How do I search for resources using Lesson Planet?
Hover over "Discover" at the top of the homepage and select “Discover Resources” or enter the topic you are teaching or keywords in the search bar located at the top of the homepage and click the orange "Search" button. Lesson Planet will show you a list of resources to match your topic. Then, narrow your search results by selecting the appropriate grade(s), subject(s), resource type(s), and standards you wish to address using the categories on the left of your screen. Lesson Planet will automatically filter the results based on your selections. You can further specify what you want by clicking the "More" button that will appear to the right of each Subject and Resource Type.
Under the Standards section, after selecting a grade or grades at the top, you can click on "Expand Specific Standards" and then click on the “More” button to the right of the Common Core Standards or Next Generation Science and all the standards will be listed below each one.
Near the bottom of the left column on your search screen, you can choose to see resources filtered by included materials (e.g. answer key, assessment, graphic organizer), instructional strategy (e.g. project-based learning, Socratic seminar, collaborative learning, direct instruction, flipped classroom), technology integration, and more.
How can I save a resource?
As you browse, select the "See Review" button below any resource that interests you. If you'd like to save the resource to your "My Resources" Curriculum Manager so it's easy to find later, click on the "Favorite" button located at the top left-hand corner of the review. If the resource is a Collection/Folder, click on the "Save" button located at the top left of the review. To learn about how to use the Curriculum Manager, check out the video that can be found in the Curriculum Manager(hyperlink to article) section in the Help Center.
Are the reviewed resources aligned with any particular teaching or learning standards?
Lesson Planet makes it easy to find resources that are designed for or adaptable to Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Even if you teach in a state that has not adopted the Common Core, CCSS-alignment connotes a high degree of quality and curriculum design focused on 21st century skills and college and career readiness. And many states’ independent standards are closely aligned to CCSS, so these categories can help most teachers. In any search, you can select the CCSS for Math or ELA, or NGSS categories in the Standards box on the left. You can see which CCSS or NGSS-aligned resource will help you teach by clicking “See Review” and looking for the green standards identifiers near the bottom of the teacher review page. Hover your cursor over an identifier to see the complete text of the standard.
Are all resources I can find through Lesson Planet linked to websites? Why do I leave Lesson Planet when I want to view a resource for myself?
Lesson Planet links to thousands of different websites that host the resources rated and reviewed by our team of credentialed teachers, but we do not actually house them on our site or our servers.
In most cases, when you check out a resource for yourself by clicking "Go to Resource" (or Unit, Lesson Plan, Video, Activity, Worksheet, etc.) from Lesson Planet, you will see it open in a new tab in your browser as a standard web page. To return to Lesson Planet and resume searching for resources, you'll need to go to the previous tab at the top of your web browser.
However, some sites provide their curriculum as PDF files only. In order to open a PDF, you need to have the free PDF-opening application called Adobe Reader. If you do not have Adobe Reader, you can download and install it on your computer at no cost.
Still other resources are only available as Microsoft Word documents. In this case, you need to have Microsoft Word loaded on your computer to open them.
Sometimes, when a link is no longer working, Lesson Planet will show Members a cache or "copy" of a resource as it looked the last time we checked the link when it was functioning. We do this to enable Members to find resources that may still be useful, even if they are not currently accessible online. In this case, you will not be able to link to the original site that hosted the resource, but you will still be able to see and make use of it.
What should I do if I can't open a resource?
Usually, if you're having trouble opening a link on Lesson Planet, it is because the resource is a PDF, which requires Adobe Reader. If you do not have this application, you can download and install it on your computer at no cost. It is also possible that the site hosting the curriculum has moved the resource or now requires visitors to become members (free or fee-based) before allowing access to the content on their website. If you come across a site that doesn't show the resource or now requires a membership to access the curriculum you wish to view, please let us know by emailing [email protected] or by clicking on the flag icon at the end of the resource summary at the top of a review page.
How do I report a malfunctioning resource or other issue?
We strive to provide the highest quality resources. However, the web can change quickly. If you come across a link on Learning Explorer after clicking on the "Go to Resource button and leads to a broken link, a site, or a page that is inappropriate as an educational resource, please let us know immediately by doing the following:
Click on the Flag icon
, located at the end of the resource summary at the top of the review page.You will then be prompted to select the reason for flagging the resource, if the resource link is not working you would select “The resource is not available (broken link, file not found, etc.).” Flagging a Resource
You may also email us at [email protected] to notify us of the specific resource link that is broken.