Students utilize a variety of source materials to explore reasons for supporting or opposing hydraulic mining. A mock court hearing is held where a decision to allow the continued use of hydraulic mining is made.

Introduce your upper-elementary students to printmaking. Class members view prints, select and research symbols in a piece, and create their own sets of prints using styrofoam trays. Pupils can wash off the paint on their trays to make...

"i before e. . ."  Spelling is easier if kids know the eight basic spelling rules  contained in this resource packet.

According to Cicero, "Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others." Pupils explore similar inspirational quotes after watching a time-lapse video. Next, scholars interpret one of the quotes by creating...

Students draw conclusions about an mystery person based on documents and artifacts provided. In this drawing conclusions lesson, students become detectives by reading and analyzing evidence provided. This lesson includes information on...

Students create cost effective ways to protect an egg. In this cost conscious lesson plan, students complete an egg drop activity while spending the least amount of money possible.

Young scholars demonstrate their learning about Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers Union by writing a biopoem. They word process the poem.

Students participate in ToxMystery, a computer game, where they discover potential environmental health hazards in rooms of a common household. In this lesson on household safety, students first brainstorm possible hazards in the...

Students research India and Indian culture. In this Indian research lesson plan, students research and report on the lives of Indian children. The report will be in the form of a mock interview between a journalist and an Indian child....

Students write a short story illustrating the past and imaging the future in transportation. In this transportation lesson plan, students explore artifacts that have to do with transportation in the past in Chicago.

Students discuss the United States Postal Service and choose an artifact from one decade. In this art lesson, students research how the artifact chosen relates to Chicago and the United States. Students create their own postage stamp...

Students research the architecture. in this architecture lesson, students examine buildings from the point of view of the architect or builder. They draw their own building and have a classmate build it. 

Students imagine what it would be like to travel back in time. In this creative writing lesson plan, students watch parts of the film Back to the Future and examine artifacts from the past. Students write a short story in which they...

Young scholars explore why the need arose for laws to govern society, comparing and contrasting hunter/gatherer societies vs. agrarian societies. They write letters to the editor of the Babylonian Times, discussing their opinion of...

Students conduct Internet research to identify the conflicts and positions of slaves, slaveholders, and members of the Underground Railroad network in the time preceding the Civil War. Students write an essay about their findings written...

Students create a two, three, or four-dimensional collage or assemblage. They use shapes, colors, images, objects, and textures to create their collage.

Students choose from a group of entries about the culture of Peru. In this Peruvian culture lesson plan, students understand the definition of culture. Students describe the culture of Peru researched in the entry and complete a worksheet.

Young scholars explore the concept of fractions, decimals, and percents.  In this number sense lesson, students use a worksheet to guide them through the exploration of the relationship between fractions, decimals, and...

Students conduct Internet research on one famous person to explore his/her important contributions to society.

If you can find the book Caps for Sale in the target foreign language, this is a great activity to accompany it! After reading and modeling the story, the teacher models a dialogue that would take place between a salesman and a...

Hit all the basics with this lesson, focusing on weather, greetings, and dates! Start by singing a weather related song ("Quel temps fait-il by Barbara MacArthur is suggested), and then read a story about getting ready for school. The...

Students explore all the things they could do with a pizza. They become aware of food groups and nutritional needs, make decorated cardboard pizzas, interact with pizza slices and fractions, create stories to go along with their...

Have your young reporters research contributions of the ancient Egyptians, draft scripts, and broadcast their stories live on the Nile Network News. Depending on class size and age, topics may be brainstormed or assigned. The detailed...