Turn your 6th graders into detectives while growing their love of reading. Using critical thinking skills, they will be able to describe the five basic elements of detective fiction, read detective novels, make predictions, use the...

Incorporate reading strategies, math, research, and the scientific method into one activity about water conservation. After reading a story about a landlady trying to determine how many people are living in an apartment, learners develop...

Students determine the story elements of typical mystery stories including characters and plot structure. They look at vocabulary that is common to mystery stories before reading and responding to mystery chapter books. Working in guided...

Students become both mystery readers and writers. They utilize the Internet to understand the elements of this classic genre; employ critical thinking skills when reading various stories in both print and electronic formats; form groups...

Fourth graders read the book Talkin' About Bessie and write a paragraph about the author's purpose. In this author's purpose lesson plan, 4th graders include examples from the story.

Students read and analyze the story "The Hell of Mirrors," by Edogawa Rampo. They watch a video excerpt, answer discussion questions, construct a periscope, complete handouts, define key vocabulary terms, take a quiz, and write a book...

Students explore the strategies and bias that are sometimes used in advertising with a particular focus on automobile advertising. Working in groups, they read several car ads and discuss the bias, opinion and stereotyping in the ads as...

Learners examine what a "target audience" is and evaluate the PETA website for tactics that exploit the characteristics of their target audience. They read and discuss a handout, analyze the PETA website in small groups, and participate...

Students read excerpts from the historian Conover Hunt writing about John F. Kennedy and from primary source documents using the handout: Historical Sources and Historians. Students discuss and identify source types, evaluate sources,...

Fifth graders identify stereotypes of Indian people based on perceived characteristics. They discuss the misconceptions. Students define quality of information and give an example from the story "Seaman's Journal: On The Trail With Lewis...

Fourth graders review and complete evaluating information quality. In groups, they research the diversity of the numerous Native American tribes in Montana. They complete a worksheet on evaluating sources on the Internet and share...

Eighth graders study the famous explorer Christopher Columbus.  In this World History lesson, 8th graders analyze and compare primary and secondary sources.  Students discuss as a class the accomplishments of Columbus....

Students study the life and biology of the Channel Catfish. In this aquatic biology instructional activity, students will examine the external and internal features of the catfish along with their breeding habits and environment. This...

Students analyze last and testaments of former slaveowners to identify and explain economic, social and cultural differences between the North and the South leading up to the Civil War.

Students explore the poetry of William Blake and the historical context that he presents. A story is analyzed and evaluated in order to solve a puzzle. The political commentary of the poetic piece is examined in this activity.

Students investigate the use of polythene bags in the community and measure the possible impact upon the environment. They conduct research using a variety of resources. The information is used in order to create an evaluative opintion...