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All Aboard
Explore the U.S.S. Nevada. Researchers use primary sources, secondary sources, children's books and websites to study the naval ship. Their study commences with a class alphabet book on the ship. Intended to be part of a instructional...
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The Donner Party
Who is the Donner Party? Find out why this group of pioneers lives in infamy. A lot of information is provided in this resource, but you will have to copy and paste the text to acquire the handouts. Learners will look at primary sources,...
Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media
What Brought Settlers to the Midwest?
Drawn by promises of fertile land, thousands of settlers poured West because of the Homestead Act of 1862. By examining images of the ads that drew them westward, learners consider the motivations for movement. They also consider how the...
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Mr. Lincoln's Whiskers
Learn about the events that helped shape the United States of America. Elementary schoolers explore the Civil War with six different activities. Each activity has a different focus: literature connections, primary sources, vocabulary,...
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Letter Writing and Abigail Adams
Third graders learn the importance of letter writing for communication. In this letter writing instructional activity, 3rd graders identify how letter writing was important in the life of Abigail Adams. Students understand what a...
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What Should I Purchase?
Discuss commercials, advertisements and junk mail and how each can influence their audience. Through these materials, kids examine persuasive writing. Which key words indicate that it's an advertisement? Young learners include these...
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Limericks
Introduce your class to the limerick with a focus on the form and its history. Resource is short on procedure, but contains useful suggestions about where to look for school-appropriate limericks for young readers. Examine the...
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Geometry of Democracy
Students explore the architecture of New England by identifying geometric shapes. For this architectural lesson, students examine photographs of classic building architecture and use a transparency to trace geometric shapes they...
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Inventions Change the World: The Enigma Machine
Third graders explore WWII by analyzing technological advances. In this invention lesson, 3rd graders discuss the use of the Enigma machine which decoded private German messages that communicated with U-boats. Students utilize a timeline...
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Diversity of Colors
Students investigate color diversity by experimenting with jelly beans. In this color spectrum lesson, students observe colored jelly beans through different filters and light sources to change the existing look of the bean. Students...
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Picture This!
Students explore and generate story elements for wordless picture books. In this collaborative writing lesson, students review wordless picture books and write a story based on the illustrations. Students use post-it notes to organize...
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Stained Glass for Your Class
Students investigate the history of stained glass and the creator of the art form. In this art project lesson plan, students utilize drawing paper to create their own style of stained glass using transparent paint. Students tape their...
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Information Sensation!
Third graders, in groups, choose a research topic and generate questions to narrow their focus. They research the answers to their questions and develop correctly cited source cards that display appropriate bibliographic format.
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What is Suffrage? Understanding the Right to Vote
Students discover one of the restrictions forced on women of the early 1900s. In this civil rights lesson, students investigate suffrage and why women were not allowed to vote in the early twentieth century. Students create a mock...
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In the Loop
Students practice comparing items by using a Venn diagram. In this diagram instructional activity, students divide a group of similar buttons by the small details that separate them using a Venn Diagram. Students compare and contrast...
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Fractal Fraction Fun
Students discover the interesting patterns and shapes referred to as "fractals." In this geometry lesson, students utilize pieces of colored construction paper to create the branches of a fractal tree. Students discuss the rules and...
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Sandpainting
Students investigate different forms of art native to Navajo Indians. In this art history lesson, students observe authentic sand paintings created by Native Americans hundred of years ago. Students create their own sand paintings...
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The Magic Words
Students investigate the truth behind several magic tricks by conducting the illusions in class. In this slight of hand lesson, students create an illusion using a coffee can and shoe box. Students perform their trick for friends and...
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Preparing to Write
Students practice writing techniques by creating a draft of a story. In this creative writing lesson, students discuss organizational techniques writers use to plan out a story they wish to write. Students have the option to write...
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Seed Swapping
Here is a fabulous, cross-curicular lesson on seeds. Elements of science, writing, math, agricultural practices, and art are all brought into this incredibly thorough plan. Additionally, a fun whole-class game is presented, and there is...
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Yankee Doodle... More than Just a Catchy Tune
Learners investigate the history of patriotic music and practice singing the tunes with classmates. In this U.S. History lesson plan, students examine lyrics of the traditional song "Yankee Doodle Dandy" and discuss the differing points...
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Writing American Diaries
Young scholars examine the concept of historical perspective in writing. They read the diary of Sally Wister, a young Patriot from Philadelphia during the Revolutionary Era. Additionally, they must include different points of view in...
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Chinese Landscape Painting
Third graders learn about Chinese poetry and landscape paintings, then create their own. They view several examples and discuss the elements of each, then paint their own landscape inspired by what they saw. They then listen to, read,...
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Seals: From the National To the Local
Third graders investigate official government symbols by completing a scavenger hunt. In this U.S. Government activity, 3rd graders participate in a scavenger hunt in which they locate seals or logos in their community. Students...