Begin class with a short comprehension quiz and review and then move into a new genre: two-voice poems. The activity provides information about this type of poetry as well as a video example made by eighth graders that you can show your...

Are all criminals bad people? Pupils answer this and other compelling questions in an anticipation guide for The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin. Designed for learners to complete before reading the text, the...

Learners use their experience with leadership, as well as a thought-provoking quote and discussion with their classmates, to help them define the concept of leadership.

Revisit the documentaries viewed in the previous instructional activity in this series in order to take a look at the persuasive techniques employed by the documentary creators. Small groups watch the films a second time, taking notes on...

Middle schoolers are assigned to groups, and determine each member's role in the group. They will design an experiment to determine a way to produce the three primary and five secondary colors. Students discuss color and mood. They...

Students discuss the qualities of a good book club. They explore the behaviors that contribute to a good book club discussion. Also, they compare/contrast a response type that could be used any time in their reading logs.

Students are introduced to the history of the Uyghur society. In groups, they read various chapters of their text, they summarize the material, write down any questions they need answered and create an outline. They present their...

Students are introduced to a five column way to record transactions. In groups, they discuss the importance of source documents when recording the transactions and balancing the account at the end of the month. To end the lesson, they...

Students are introduced to how transactions are analyzed with debits and credits. In groups, they complete a T-chart in which the account increases with credits and decreases with debits. To end the lesson, they analyze the various...

Sixth graders investigate different cultures by comparing the United States to Europe. In this social structure lesson plan, 6th graders discuss the economies, religions, languages and cultures in the Americas and Europe and define their...

Fourth graders read the book "The Sign of the Beaver". As a class, they identify the problems in the story and predicting what they think is going to happen next. Individually, they examine the cause and effect relationships and...

Middle schoolers examine the various migration patterns of the Athabaskan. In groups, they discuss the Bering Strait Land Bridge theory of migration and take notes on a lecture from their teacher. To end the lesson, they brainstorm the...

Students relate the location and the function of individual skeletal parts. Students identify and discuss skeletal differences between species. Students identify and define related terminology. Students individually complete a written...

Students investigate U.S. history by listening to an economics lecture. In this U.S. government lesson, students research the "New Deal" which happened after the Great Depression. Students identify movies, books and music from the...

Learners brainstorm a list of the reasons to marry someone. In groups, they examine the theories and stages of dating and how to act like a responsible adult. To end the lesson, they identify the proper behaviors for both males and...

Students analyze the reasons why groups build monuments and memorials. Using the Holocaust as an example, they reflect on issues that are addressed in monuments related to it. They create a monument of their own and write an essay about...

Students investigate acting and performing arts by portraying a story in class. In this pantomiming activity, students read the story Goldilocks and the Three Bears, and discuss the characters amongst themselves. Students portray the 4...

Students discuss what it means to be an "activist." They identify various types of activist organizations and brainstorm the names of local people and organizations that might fit these categories. They research one of these...

Students solve real life scenarios using algebra. In this word problem lesson, students use different websites dealing with engineering as it relates to the real world and math. They use other resources such as magazines to solve word...

Students get a first hand look at the benefit of a "blubber layer" in cold climates through a simulation using vegetable shortening and icy water. Through this simulation, students examine how adaptations help organisms survive.

Students view the four stages in the growth of a butterfly. They are told that once a caterpillar hatches, its skin can't grow fast enough to make room for all its growth. Students are asked if they have seen a caterpillar? They are...

Students compare the Magna Carta and the Bill of Rights. In this historical comparison lesson, students examine primary sources of three significant historical documents. Students create a chart in a compare and contrast format, then...

Young scholars investigate ratios of various objects.  In this ratios of various objects instructional activity, students draw pictures on graph paper and then dilate or shrink the image.  Young scholars determine the ratio of...

Third graders are asked how multiplication, division, addition and subtraction are related. After being read part of a book, they work together to build a model between addition and multiplication. To end the lesson, they write about...