Education depends on context, and for that reason, what works well in one community might not impact other learners in the same positive way. Rural teachers know better than anyone what their students need to be successful, but sometimes, due to geographic and funding challenges, they may feel isolated in that they are the only person in their school or district who teaches their particular grade level or subject. With this collaboratory site, we hope to provide a place for rural educators to share their favorite lessons with one another and to build a valuable resource they can draw from again and again. We intend to have a collection of lessons in various disciplines searchable by subject, approximate grade level, and topic (e.g., Science, Grades 3-4, erosion). Search Lesson Plans Subject any art foreign language guidance health history language arts math music physical education science writing other Grade any PreK-Grade 2 Grades 3-5 Grades 6-8 Grades 9-12 Postsecondary A Spy Called James: The Contributions and Legacy of Armistead Lafayette during the American Revolution History/Social Studies, Intermediate elementary (3-5) Submitted by: Joseph M. Cooke, Instructional Coach, Hurt Park Elementary School, Roanoke City Public SchoolsDownload Plan Seeking Freedom (accompanying slides) History/Social Studies, Intermediate elementary (3-5) See main lesson plan, "Seeking Freedom" Submitted by: Paula Spencer, Teacher, Alberta Smith Elementary, Chesterfield County Public SchoolsDownload Plan Seeking Freedom History/Social Studies, Intermediate elementary (3-5) Gifted (can be adapted for any group); See accompanying slides in separate file Submitted by: Paula Spencer, Teacher, Alberta Smith Elementary, Chesterfield County Public SchoolsDownload Plan What did Thomas Jefferson mean when he said, “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?” History/Social Studies, Early elementary (PreK-2) Submitted by: Sierra Sallah, Teacher, Wasena Elementary School, Roanoke City Public SchoolsDownload Plan Who Are You? How Do We Learn and Grow? History/Social Studies, Early elementary (PreK-2) Submitted by: Rebecca Ramsey, Teacher, Rhea Valley Elementary School, Washington County Public SchoolsDownload Plan The Price of Freedom: What was the price of freedom for Contrabands and the children of the formerly enslaved? History/Social Studies, Intermediate elementary (3-5) Submitted by: Jeryl Payne, Teacher, Mount Vernon Community School, Alexandria City Public SchoolsDownload Plan What Were Some Barriers to Education Faced by African Americans Before and After the Civil War? History/Social Studies, Intermediate elementary (3-5) Submitted by: Tara Parrish, Teacher, Breckinridge Elementary School, Botetourt County Public SchoolsDownload Plan “Bear and Fred: A World War II Story” History/Social Studies, Early elementary (PreK-2) Submitted by: Kim Morris, Instructional Coach, Lincoln Terrace Elementary School, Roanoke City Public SchoolsDownload Plan Using Pictures from the Library of Congress to Teach “Seeking Freedom” History/Social Studies, Intermediate elementary (3-5) Submitted by: Kristi Martin, Teacher, Breckinridge Elementary School, Botetourt County Public Schools, VADownload Plan “The Case for Loving: The Fight for Interracial Marriage” by Selina Alko Math, Early elementary (PreK-2) Submitted by: Taylor Nicely and Megan Johnson, Teachers, Lincoln Terrace Elementary School, Roanoke City Public SchoolsDownload Plan How do people fight for change? What was the role of abolitionists in the lead up to the Civil War? History/Social Studies, Intermediate elementary (3-5) Submitted by: Amy Jennings, Teacher, Highland Park Elementary School, Roanoke City Public SchoolsDownload Plan What dreams do ordinary people have? What was everyday life like for enslaved African Americans? History/Social Studies, Intermediate elementary (3-5) Submitted by: Melissa Irby, Teacher, Gordon-Barbour Elementary, Orange County Public Schools, VADownload Plan The Emancipation Proclamation and Under the Freedom Tree History/Social Studies, Intermediate elementary (3-5) Submitted by: Michael Hobbs, Teacher, Hillsville Elementary School, Carroll County Public SchoolsDownload Plan How Do Virginians Contribute to Their Communities in the Fight for Equality? History/Social Studies, Early elementary (PreK-2) Submitted by: Belinda T. English, Teacher, Round Hill Elementary School, Roanoke City Public SchoolsDownload Plan When the Schools Shut Down Lesson History/Social Studies, Intermediate elementary (3-5) Submitted by: Amy Allen, Assistant Professor, Virginia TechDownload Plan Concrete vs. Abstract Nouns Featuring Poems from Washington State Language Arts, Intermediate elementary (3-5) Submitted by: Rachelle Kuehl, Center for Rural Education, Virginia TechDownload Plan FEW Nexus Case Study Project Science, Middle school (6-8) Submitted by: Rachelle Kuehl, Center for Rural Education, Virginia TechDownload Plan Sourcing Cultural Foods: Where do the Ingredients for Traditional Appalachian Recipes Come From? Science, Intermediate elementary (3-5) Submitted by: Rachelle Kuehl, Center for Rural Education, Virginia TechDownload Plan Have a Lesson? First, though, we need your help! If you have a lesson plan you’d like to share with other rural teachers, please let us know! To do so, please complete this form* to give us a bit of information about you and your lesson. You can attach a PDF or Word version of your lesson right to the form. Someone from our team will read it over, contact you if any clarification is needed, and post it for other teachers to download. *NOTE: The Google form we use requires a sign-in with a google email address. If you don’t have one, please email rkuehl@vt.edu to submit your lesson! Need a Lesson? Perhaps you’re looking for ways to incorporate place into your writing lessons, or you need new ideas for teaching about historical figures in your social studies class. Please join our Facebook group to post a need, and hopefully other rural teachers will read it and share their ideas! Email us at Rural@vt.edu with any questions.
