Learners investigate the childhood of one of the greatest philosophers of our time, Gandhi.  In this biography lesson, students analyze the upbringing and events that finally shaped Mahatma Gandhi's life.  Learners locate...

Fourth graders research a famous Virginian. They cite sources of the facts and data which they gather from a variety of sources. They present the material using PowerPoint and an oral presentation.

Students use books to find quotes about or related to water. They use the subject or the style of the quote to inspire them to create their own famous words and paint a watercolor picture to accompany it.

Third graders read and study William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar and make a booklet of twenty illustrated quotations from William Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar.

Welcome to America, the land of liberty and freedom. Examine the ways in which the terms liberty and freedom have been used in the United States. After researching and analyzing quotations from the past and present, students create an...

Engage critical and social thinking by exploring the value of language and word choice. The class considers the article "The Silence of the Historic Present" and analyzes several presidential speeches. They engage in class...

Eighth graders create their own newspaper and write articles about things related to the Industrial Revolution. They include five different inventions from the time period and explain how they either benefited or harmed society. They...

Students create a project about a famous Biologist in order to appreciate the humanity of the people involved in doing science. They create scientist biography "cards" roughly modeled after baseball cards or create a scrapbook of a...

Students research a famous artist. They create a star book in which every fifth page must contain information about the artist in an envelope they made.

Students develop their writing skills by creating a character sketch about themselves. Students read character sketches, view portraits by famous artists, select one personality traits, and affix a mug shot of themselves into a famous...

Students paint a picture in the style of Jackson Pollock. In this painting lesson plan, students learn about Jackson Pollock and the method that he used to create his famous pieces of art. Students use objects other than paintbrushes to...

Identify the different types of graphs and when they are used. Learners will research a specific health issue facing teens today. They then develop a survey, collect and analyze data and present their findings in class.  This is a...

Read biographies and use the internet to research stories of courage.Young writers compare and contrast characteristics that societies value. They write reports about their family and community's heroes.

Students identify American heroes. In this research skills instructional activity, students discuss the characteristics of heroes and examine society's definition of heroes. Students research selected American heroes of the 20th century...

Students research historical events in ancient Greece.  In this ancient Greece lesson, students design a magazine which includes a cover, table of contents, cover story, advertisement and visuals. Students focus on Pericles and his...

Knock, knock, knock...Creep out your class with a critical thinking lesson focused on word relationships in Edgar Allen Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart." They investigate  the relationship between word choice, mood, and interpretation of...

Celebrate inventions such as lightning rods, bifocals, and stoves with a Ben Franklin Day. Young historians conduct research and write a paragraph about an accomplishment of Benjamin Franklin including an illustration...

Pupils define freedom, unity, progress, and responsibility in relation to American Heritage. They explore the origin of how American Heritage was developed and ways in which they can continue it today.  They also determine ways they...

What happened to a murder case when the police eat the murder weapon? After reading Roald Dahl's dark and ironic short story "Lamb to the Slaughter," students write a persuasive essay to convince a jury that the wife who killed her...

Looking for ways to implement the words and works of William Shakespeare into your curriculum? This list of activity ideas is a great starting point, as it covers a wide range of grade levels and a wealth of online references to explore.

Learners explore the artists of the Harlem Renaissance. Their research culminates in a Harlem Renaissance Fair celebrating the movement's cultural and artistic contributions to society.

Young scholars read a story. For this Native American lesson, students learn about Native Americans and their responsibility to take care of a place called Turtle Island. Young scholars learn the vocabulary words generation, befall,...

Students create a drawing from a written description and examine and discuss how European artists from the past created images of China that combined imagination with written descriptions and limited visual imagery.

Learners study about the Mexican holiday Day of the Dead to explore another culture's attitude towards death. They create collages reflecting the interests of and memories about someone who has passed away.