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Building Boats
Students research different types of boats in various time periods and cultures. Then they locate photographs and information about construction details of one type of boat. Students also use their research as the basis for designing and...
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Being My Very Best
Students, while reading a variety of books about getting along with others with their classmates, make a list of ways that people act when they care about each other. They create a self-portrait paper doll to generate solutions to...
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Amish Quilters
Students research information about the Amish way of life and discuss how quilting is a necessity as well as a way for women to socialize within the Amish community. They create a diorama showing scenes related to quilting.
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Solar Energy in New York
Middle schoolers examine a variety of information for New York State including insolation data, and economic or political data, thus incorporating both science and social studies. Encouraging learners to become concerned citizens as they...
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History: Tudor Exploration
In a story format, the tale of Tudor exploration is told. Each slide contains an image and a chunk of text relating content regarding King Henry VIII's navy and his favorite ships. The last slide suggests an activity where learners...
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Whose go the Power: Checks and Balances
After introducing the three branches of US government, test the class' understanding of government powers. They are asked a series of questions regarding a federal act and then, answer which branch has the power of decision making....
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Sir Robert Peel: Second Baronet (1788-1850)
Who was the second Baronet in Great Britain, you ask? Why, it was non other than Sir Robert Peel! Learn all about Sir Peel's life, politics, and contributions to British policy. If this isn't what your class is studying in school, it...
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Life after 1930: Review Game
The Beatles, Teddy Boys, and Winston Churchill all have one thing in common. They are all part of British culture after the 1930s. Learners play an adapted version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire to answer 15 common-knowledge questions...
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Lin at Home and Abroad
What is so amazing about Jeremy Lin? Read the following New York Times article and find out. The article and 13 comprehension questions regarding this basketball super star are awaiting your eager readers.
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Arab Spring: Unrest in the Middle East, 2011-2012
The conflict in the Middle East is a hot topic that can be somewhat confusing. In order to better grasp the who, what, where, when, and why of this world affair, learners fill out a chart. They record basic facts about each country...
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Is Modern Culture Ruining Childhood?
There are a lot of different ways a learner could respond to this New York Times article discussing the effects of modern culture on childhood. After reading the article, pupils construct a thoughtful blog post. The guiding questions...
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Honoring Holocaust Remembrance Week
Examining a difficult history through contextual foundations, personal stories, and Dr. Seuss.
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Lord Shaftesbury
One of the negative effects of the Industrial Revolution was the advent of child labor. Discover the good deeds and law making powers held by Lord Shaftesbury. Each slide describes his life and his contributions to child welfare,...
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The Celts
Look far back in history and you'll meet a people group called the Celts. Celts, as you'll soon find out, are a group of people who inhabited Britain 2000 years ago. Presented here, is simple information which describes a bit about...
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Lesson Plan: What We Value
How have values changed? How does our society influence our choices? Two great questions lead this discussion about food production, history, and cause-and-effect relationships. Pupils analyze a limestone relief from Assyria, research...
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The Land Around Us - Lesson 3
While the content of this lesson is more specific to the first grade, the directions given to work on a PowerPoint are well written. These directions could be used by anyone, with any content. Younger learners may need help reading the...
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Homophobia: What is It? What Can We Do About It?
A two-part instructional activity focuses on the sensitive issues of homophobia, discrimination, sexuality, and gender. Middle schoolers discuss individual and institutional discrimination, personal rights, homosexuality, and bullying.
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Four-Corners Debate
Use this two page handout to establish the rules for class debate. The four-corners method of debate is one that provides a safe way for learners to engage in a discussion or debate over potentially heated or controversial topics. The...
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Wiki Comment: The News and You
Kids explore the world of news media by creating a wiki page. They will create a wiki page on the Internet in order to comment on and question the stories that take place in the world. They will practice creative writing by summarizing...
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Let's Discuss Current Events
Investigate articles from the daily news and share opinions with classmates. Using current events, learners view a news program without sound and predict what news is being discussed by analyzing the visuals. Then they read news articles...
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Lesson Plan: How Coyote Came to Shuffle Off to Buffalo
Creative kids read, discuss, play-act, and sketch to examine the cultural significance of Old Man Coyote. They listen to several stories involving Coyote, analyze the Harry Fonseca painting Shuffle Off to Buffalo, and write Coyote...
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Why Did King Henry VIII Divorce Catherine of Aragon?
Why did King Henry divorce Catherine of Aragon, and how did he make divorce possible? Young historians will read through each informational slide to learn the story of Catherine of Aragon, King Henry, and Anne Boleyn. They will then...
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Mary Tudor: Later to be Known as Bloody Mary
How did a Princess in Waiting become the ruler known as Bloody Mary? Presented here is an account of the life, love, and rule of the fated Queen. Each of the 10 slides contains an image of Mary and three blocks of informational text.
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Ancient Egypt: Life After Death and Mummies
Oh my! Life after death, but how? Learn all about the ancient Egyptian custom of mummification. Each colorful slide provides a how and why related to burial customs, Egyptian religious beliefs, and the process of mummification. A great...