The North Carolina Museum of Natural Science created this resource as part of an online workshop series, but you are welcome to use or modify it for your classroom. It includes a video and written directions for creating nature journals and tips for incorporating them into your classroom. For information on taking any the Nature Neighborhood online workshops for CEUs or EE credit, visit: https://naturalsciences.org/learn/educators/online-workshops.

Students learn more about shoes of the past and shoes of the future by learning about Chinese foot binding and Nike shoe designer Tinker Hatfield before working collaboratively with a partner or group to create a shoe of the future that has a greater purpose using manila paper, scissors, and tape. Students will view and discuss Nike ads from Japan and Kenya before designing their own advertisement to "sell" their new design to the class. This lesson was developed by Laura Mitchell as part of their completion of the North Carolina Global Educator Digital Badge program. This lesson plan has been vetted at the local and state level for standards alignment, Global Education focus, and content accuracy.            

Students will learn about Nelson Mandela and Apartheid and imagine what it would be like to walk in the shoes of Nelson Mandela. Students will then research a global leader who has gone through adversity and made a positive difference in the world. They will honor the person through researching and creating a clay shoe sculpture using three or more symbols in their sculpture to tell the story of the person and include a quote that speaks to them personally. Students will create a video or presentation to explain their sculpture and tell about their individual. Students will print a code for their sculpture that links to their video. The sculptures will be displayed with the code for the school and community as they are invited to the Art Walk of Shoes. This lesson was developed by Laura Mitchell as part of their completion of the North Carolina Global Educator Digital Badge program. This lesson plan has been vetted at the local and state level for standards alignment, Global Education focus, and content accuracy.            

This 6-E lesson introduces the use of nonfiction materials from the library with a maker component. Students willuse critical thinking skills,examine nonfiction materials,draw diagrams,make models,ask questions of others,and explain their work. 

In this multi-day lesson, students will study the function and use of Tji Wara crest masks of the Bamana people of Africa. Using the masks as an example, students will develop a cultural study of their personal talents to create their own crest masks. Students will then choreograph a dance to go with their mask. Essential questions asked:
What are Bamana Tji Wara crest masks? In creating a crest mask of my own, how can I show what I am good at? How do I make choices to include in my choreography?

Within the physical science strand of 7th grade science, students focus on the motion of objects. In this task, students assume the role of an animator who must convincingly demonstrate the motion of several objects using point of reference techniques. Students will then write fictional narratives to accompany their “flip book” animations. The interdisciplinary nature of this lesson allows students to creatively build meaningful connections between different science strands (physical and life) using written and visual expression while promoting 21st Century Skills. This lesson was developed by NCDPI as part of the Academically and/or Intellectually Gifted Instructional Resources Project. This lesson plan has been vetted at the state level for standards alignment, AIG focus, and content accuracy.