ORC Resource Types

Discipline: Science

Professional Commentary: In this promising practice resource, students learn what malaria is, where it is prevalent, and how people catch it.  Then they analyze and examine evidence from the Internet related to the malaria. Lastly, students investigate three suggested strategies for controlling the spread of malaria.  Take this lesson one step further by examining ORC Resource #4838, The DDT-Malaria Controversy.  This resource asks students to critique the scientific evidence related to the productive uses and harmful side-effects of DDT.  (author/cb)

Discipline: Science

Professional Commentary: The promising practice resource begins with a review of the basic biology and behaviors of wolves as well as their roll in the ecosystem as a predator.  Along with this, interactions that wolves and humans have leads into an exploration of potential management plans.  Students are then asked to analyze these potential plans during an online class discussion.  Take this resource one step further by having students research and come up with a management plan for one of Ohio's endangered animals by going to ORC resource #2180, Ohio's Endangered Wildlife.  (author/cb)

Discipline: Science

Professional Commentary: The resource requires students to critically think about evidence dealing with the global warming controversy. Based on the evidence students develop a causal map showing the relationships between the causes and effects of global warming....

Discipline: Science

Professional Commentary: This promising practice lesson is designed to be used in any of the science disciplines prior to students doing research on the Internet. Students develop a set of criteria using the CARS (credibility, accuracy, reasonableness and support) strategy for evaluating information on the Internet and then apply that criteria to a series of articles....

Discipline: Science

Professional Commentary: This lesson introduces electricity to students through historical discoveries and microscopic models. Students connect historical observations of macroscopic phenomena with their microscopic explanations....

Discipline: Science

Professional Commentary: This promising practice lesson introduces students to the world's deserts, as well as the symbiotic relationships that take place there.  Plants and animals must also have adaptations that allow them to survive in the desert environment.  This lesson also does a good job of discussing some of these adaptations.  (author/cb)

Discipline: English Language Arts

Professional Commentary: This lesson focuses students’ attention on alliteration, or repeated beginning word sounds, found in picture books. After exploring alliteration in various texts, students compose a class book and apply the technique in their own writing....

Discipline: English Language Arts

Professional Commentary: Poetry offers many opportunities for word play and learning about language. But because poetry can seem inaccessible, many students approach poetry writing with trepidation....

Discipline: English Language Arts

Professional Commentary: All of us have encountered someone who has made a profound difference in our lives—someone who changed our lives, made us think more deeply, set our feet on the right path. Perhaps it was a teacher we met in a classroom, but it could just have easily been a coach, a youth group leader, a family...

Projects: Standards First

Discipline: Science

Professional Commentary: This promising practice lesson asks students to design an experiment to measure the activity of yeast by collecting the carbon dioxide gas they give off.  This lesson should be used after a discussion on anaerobic respiration and fermentation as it does not include much content on these topics.  (author/cb)