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Interactive3:25
Scholastic

Study Jams! Scientific Theory & Evidence

For Students 5th - 10th
Introduce someday scientists to ideas and explanations about how the world around us works by showing this cute cartoon. In it, Mia and Sam discuss what scientific theory is, and how it is important in discovering scientific laws making...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Truth Be Told

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Encourage your middle and high schoolers to share their memories of a recent event. After reading a New York Times article, they discuss Elie Wiesel's memoir, Night. They write their own memoir about a significant event that affected...
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Lesson Plan
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Curated OER

Hic-Hic-Hooray!

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
What is really the best way to get rid of hiccups? Investigate some old wives' tales and folk remedies related to health. Middle schoolers explore the science behind why people might believe these myths to be true and find the real...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Creature Seekers

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Does it actually exist? Consider the sighting of a giant squid, much like the one that appears in 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Middle and high schoolers read the article One Legend Found, Many Still to Go, and research other mysterious...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Arti-Factual Evidence

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Practice responding to controversial information with the New York Times lesson plan provided here. Middle schoolers watch a video interview with the director of The Lost Tomb of Jesus. After reading a companion article, they identify...
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Lesson Planet Article
Curated OER

Read Between the Lines

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Build comprehension, inference, and conclusion skills by encouraging learners to see the importance of reading between the lines.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Childhood Lost: Child Labor in the United States, 1830-1930

For Teachers 5th - 10th
Working in groups, middle and high schoolers describe and discuss photographs depicting working conditions experienced by child laborers in the 19th century. They then write a persuasive paragraph supporting an amendment to regulate the...
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Lesson Planet Article
Curated OER

CSI Interdisciplinary Projects

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Work across content areas with an engaging project that highlights higher-level thinking, teamwork, and a STEM focus.
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Activity
Curated OER

Express Yourself Lesson Seed 19: Synthesis

For Teachers 6th Standards
Wrap up your unit on The Cay with an engaging argumentative writing assignment. Writers must decide if they believe The Cay should be banned. The resource includes links to several articles, which have been addressed and examined in...
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Activity
Curated OER

Express Yourself Lesson Seed 3

For Teachers 6th Standards
If you're looking to set your class up for writing effective arguments, try out this idea. While originally created with freedom as a guiding idea, the activity could easily be adapted for other themes. As a class, create a chart of...
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Activity
Curated OER

Express Yourself Lesson Seed 6 Close Reading

For Teachers 6th Standards
Look back at the third chapter of The Cay with your class. Pupils will conduct a close reading, taking a second look at a chunk of text and responding to a series of text-dependent questions. Wrap up with an analytical writing prompt...
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Lesson Plan
Bright Hub Education

Using Evidence and Supporting Details in Writing

For Teachers 9th - 12th
In expository writing, it is important to back up claims with evidence and details. Help your class to develop their writing with notes on different types of evidence. Once they have the basics down, practice with a sample thesis and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Forensic Detectives: Archaeology at Work

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Dig in! Middle schoolers learn about archaeology by exploring the remnants of the Chiribaya bodies found in Illinois. Compare archaeological investigations, and then write a mystery detailing the discovery of a body! Consider bringing in...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Deep Impact

For Teachers 6th - 12th
How can acknowledging opposing viewpoints reinforce one's argument? Use this New York Times lesson to study consumerism and the environmental impact of new products. After reading the article "Whether a Hummer or a Hybrid, the Big...
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Lesson Plan
Media Smarts

Broadcasting Codes

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Let your learners be the judges for a series of case studies that focus on broadcast codes in Canada. In order to familiarize your class with the codes and guidelines that govern the broadcasting industry, in particular Canada's...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Global Warming: Writing and Editing a Research Report

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Bring environmental issues into your classroom! Practice writing and peer editing research reports on global warming and the greenhouse effect. Middle schoolers can work on their research skills, their writing skills, and how to...
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Organizer
Curated OER

Poetry Reading: Analysis Worksheet

For Students 7th - 9th
Explore poetry by reading the poem "The Walloping Window Blind" by Charles E. Carryl, and completing an analysis with your class. The worksheet provides the entire poem, a graphic organizer to help with summarizing and paraphrasing, and...
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Lesson Plan
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Curated OER

What Makes Our Community Special?

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Explore websites, complete research, and use technological tools to create a final multimedia presentation on what makes a community special. Learners of all ages work with a partner to research an interesting aspect of their community,...
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Lesson Plan
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Curated OER

In My Opinion

For Teachers 3rd - 6th Standards
Young writers craft letters to the government stating their opinion on different topics. They pick an environmental or ocean issue, research it, and craft their formal persuasive letter. Ensure your learners include supporting facts and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Looking for Trouble - Using the Internet to Research Structured Controversy

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Discuss controversial issues with your charges. More importantly, discuss how you have to research both sides of a controversy before taking a stance. In groups, middle schoolers research the controversial issue of dog sled racing. They...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Working in your Cubicle: Critical Thinking and Writing

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Explore informative and explanatory writing with this lesson. Using a cube labeled with directives to describe, analyze, compare, associate, apply, and argue the topic, middle schoolers work individually or in groups to answer questions....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bloodstain Pattern Simulations: A Physical Analysis

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners receive bloodstain pattern evidence from a crime scene. They answer a series of questions through inquiry, observation, measurement, and analysis. Pupils complete this challenge, by reconstructing the evidence through four...
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Organizer
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Polk Bros Foundation

I Can Infer the Main Idea When I Read

For Teachers 3rd - 8th Standards
While reading any text, ask your pupils to keep this graphic organizer on hand. They can note down the main idea and three supporting details during or after reading. The instructions allow for individuals to use words or images to...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Poetry in Song

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Have your music lovers examine song lyrics and identify the poetry elements or tools used by a lyricist. They review the song individually before working in groups to discuss what they discovered about the song's narrator or character...