Curated OER
A Dictionary of Independence
Students use events and biographies from their state's history and U.S. history, to create a dictionary of terms for citizens of a democracy.
Curated OER
Dinosaur Dictionary
Learners utilize a web site to search for a dinosaur related word that begins with a specific letter. The words and their definitions are placed into a dictionary page which is then compiled into a class book.
Macmillan Education
The Tell-Tale Heart
Rather than who done it, the mystery literary detectives have to solve as they examine the evidence found in Edgar Allan Poe's famous "The Tell-Tale Heart" is why did he do it?
Curated OER
You Wouldn't Understand...It's a Slang Thang
Fourth graders study a decade in history through its slang. They analyze a slang dictionary from the 1920's and read a primary source letter making use of the slang. They decipher the language and compare and contrast 1920's language...
Curated OER
Native American Glossary
Students develop a glossary of English language words with Native American origins. They discuss a list of words, look up the words in a dictionary, and compile the definitions in alphabetical order in a class glossary.
Curated OER
Limericks
Fourth graders look up the definition of "Limerick" in the dictionary. They listen to the teacher explain a limerick and read an example of a limerick. Students brainstorm rhyming words and write their own limericks.
Curated OER
In Search of Shakespeare . Images of Othello: A Shakespearean WebQuest | PBS
Students look closely at the text of "Othello." They use an online dictionary, and use various search engines. Students use an online Shakespeare concordance and make intelligent decisions about character. They write an intelligent...
Curated OER
The Mouse and the Motorcycle
Students follow along as they read chapters in the book The Mouse and the Motorcycle. They work with a partner and choose 5 objects to measure when the class does the measuring activity. Students make a picture dictionary using at...
Curated OER
Freckle Juice
Students identify and define vocabulary words in the book, Freckle Juice. In this vocabulary lesson, students read the text and define the words "formula," "reflection," and "remover." Students use an online dictionary to define the...
Curated OER
You're Special
Students utilize a new language to tell someone they care for them. In this complimenting lesson plan, students practice saying nice things to friends and strangers in their target language. Students react to the lesson plan afterwards...
Curated OER
Birthday Celebrations
Students utilize a new language to discuss dates and birthdays. In this foreign language instructional activity, students practice using vocabulary words from a target language to speak about birthdays and culture related to a specific...
Curated OER
Gateway
Young scholars practice listening to math problems in a foreign language. In this number sentence lesson, students listen to the teacher ask them a question in a foreign language that has some type of number combination for an answer....
Curated OER
A Way with Words or Say What?
Students examine Shakespearean language. For this word study lesson, students investigate the meaning of words that Shakespeare invented. Students draw and pantomime with the words prior to writing short stories that feature...
Curated OER
THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER by Mark Twain
Students read in class the novel The Adventures of Tom Sayer by Mark Twain. They can choose to find song lyrics from any artist that they feel define one of the characters in the book, illustrate a scene from the book or create their own...
Curated OER
WHAT'S ORGANIC?
Learners explore how certain foods come to be certified "organic." They write the words "organic" and "synthetic" and given the definitions of each. Students are given dictionaries. They are asked: "What is organic food?" Learners grow...
Curated OER
Get A Life
Students explore the definition and derivation of the popular saying "get a life." Using worksheets and lecture materials, students provide meanings for the phrase when used in varying contexts. They also consider the dervation of each...
Curated OER
In Your Dreams
Students explore the definition and derivation of the popular saying "in your dreams." Using worksheets and lecture materials, students provide meanings for the phrase when used in varying contexts. They also consider the derivation of...
Curated OER
Noisy Nora, Studious Students: Story Elements
Alliterative adjective nicknames generate stories inspired by Rosemary Wells' book Noisy Nora (also a thematic complement to any class with children who make a ruckus to get attention). Class members explore basic story elements --...
Curated OER
Dragonwings: Evaluate Chapters 10-12
As your class finishes the novel Dragonwings, use these culminating projects. A vocabulary list is given for chapters eleven and twelve and either an epitaph or letter activity concludes the book. The final project consists of creating a...
Curated OER
Writing History: From Students to Scholars
An Online NewsHour article about scholarly ethics launches this study of plagiarism. Since historians are supposed to bring original ideas and perspectives to their publications, they must give credit to the ideas of others. After a...
Curated OER
Martin Luther King Jr's "I Have A Dream" Speech
Invite your class to investigate racism and civil rights by analyzing the great Dr. Martin Luther King's speech. Your learners will read the words from the "I Have a Dream" speech and analyze the political and racial overtones. They will...
Curated OER
Editor Travels U.S. Fixing Errors on Signs
An interesting article on editors helps young writers understand the conventions of written English. They read a news article about an editor traveling America correcting spelling and punctuation errors on signs. They discuss proper...
Curated OER
Helpful Animals and Compassionate Humans in Folklore
Students define elements of stories from around the world that include helpful animals. They explore animal character motivations and use graphic organizers to compare and contrast animal stories from different cultures.
Curated OER
In God We Trust; All Others Pay Cash
Learners review their knowledge on the First Amendment. After reading an article, they identify specific church and state issues. Using the Internet, they research President Bush's proposal from a specific point of view. They summarize...