Although the methods are all scientific, forensic science was started by police officers rather than scientists, who relied on observation and common sense. Young detectives use many tools to solve crimes around the school in a...

Students read and understand a variety of genres in a library setting. In this library activity lesson, students act as detectives and use clues in text and pictures to hypothesize the title of the missing book for the library reading...

Third graders investigate written clues from the past. In this clues from the past lessons, 3rd graders read and entry called, "Rick's Backyard Site." They complete the associated resource sheets. They read about a second site and use a...

Excite scholars to design their own planet in this first of five lessons. The lesson starts with a pre-activity assessment, a complete lesson plan that is easy to implement, and a post-activity assessment that would look great...

An effective way to demonstrate understanding is by synthesizing one's own work. Use a creative lesson designed for a unit on Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun for small groups to show what they know about the play,...

Open with a discussion on weather and climate and then explain how tree rings can provide scientists with information about the earth's past climate. Pupils analyze graphics of simulated tree rings from various US locations for the...

It's time to get those creative juices flowing! This second instructional activity in a series of five continues allowing pupils to design their own planets. It the same format as the first, but, this time, allows students to alter...

Students discuss situations where they would demonstrate conflict resolution. In this conflict resolution lesson plan, students role play, review angry body clues, learn how to make compromises, and more.

Students read books with younger children, incorporating context clues and vocabulary aids as reading strategies to help the younger children learn to read. They discuss the concept of community capital and how this activity relates.

Rumours of illness, poisoning, and madness - a ship disappears without a trace! Read this interactive science story and use deductive reasoning skills to solve a mystery. This engaging resource gives science stars a chance to practice...

Students solve pentomino puzzles.  In this problem solving lesson, students discuss how pentomino puzzles play into the plot of Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett and practice solving a pentomino puzzle on their own....

Learners identify ways in which the principles and subject matter of other disciplines taught in school, specifically math, are interrelated with those of music.

Students explore language arts by creating Venn Diagrams. In this reading materials instructional activity, students examine a horn-book and create a hypothesis about how to use it and where they derived from. Students compare their...

Elementary learners explore language arts by completing a text identification activity. They discuss the importance of a main idea in a story or paper and how to present it properly. Then they practice identifying the main idea in sample...

Pupils use their research skills to determine the famous person given in clues. Using a character recently dicussed in their classroom, they discuss how they would create a costume for them. They write sentences to be used as dialogue...

Students compose riddles that are shared in a chat session conducted on their local school network. Students create clues that describe a specific animal or object. They watch as their words are typed onto the chat screen and sent to the...

Students explore new vocabulary words by participating in a group activity. In this vocabulary role-playing instructional activity, students collaborate in groups to play a game of charades with new vocabulary words. Students are given...

Fourth graders explore U.S. Geography by completing a worksheet. In this west coast geography instructional activity, 4th graders discuss the Santa Fe and Oregon-California trails and the people who traveled them in the 1800's. Students...

Students explore space science by viewing videos on YouTube. In this moon landing lesson, students view clips of Neil Armstrong taking his first step on the moon and discuss the space race between the U.S. and Russia. Students utilize...

Students go on an imaginary fossil hunt. They follow a script read by the teacher, students "find" (remove from envelope) paper "fossils" of some unknown creature. They attempt to reconstruct fossil pieces into an animal.

First graders read a story from sentence strips and charts. Student pairs are called on to read their answer and move that strip to the top of the chart. One line of students moves down, giving each student a new partner. The activity...

Hand out student worksheets. Discuss and review the meaning of the vocabulary words found at the top of the worksheet. Ask learners for general definitions, then share the background material. 2. Have students read the information on the...

Students use structural analysis and context clues to determine meanings of words. They play a game to decode, read, and comprehend written text . They treat others with kindness and fairness and include others in learning and play...

Students review several articles on same current event, and then cover news issues themselves while assuming secret identities of various individuals who have vested interests in issue. Students write newspaper articles from these...