Lesson Plan
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Las Christmas: Favorite Latino Authors Share Their Holiday Memories

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders read Las Christmas and discuss their own cultural traditions. For this holiday traditions lesson, 8th graders write their personal story about a tradition or holiday memory. Students complete all stages of writing in...
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Comic Book Project

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Young scholars write a fictional story into a comic book format. In this creative writing lesson, students analyze example comics and discuss the format. Young scholars create a comic book using imaginary characters that find a solution...
Interactive
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Recognizing Elements of a Short Story

For Students 6th - 8th
In this elements of a short story activity, students are given definitions and must choose the element being defined.  Students are also given a selection to read and answer questions about.
Lesson Plan
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A Bight is Born

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students sequence and model the events leading to the formation of the southeastern coast of the United States, including the formation of the South Atlantic Bight.
Unit Plan
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Voices from the Holocaust: A Message of Hope

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students develop a sense of historical empathy as they discuss The Holocaust and roll play activities designed to highlight prejudice in today's society.  In this Holocaust history and The Diary of Anne Frank lesson, students...
Lesson Plan
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Take the Last Train to Clarksville: Arkansas's Historic Depots and Railroad History

For Teachers K - 12th
Students study the history of railroads and depots in Arkansas using websites and memoirs. They complete activities that explain how and why the railroads were built, and the different ways people used them.
Lesson Plan
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Teaching Imagery with Gary Paulsen

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students read excerpts from memoirs written by Gary Paulsen as examples of how to write a narrative piece. They identify figurative language used and then they write a memoir of their own that contains imagery and figurative language.
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Out of the Dust 4

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders read the novel, "Out of the Dust," and create a free-verse poem about a treasure of their own. They use the attached checklist to evaluate their own poem.
Lesson Plan
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A Creative Presentation

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars read chapter books by Gary Paulsen. In groups, they identify imagery presented in the book. Students locate 10 quotes, categorize each quote into one of the five senses, and then organize it and create a display of their...
Lesson Plan
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Digging It - A Garden That Is

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students plan, design, and create a school/community garden.  For this planning, designing, and creating a school/community garden lesson, students research materials needed to start a garden.  Students determine the cost of...
Lesson Plan
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Identify and Analyze Literary Concepts

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Young scholars explore plot structure, conflict, setting, and mood. In this literary elements lesson, students read Rosa Parks, My Story and complete the provided plot outline worksheets. Young scholars discuss the text elements of...
Lesson Plan
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The Experience of Diary Writing

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners read sections of Mackenzie King's diary. King was the Prime Minister of Canada during WWII. They relate the importance of keeping a diary.
Lesson Plan
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Boarding School vs. Day School Experiences

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students compare and contrast the lives of Hopi children that attend boarding school and those that attend day school. In this schools lesson plan, students understand changes over time as they look at these schools chronologically.
Worksheet
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Recounts

For Students 6th - 8th
In this language arts worksheet, students use the graphic organizer to review the concepts needed in order to write an individual account of a significant event.
Lesson Plan
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Redesigning a Time Line

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students review how Ben and Jerry's ice cream is made to begin the activity. Using the internet, they view a timeline on the history of the company. They use a software program to make an ice cream cone and color the ice cream as they...
Lesson Plan
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Compare and Contrast Creation Stories

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students compare and contrast creation stories.  In this Bible studies instructional activity, students work in groups to read and summarize creation myths and share with their peers.  The class goes on to create a chart to...
Lesson Plan
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Prairie Settlement

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers make a decision for site selection for a farm during the 1840s in the Midwest. They build research and writing skills by recording the information used for analysis in a chart and as diary entries.
Lesson Plan
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Quest for Gold

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students identify people involved in the Olympics in the past and explain how their ideas and actions have changed others' lives. they take notes during research and present the information in written or picture format.
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Scavenger Hunt

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students search for items in various parts of the newspaper noting the different types of information it provides.
Lesson Plan
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Friar Margil and the Spanish Missions

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine the concepts of diversity and assimilation. They identify the validity of sources and recognize bias, and create original illustrations from the students' point of view which show the impact of the Spanish friars on the...
Lesson Plan
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Sectionalism, Popular Sovereignty, and Secession

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young scholars examine sequence of national events that resulted in the Civil War by using primary sources, and creating timelines and maps.
Lesson Plan
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Making Meaning from the Past

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Learners read Ella Lyon's autobiographical poem, "Where I'm From" as the impetus to critically reflect on key images, memories, and events from their own lives and communities.
Lesson Plan
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Historical Fiction - Based on facts or purely fiction?

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students, after reading an Accelerated Reader historical fiction book, research the actual historical time period portrayed in the book. Then, working in a cooperative learning group, they create a HyperStudio presentation.
Worksheet
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Reggae Music

For Students 6th - 8th
In this music worksheet, middle schoolers read an excerpt about Reggae music from Jamaica. They identify when and where it began and how the lyrics are sung. Students also respond to six questions related to reggae music.