Inspiring Resources for All Your Lesson Planning Needs

Online Teaching Information Center >> Best Practices >> Inspiring Lesson Planning Resources

We've culled through the vast reaches of the interweb to bring you, savvy educator extraordinaire, only the best. Save yourself the blood, sweat, and tears and take advantage of this treasure trove of over 160 links to thousands of innovative online lesson planning resources from reputable sources.

Helpfully catalogued by subject and educational level, these top-shelf links are guaranteed to lead you to memorable lessons that will spark your interest and keep your students engaged.

 

Primary Level Lesson Plan Resources

General and Interdisciplinary Resources | The Arts | Economics | English and Language Arts

Foreign Language and ESL | Geography | Health and Physical Education

History and Social Studies | Math | Science | Technology

Secondary Level Lesson Plan Resources

General and Interdisciplinary Resources | The Arts | Civics | Economics | English and Language Arts

Foreign Language and ESL | Geography | Health and Physical Education

History and Social Studies | Math | Science | Technology

Postsecondary Level Lesson Plan Resources

General and Interdisciplinary Resources | English and Language Arts

Foreign Language and ESL | Technology

 

Primary Level Lesson Plan Resources

General and Interdisciplinary Resources

• Thinkfinity is a one-of-a-kind treasure trove of standards-based, classroom-ready resources that combines discipline-specific content from nine partner organizations including the interdisciplinary EDSITEment. The other eight partner organizations are included in the subject-specific links below.
• Discovery Education, a division of the company that creates the Discovery Channel, also maintains a searchable archive of lesson plans that cover topics ranging from forensics, to weather, and many other concepts pertaining to science and social studies.
• Houghton Mifflin maintains a searchable database of classroom resources and activities.
• The Peace Corps' World Wise Schools Program offers numerous lessons about cultures and countries worldwide. Their database is searchable by keyword, subject, geographic region, country, and grade level.
• The Educator's Reference Desk has a searchable lesson plan database with interdisciplinary materials.
• Thirteen Ed Online, run by the Education Broadcasting Company, offers multidisciplinary resources here.
• Resource Roundup guides provided by PBS.org. These helpful .pdfs, targeted by subject and grade-level, will take the guesswork out of how to implement what PBS has to offer your classroom.
• Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL) maintains a database of interdisciplinary and multicultural lesson plans.
• The Solution Site, designed to offer K-12 teachers access to lesson plans that emphasize active learning, is the result of a U.S. Department of Education Technology Innovation Challenge Grant.

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The Arts

• ARTSEDGE, a Thinkfinity partner, offers lesson plans for dance, music, theatre, and the visual arts.
• The J. Paul Getty Museum offers online lesson plans that cover topics in the visual arts.
• Federal Resources for Educational Excellence (FREE) offers a searchable database of resources on artists, the visual arts, music, theatre, and film.
• Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL) maintains a database of art lesson plans.
• Crayola.com offers lesson plans that help teachers integrate creativity in the classroom.
• The Educator's Reference Desk has a lesson plan database with materials for art lessons, including art history, visual arts, computers in art, and music.
• The LETSnet project has developed a helpful subject-specific springboard for art and music lessons designed to help teachers integrate technology in the classroom.
• Thirteen Ed Online, run by the Education Broadcasting Company, offers art lessons here.

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Economics

• EconEdLink, a Thinkfinity partner, offers lesson plans that span dozens of economic concepts. Their impressive database is searchable by title, grade, or lesson plan type.
• Thirteen Ed Online, run by the Education Broadcasting Company, offers economics lessons here.
• Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL) maintains a database of lesson plans on economics.

  Back to Top

English and Language Arts

• readwritethink, a Thinkfinity partner, has hundreds of quality, standards-based lesson plans.
• The Educator's Reference Desk has a lesson plan database with materials for language arts lessons.
• The J. Paul Getty Museum offers online lesson plans that incorporate writing and reading skills with topics in the visual arts.
• The Library of Congress offers a collection of comprehensive lesson plans that emphasizes the use of primary sources and feature lessons on American literature and poetry.
• Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL) maintains a database of language arts lesson plans.
• The LETSnet project has developed a helpful subject-specific springboard for language arts lessons designed to help teachers integrate technology in the classroom.
• Literacy Network, a Thinkfinity partner, has a searchable library. Select “lesson” under “resource type” to browse lesson plans designed to promote literacy development and lifelong learning.
• Teacher Lingo offers a collection of user-submitted language arts lesson plans.
• Thirteen Ed Online, run by the Education Broadcasting Company, offers English lessons here.
• Federal Resources for Educational Excellence (FREE) offers a searchable database of resources on reading, literature, famous writers, and other language arts topics.

