Public Media for Northern California
An Educator’s Guide to Teaching Gun Control Issues | The Lowdown
The topic of gun control is vast, controversial, and difficult to introduce to students. This gem of a resource covers both sides of the issue and provides topic background, various multimedia and print resources, analysis questions, and...
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The Cat in the Hat is 50!
Have your class react to a number of statements about The Cat in the Hat, then read a news article about a special event honoring the birthday of the popular book. The teacher introduces an article with a discussion and vocabulary...
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I Had a Hero Lesson
Students read "I Had a Hero" a memoir written by a Peace Corps volunteer serving in the Democratic Republic of Congo. They discuss the story, respond to it in writing, complete comprehension activities and relate the account to their own...
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Childhood Lost: Child Labor in the United States, 1830-1930
Working in groups, middle and high schoolers describe and discuss photographs depicting working conditions experienced by child laborers in the 19th century. They then write a persuasive paragraph supporting an amendment to regulate the...
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It's All Greek to Me!
While the ideas for Ancient Greek research are solid, there is little detail to help make your job easier. The focus here is familiarizing your class with online databases and print resources in their school library. After direct...
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The Mosaic School
Students complete activities to learn about world cultures. In this multicultural instructional activity, students define the terms diversity, culture, and mosaic. Students research their family's country of origin and complete...
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Literacy Through Photography
Students practice using words to describe photographs they have taken. In this descriptive writing lesson, students utilize a disposable or digital camera to take 5 pictures of their life after school. Students create slides from their...
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Class Mural
Students discover visual arts by examining a wall mural. In this art appreciation lesson, students discuss the history of art after researching information on the Internet. Students view famous paintings which feature physical movement...
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A Community of Givers
Students explore charitable organizations. In this character development lesson, students read about children who have contributed to charitable organizations, research a variety of these organizations, plan a project, and prepare a...
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Service Project Letter to the Principal
Students talk about being a good citizen and what it means to them. In this citizenship lesson, students read, Arthur Meets the President and discuss the aspects of the book as they go along. Students brainstorm a list of ideas on how...
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Understanding Modern Vietnam Through the Five Themes of Geography
Students explore Vietnam and prepare a studenT book about Vietnam using the five themes of Geography. These books be used to teach a younger classroom about Vietnam, as part of a service-learning project in our school.
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Pets
Students participate in an after school program that promotes making decisions, getting along with others, decision-making, and being responsible. A pet survey is administered along with a variety of pet riddles with the students. They...
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Creating a Personal Symbol
Students inquire about visual arts by creating an artistic etching. In this symbolism lesson, students identify the work of Keith Haring by researching the web and analyzing images. Students utilize linoleum or wood to create an etching...
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This I Can Do: The Drive
Students read The Garden of Happiness and discuss the importance of the common good in a community. In this common good lesson, students understand how overcoming diversity and working together for a neighborhood drive. Students create a...
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Window Mural
Students analyze visual arts by creating a presentation in their schoolyard. In this mural lesson, students identify the work of Keith Haring by researching the web. Students utilize construction paper, markers and paper to create art...
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California Missions Project-Using Publisher
Students create a California Missions magazine that includes a Table of Contents, pictures, and websites. In this culture and history lesson, students research missions and write and create a magazine article about it.
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A Haring Event
Young scholars research visual arts by creating a presentation in their classroom. In this art history lesson, students identify the work of Keith Haring by researching the web and library. Young scholars analyze images of Haring and...
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Haring Animations
Young scholars inquire about visual arts by examining an animation clip. For this art technology lesson, students discuss the history of art after researching information on the Internet. Young scholars view animated video clips which...
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Current Events
Learners explore different countries, their locations, and their cultures. Using an encyclopedia, they locate the information, then write a report. Ultimately, they create a paper doll to represent their chosen country.
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A Thanksgiving Language Lesson!
Sixth graders, in groups, create restaurants, menus, and advertisements to attract Thanksgiving Day customers.
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Social Studies: People and Their Contributions
Students, working in groups, research people who have made significant contributions in history. They compile biographies about their chosen individual, including what they think might have happened if this person had not made the...
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Early Explorers Project
Pupils choose an explorer from a given list, create an original song or poem based on the life of their explorer, make puppets to represent their explorer and then present their original piece to the class while students take notes on...
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Project Assessing the Need
Students determine ways to serve the community. In this service learning instructional activity, students list human wants and human needs and repeat the activity for community wants and community needs. Students contact local agencies...
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Social Studies Wonders: An Exploration
Help middle schoolers conduct Internet research and develop a working definition for the discipline of social studies. From a list of websites, they develop classification skills and differentiate between primary and secondary sources....