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Painting Modern Life
Students analyze two works by Pablo Picasso and how he represents female figures. In this art analysis lesson, students analyze the female figures in the two artworks and discuss them. Students research a topic of social importance and...
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Using Best Newspaper Writing in a Journalism Class
Students explore the genre of journalism. In this journalism instructional activity, students examine newspaper articles and identify reporting techniques. Students collaborate to identify excellent pieces of newspaper writing.
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Medieval Ethiopia, Mali and Nigeria: The Influence of Culture in Africa
Students are introduced to the concept of cultural diffusion. In groups, they identify the culture of Mali, Nigeria and Ethiopia and work together to research how cultural diffusion has changed the country. To end the lesson, they...
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Poetry Interpretation and Figurative Language
Fifth graders discover how figurative language is used in poetry. They read selected poems and identify the figurative language with handouts and worksheets included in the lesson. They write poems of their own using figurative language.
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Severe Weather is Spring Challenge
Students research storms and appropriate warning procedures in their home towns and conduct interviews to find out suggestions for students and others in their community to keep themselves safe. Afterwards, students write a news feature...
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Changing Perspectives on the Japanese Internment Experience
Students explore the issue of Japanese-American internment. In this World War II lesson, students analyze historical biases regarding Japanese-American internment as they analyze literature, research print and Internet sources, and...
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Roller Coasters: They're Fun, But Are They Safe?
Students survey people to find out what roller coasters they like, conduct Internet research to find information on dangers in amusement parks, contact experts on subject, and write feature that shows pros and cons of coasters.
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Walking the Trail of Tears
Middle schoolers, through the use of examining video clips and Websites, become familiar with the reasons that the settlers wanted the land, broke treaties, and initiated the Indian Removal Act leading to the Trail of Tears.
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Outsourcing City Hall
Students examine how some city halls around the country are using private companies to run them. After watching a video, they write a reaction paper to some part of it. They write an article for their school newspaper discussing whether...
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Youth Obesity: Schools Fight Back
Kids fight obesity by comparing the USDA food intake suggestions to what they personally consume throughout the day. They watch a video, read texts, and explore related vocabulary which they use as they compose an oral presentation.
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Routing Explorers
Students read excerpts from an explorer's journal and then become investigators and navigators themselves. Students answer questions about the difficulties and time it took for the explorers to travel from Washington to New Orleans and...
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What Physical Activities Do Sneakers and His Friends Do?
Students investigate fun physical activities that can be done year round. In this physical education lesson, students read the story Big News! Straight From the Heart, and list the activities written about in the story. Students create...
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Introduce Vocabulary: Moonbear’s Bargain
Young scholars explore language arts by reading a book in class. In this story vocabulary lesson, students read the book Moonbear's Bargain and identify the use of specific vocabulary words. Young scholars define the selected vocabulary...
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Introduce Vocabulary: The Surprise Garden
Students explore English by reading children stories in class. In this tier two vocabulary lesson, students read the book The Surprise Garden and identify the settings, plot and characters. Students define a list of vocabulary words from...
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Immigration Debate
Students investigate the law recently passed in Arizona, "Support our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act." In this history activity, students watch a video on immigration then work in small groups to prepare a debate on the pros...
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The Life Cycle of the Butterfly
Second graders study the life cycle of a butterfly by observing metamorphosis taking place in a butterfly pavilion. Students illustrate their understandings of the body parts of a caterpillar and butterfly, as well as the life cycle,...
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Animals of the Arctic
Students discover the animals that make the Canadian Arctic their home. In this Arctic animals lesson, students research the animals that live in the region and create posters that feature their findings.
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How To Stay Creative
Students explore the concept of creativity and how an artist maintains it. The positive influences to maintain it is the focus with the awareness of the negative influences that can possibly stifle creative thinking is also presented.
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Chinese New Year
Students explore the Chinese New Year celebration. Through the use of interactive video and the Internet, they will examine the sequence of events that occur during the preparation and festivities. Students compare the Chinese New Year...
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A "Fresh" Approach to the District's 6+1 Traits Writing Assessment
One way to assess improvement in writing is to conduct a district-wide assessment program. This resource details the Wisconsin Dells approach to assessing freshmen 6+1 Traits writing. The format could be adapted to any district or used...
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Todd Hido
Pupils do many activities and study one of Todd Hido's photographs to investigate composition and a sense of place.
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So You Want to Be A Poet?
Fourth graders study different types of poetry and then write examples in this unit. They write, among others, free verse, Diamante, Clerihew, and color poems.
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One Windy Wednesday
Students read and discuss the novel, "One Windy Wednesday." They complete a variety of activity cards and assignments associated with this novel. Each student draws windy day pictures, make a kite and record weather and kite observations.
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A Garden in the Mailbox
Students study seed catalogs to find information about plants and growing seasons. They write letters requesting a seed catalog after using online resources. They use them complete an associated worksheet and discuss zone maps for their...