  Back to Top

Foreign Language and ESL

• The Educator's Reference Desk has a lesson plan database with materials for foreign language and ESL lessons.
• Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL) maintains a database of foreign language lesson plans.
• The LETSnet project has developed a helpful subject-specific springboard for foreign language lessons designed to help teachers integrate technology in the classroom.
• Everything ESL offers 41 content-focused ESL lesson plans for beginning and intermediate students.
• The Internet Journal for Teachers of English as a Second Language frequently updates their online lesson plan resource collection.

  Back to Top

Geography

• National Geographic's Xpeditions, a Thinkfinity partner, offers lesson plans focused on U.S. National Geography Standards.
• Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL) maintains a database of geography lesson plans.
• Windows to the Universe provides educators access to online geography and geology lessons.

  Back to Top

Health and Physical Education

• The Educator's Reference Desk has a lesson plan database with materials for health and physical education lessons.
• Federal Resources for Educational Excellence (FREE) offers a searchable database of resources on exercise, health, and substance abuse.
• Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL) maintains a database of lesson plans for health and physical education teachers.
• The LETSnet project has developed a helpful subject-specific springboard for health & sports designed to help teachers integrate technology in the classroom.

  Back to Top

History and Social Studies

• The Smithsonian's History Explorer has hundreds of lesson plans and standards-based educational resources.
• C-SPAN Classroom offers a variety of lesson plans and free primary source materials for social studies teachers who register an account with their website.
• The Library of Congress offers a collection of comprehensive lesson plans that emphasizes the use of primary sources.
• Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL) maintains a database of lesson plans for history teachers.
• The Educator's Reference Desk has a lesson plan database with materials for social studies lessons.
• Thirteen Ed Online, run by the Education Broadcasting Company, offers social studies lessons here.
• Federal Resources for Educational Excellence (FREE) offers a searchable database of resources on history and social studies.
• The LETSnet project has developed a helpful subject-specific springboard for social studies designed to help teachers integrate technology in the classroom.
• Teachers from California State University, Northridge have compiled a thorough listing of lesson plan resources for social studies teachers.
• The National Archives also offers a collection of lesson plans that emphasizes the use of primary sources.
• The National Park Service and the National Register of Historic Places maintain a website with online lesson plans to promote teaching with historic places.

  Back to Top

Math

• National Council of Teachers of Mathematics has over 500 lesson plans available online.
• Federal Resources for Educational Excellence (FREE) offers a searchable database of resources on algebra, data analysis, geometry, and other math topics.
• The LETSnet project has developed a helpful subject-specific springboard for math designed to help teachers integrate technology in the classroom.
• The Educator's Reference Desk has a lesson plan database with materials for mathematics lessons.
• Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL) maintains a database of lesson plans for math teachers.
• Thirteen Ed Online, run by the Education Broadcasting Company, offers math lessons here.

  Back to Top

Science

• Science NetLinks a Thinkfinity partner, has an extensive lesson plan library.
• Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL) maintains a database of lesson plans for science teachers. Lessons are categorized by topic including life science, physical science, earth and space science, and scientific inquiry.
• The Educator's Reference Desk has a lesson plan database with materials for science lessons.
• The Exploratorium's Teacher Institute, run by San Francisco's world renowned science museum, maintains an online forum with innovative, hands-on lesson plans as well as topical podcasts that focus on teaching tips for educators.
• The LETSnet project has developed a helpful subject-specific springboard for science designed to help teachers integrate technology in the classroom.
• Federal Resources for Educational Excellence (FREE) offers a searchable database of resources on applied sciences, earth sciences, life sciences, physical sciences, and space sciences.
• Thirteen Ed Online, run by the Education Broadcasting Company, offers science lessons here.
• The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration offers online access to lesson plans developed by scientists and educators during Ocean Explorer field seasons.
• The Schools of California On-line Resources for Education (SCORE) offer lesson plans searchable by subject, standard, or grade level.
• The Science Spot offers lesson plan links searchable by topics including astronomy, forensic science, ecology, and genetics.

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Technology

• McGraw-Hill and Macmillan have designed a free CyberSmart technology curriculum focused on 21st century skills. Lessons are searchable by grade level or topic.
• Thirteen Ed Online, run by the Education Broadcasting Company, offers technology lessons here.
• Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL) maintains a database of lesson plans for technology teachers.
• The Educator's Reference Desk has a lesson plan database with materials for information literacy and computer science lessons.

