters to promote a substance free lifestyle.
• Dole Food Company "5 A Day" Campaign: Dole offers free online lesson plans, activity sheets, and healthy recipes to promote healthy eating.
• The Egg Nutrition Center offers no-cost ready-to-print posters in .jpg format. These posters, which are available in both English and Spanish, promote balanced nutrition.
• The CDC offers posters, pamphlets, and online video and teaching guides to help youngsters to understand the dangers of smoking.

History and Economics:

• The Veterans Affairs of Canada has extensive learning kits and video offerings that teach Canada's role in the World Wars and various 20th century conflicts.
• The Federal Reserve offers free comic books to teach economics and financial responsibility.
• NYSUT has a colorful Black History Poster. Call (800) 342-9810, ext. 6260 for more information.
• The Peabody-Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts has extensive downloadable interdisciplinary lesson plans about the Salem Witch Trials.

Additional resources are often available at education centers at local museums, historic sites, and other potential fieldtrip sites. Often centers have educational materials or even docents available for classroom instruction. Even tourist pamphlets can be an interesting jumping off point for a thematic lesson.

Teachers who enjoyed this article may also enjoy articles on Mount Vernon, Boston’s Freedom Trail, or Virtual Fieldtrip Lessons.

Free science lessons for teachers abound.

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