Western Illinois University
Activities for Supporting Oral Language Development
Support young scholars' oral language development with the use of four early childhood activities. To reinforce proficiency, pupils read with an adult, play a game of telephone with their peers, put on a play with puppets or stuffed...
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Robo-Lobster
Introduce environmental science or engineering explorers to different forms of sampling. They read an article about "Robo-lobsters," lobsters being studied to help design robots that can used to sniff out pollution in ocean waters. The...
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Lesson Ideas for Comparing and Contrasting Content
Here are three lesson ideas to help students learn how to compare and contrast information in any content area
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Using Pictographs
If one ice cream cone represents three ice cream scoops, and Bob has four ice cream cones, then how many scoops does Bob have? Learners solve these kind of questions with their new understanding of pictographs.
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Language – Debating
Having a debate doesn't mean you're fighting. Introduce middle schoolers to debate with a resource which distinguishes between an quarrel and a debate, describes the debate process and format, and presents some possible debate topics.
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Tabloid Tales
Students write news stories to accompany tabloid headlines. In this tabloid lesson plan, students learn the power of persuasion and exaggeration by writing stories based on actual tabloid headlines.
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Hands-On Investigation!
Learners read, analyze, and solve a mystery using problem-solving skills. They explore the History Detective website, discuss the difference between clues and red herrings, complete a dot-to-dot sheet, take notes in a detective...
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Class 2: Proportionality
In this proportionality worksheet, students are given 4 short-answer problems regarding change in velocity, time elapsed, point-slope form, and slope-intercept form.
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Vocabulary Building
For this vocabulary worksheet, students fill in the blanks for the correct word and answer definition questions about each word. Students complete 4 pages with 18 questions and 6 vocabulary words each.
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Interior/Exterior Polygon Angles and Tessellations
Students discover the sum of the interior and exterior angles of several polygons. In this Geometers sketchpad lesson, students work in groups to find the stated measurements of triangles, quadrilaterals, pentagons and hexagons. Students...
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Writing Exercise: Nationalism Around the World I
Get the class thinking and writing about nationalism around the world from 1800-1914. They answer three writing prompts in paragraph form, discussing the establishment of Turkey, Zionism, and European Nationalism.
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Writing Exercises: Economic and Social Revolutions III
With great advancements come great changes! Young historians examine economic and social change occurring after the start of the Industrial Revolution. They respond to three questions regarding the beginning of the Revolution, the impact...
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Writing Exercise: Economic and Social Revolution I
Learners take a critical look at the economic and social changes that stemmed from the industrial revolution. There are three short essay questions for them to answer regarding suffrage, changes in women's rights, and urbanization as a...
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Writing Exercises: Economic and Social Revolutions IV
Any revolution is going to impact both society and economy. The class works to grasp the effect of industrialization on the environment, government, and politics. They respond to three critical thinking questions which require them to...
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Writing Exercises: World War I, #3
What does your class know about WWI? They can share their knowledge by responding to three short-answer questions. They'll discuss human rights issues during WWI, the role of imperialism, and causes of the war from the perspective of the...
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Writing Exercises: World War I, #2
In need of three good writing prompts focused on World War I? Learners respond to three prompts, each having them examine an aspect of World War I. They describe the role nationalism played in the war, the impact of the fall of the...
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Writing Exercises: Russian Revolution, #2
Why did communism develop in an unindustrialized Russia? What human rights were violated under Joseph Stalin? And, how did the Soviet Union become industrialized? These are the writing prompts your class will work to answer with complete...
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Writing Exercises: World War II, #3
The class responds to three writing prompts focused on WWII. They describe the role Adolf Hitler played in the war, compare and contrast German and British views of the war, and explain the geographical scope of the war at its height.
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Writing Exercises: World War II, #2
Comprehending the role of key players and events of WWII is a task all learners must undertake. Here, they respond to three critical thinking questions regarding the roles Roosevelt and Stalin played during the war as well as Germany's...
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Writing Exercises: World War II, #1
Has your class just finished reading about WWII and you need a way to let them show what they know? Hand them this three-question writing prompt. They'll need to describe the role Winston Churchill played in the war, the Rape of Nanking,...
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Writing Exercises: The Role of the United Nations
When did the United Nations begin? Have they been successful at keeping peace? And, what is the Declaration of Human Rights? Each of these questions needs a complete and well-thought-out answer, it's up to your class to do the job. Great...
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Writing Exercises: Modern Economic Issues, #3
Developing nations tend to deal with economic issues differently than developed nations. Learners explore modern economic issues such as the Latin American economy, cash-crop economy, and industrial economy by responding to three...
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Writing Exercises: The Environment and Sustainability
Sometimes it's good to challenge our kids with thought-provoking topics. They'll have to think hard and use what they know to answer these essay questions. They'll discuss how and why developed nations put a strain on the world's...
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Branches of Government Worksheet 2
Looking for a quick assessment to give to your class about the branches of government in the United States? This is a multiple choice activity that could be used as a quiz. There are 9 questions, some of which are a bit dated and should...