  Back to Top

Secondary Level Lesson Plan Resources

General and Interdisciplinary Resources

• Thinkfinity is a one-of-a-kind treasure trove of standards-based, classroom-ready resources that combines discipline-specific content from nine partner organizations including the interdisciplinary EDSITEment. The other eight partner organizations are included in the subject-specific links below.
• Discovery Education, a division of the company that creates the Discovery Channel, also maintains a searchable archive of lesson plans that cover topics ranging from forensics, to weather, and many other concepts pertaining to science and social studies.
• The Peace Corps' World Wise Schools Program offers numerous lessons about cultures and countries worldwide. Their database is searchable by keyword, subject, geographic region, country, and grade level.
• Resource Roundup guides provided by PBS.org. These helpful .pdfs, targeted by subject and grade-level, will take the guesswork out of how to implement what PBS has to offer your classroom.
• The Educator's Reference Desk has a searchable lesson plan database with interdisciplinary materials.
• The Solution Site, designed to offer K-12 teachers access to lesson plans that emphasize active learning, is the result of a U.S. Department of Education Technology Innovation Challenge Grant.
• Thirteen Ed Online, run by the Education Broadcasting Company, offers multidisciplinary resources here.
• Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL) maintains a database of interdisciplinary lesson plans.

  Back to Top

The Arts

• ARTSEDGE, a Thinkfinity partner, offers lesson plans for dance, music, theatre, and the visual arts.
• The J. Paul Getty Museum offers online lesson plans that cover topics in the visual arts.
• Federal Resources for Educational Excellence (FREE) offers a searchable database of resources on artists, the visual arts, music, theatre, and film.
• Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL) maintains a database of art lesson plans.
• Crayola.com offers lesson plans that help teachers integrate creativity in the classroom.
• The Educator's Reference Desk has a lesson plan database with materials for art lessons, including art history, visual arts, computers in art, and music.
• The LETSnet project has developed a helpful subject-specific springboard for art and music lessons designed to help teachers integrate technology in the classroom.
• Thirteen Ed Online, run by the Education Broadcasting Company, offers art lessons here.

  Back to Top

Civics

• The Educator's Reference Desk has a lesson plan database with materials for civics lessons, including art history, visual arts, computers in art, and music.
• Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL) maintains a database of civics lesson plans.
• The Library of Congress offers a collection of comprehensive lesson plans that emphasizes the use of primary sources.
• Civics Online, a resource developed by Michigan State University's College of Education, includes lesson plans and activities searchable by grade level and core democratic values.

  Back to Top

Economics

• EconEdLink, a Thinkfinity partner, offers lesson plans that span dozens of economic concepts. Their impressive database is searchable by title, grade, or lesson plan type.
• Thirteen Ed Online, run by the Education Broadcasting Company, offers economics lessons here.
• Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL) maintains a database of lesson plans on economics.

  Back to Top

English and Language Arts

• readwritethink, a Thinkfinity partner, has hundreds of quality, standards-based lesson plans.
• The Educator's Reference Desk has a lesson plan database with materials for language arts lessons.
• The J. Paul Getty Museum offers online lesson plans that incorporate writing and reading skills and topics in the visual arts.
• The Library of Congress offers a collection of comprehensive lesson plans that emphasizes the use of primary sources and features lessons on American literature and poetry.
• Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL) maintains a database of language arts lesson plans.
• The LETSnet project has developed a helpful subject-specific springboard for language arts lessons designed to help teachers integrate technology in the classroom.
• Literacy Network, a Thinkfinity partner, has a searchable library. Select “lesson” under “resource type” to browse lesson plans designed to promote literacy development and lifelong learning.
• Teacher Lingo offers a collection of user submitted language arts lesson plans.
• Thirteen Ed Online, run by the Education Broadcasting Company, offers English lessons here.
• Federal Resources for Educational Excellence (FREE) offers a searchable database of resources on reading, literature, famous writers, and other language arts topics.

  Back to Top

Foreign Language and ESL

• The J. Paul Getty Museum offers lessons connected to themes in the visual arts for intermediate and advanced ESL students.
• Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL) maintains a database of foreign language lesson plans.
• The Educator's Reference Desk has a lesson plan database with materials for foreign language and ESL lessons.
• Everything ESL offers 41 content-focused ESL lesson plans for beginning and intermediate students.
• The Internet Journal for Teachers of English as a Second Language frequently updates their online lesson plan resource collection.

  Back to Top

Geography

• National Geographic's Xpeditions, a Thinkfinity partner, offers lesson plans focused on U.S. National Geography Standards.
• Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL) maintains a database of geography lesson plans.
• Windows to the Universe provides educators access to online geography and geology lessons.

  Back to Top

Health and Physical Education

• The Educator's Reference Desk has a lesson plan database with materials for health and physical education lessons.
• Federal Resources for Educational Excellence (FREE) offers a searchable database of resources on exercise, health, and substance abuse.
• Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL) maintains a database of lesson plans for health and physical education teachers.
• The LETSnet project has developed a helpful subject-specific springboard for health & sports designed to help teachers integrate technology in the classroom.

  Back to Top

History and Social Studies

• The Smithsonian's History Explorer has hundreds of lesson plans and standards-based educational resources.
• C-SPAN Classroom offers a variety of lesson plans and free primary source materials for social studies teachers who register an account with their website.
• Thirteen Ed Online, run by the Education Broadcasting Company, offers social studies lessons here.
• Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL) maintains a database of lesson plans for history teachers.
• The Library of Congress offers a collection of comprehensive lesson plans that emphasizes the use of primary sources.
• The Educator's Reference Desk has a lesson plan database with materials for social studies lessons.
• The National Archives also offers a collection of lesson plans that emphasizes the use of primary sources.
• Federal Resources for Educational Excellence (FREE) offers a searchable database of resources on history and social studies.
• The LETSnet project has developed a helpful subject-specific springboard for social studies designed to help teachers integrate technology in the classroom.
• Teachers from California State University, Northridge have compiled a thorough listing of lesson plan resources for social studies teachers.
• The National Park Service and the National Register of Historic Places maintain a website with online lesson plans to promote teaching with historic places.

  Back to Top

Math

• National Council of Teachers of Mathematics has over 500 lesson plans available online.
• The Educator's Reference Desk has a lesson plan database with materials for mathematics lessons.
• Federal Resources for Educational Excellence (FREE) offers a searchable database of resources on algebra, data analysis, geometry, and other math topics.
• The LETSnet project has developed a helpful subject-specific springboard for math designed to help teachers integrate technology in the classroom.
• Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL) maintains a database of lesson plans for math teachers.
• Thirteen Ed Online, run by the Education Broadcasting Company, offers math lessons here.

  Back to Top

Science

• Science NetLinks, a Thinkfinity partner, has an extensive lesson plan library.
• Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL) maintains a database of lesson plans for science teachers. Lessons are categorized by topic including life science , physical science, earth and space science, and scientific inquiry.
• The Educator's Reference Desk has a lesson plan database with materials for science lessons.
• The Exploratorium's Teacher Institute, run by San Francisco's world renowned science museum, maintains an online forum with innovative, hands-on lesson plans as well as topical podcasts that focus on teaching tips for educators.
• The LETSnet project has developed a helpful subject-specific springboard for science designed to help teachers integrate technology in the classroom.
• Federal Resources for Educational Excellence (FREE) offers a searchable database of resources on applied sciences, earth sciences, life sciences, physical sciences, and space sciences.
• Thirteen Ed Online, run by the Education Broadcasting Company, offers science lessons here.
• The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration offers online access to lesson plans developed by scientists and educators during Ocean Explorer field seasons.
• The Schools of California On-line Resources for Education (SCORE) offer lesson plans searchable by subject, standard, or grade level.
• The Science Spot offers lesson plan links searchable by topics including astronomy, forensic science, ecology, and genetics.

  Back to Top

Technology

• Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL) maintains a database of lesson plans for technology teachers.
• The Educator's Reference Desk has a lesson plan database with materials for information literacy and computer science lessons.
• Thirteen Ed Online, run by the Education Broadcasting Company, offers technology lessons here.
• McGraw-Hill and Macmillan have designed a free CyberSmart technology curriculum focused on 21 st century skills. Lessons are searchable by grade level or topic.

  Back to Top

Postsecondary Level Lesson Plan Resources

General and Interdisciplinary Resources

• Thinkfinity is a one-of-a-kind treasure trove of standards-based, classroom-ready resources that combines discipline-specific content from nine partner organizations including the interdisciplinary EDSITEment. Postsecondary Resources are searchable by adult education, community college, higher education, and vocational education.
• GED-i provides lesson plans that cover a number of subject areas and job skills for students working toward their GEDs.
• The Educator's Reference Desk has a lesson plan database with materials for vocational education, adult and continuing education, and higher education.

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English and Language Arts

• Literacy Network, a Thinkfinity partner, has a searchable library. Select “lesson” under “resource type” to browse lesson plans designed to promote literacy development and lifelong learning.

  Back to Top

Foreign Language and ESL

• The J. Paul Getty Museum offers adult learning lessons connected to themes in the visual arts for intermediate and advanced ESL students.
• The Educator's Reference Desk has a lesson plan database with materials for foreign language and ESL lessons.
• Everything ESL offers 41 content-focused ESL lesson plans for beginning and intermediate students.
• The Internet Journal for Teachers of English as a Second Language frequently updates their online lesson plan resource collection.

  Back to Top

Technology

• Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL) maintains a database of lesson plans for technology teachers.
• The Educator's Reference Desk has a lesson plan database with materials for information literacy and computer science lessons.

  Back to Top