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"Heritage" - "Hey, That's the Name of Our School!"

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders gain a better understanding of the canal period in U.S. History, and more specifically, discern the importance of the Illinois and Michigan Canal on the development of Illinois as a state and Chicago as a prominent city.
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Amazing Bird Adaptions--Why Am I A Bird?

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders identify and classify birds found in Illinois. Using the internet, they discover how birds have adapted over time and how the adaptations have increased their life span. They compare and contrast the various adaptations...
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Hawks Migrate

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Pupils examine the types of hawks found in Illinois and compile a list of them. Using different species of hawks, they compare and contrast their characteristics. They work together to create their own hawk model for the classroom.
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Studying the Great Depression Through Novels

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders view pictures of life in a small town during the Great Depression in Illinois to gain an understanding of living conditions during the era. They read novels based on life of this era.
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County Butterfly/Moth Poster

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Pupils discover how to identify the butterflies or moths found in their Illinois County. They use the Lepidoptera database list to find the scientific names, searching field guides and the Internet for the common name.
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Coin Connections

For Teachers K - 1st
Students examine the Illinois state quarter and review Lincoln and the fact that he is also on the penny. They color paper coins, identify their values, and create a money mobile. They play a Cent Sense game to practice which coins are...
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Land Use

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students examine ecosystems that covered Illinois 200 years ago, investigate some living and non-living components of ecosystems, identify components of prairie system, create food webs, and observe human effects on environment. Lessons...
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Go West My Class

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students find data that can be mapped on the Factfinder Web page. They analyze the data from the web site and state recommendations on whether a person should live in Illinois or not based on their preferences.
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Architecture the Wright Way

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders search a database for famous buildings in Illinois, and compare these structures to the designs of Frank Lloyd Wright.
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Down on the Farm

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students are introduced to a map of an Illinois farm. They determine whether the map is of the past, present, or future by looking at features on the map. They also use the map to make a three-dimensional model.
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Making Connections: Exploring Four Themes through Art: Class Collage from Print Sources

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students explore the art themes of form, content, ornament, and decoration. They explore the Illinois State Museum website, view the online Theme Galleries, and create a collage that reflects a theme.
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Water: The Liquid of Life

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders complete a lesson on the properties, types and amounts of water on Earth. In groups, they travel between stations to identify water resources in Illinois and pollution sources. They complete the lesson with a field trip...
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Mussel Identification Activity

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students identify given species of animals, such as various mussels, by sets of physical characteristics as they use a key. They also read about mussels on the Illinois River and look at mussel species in the online database. Finally,...
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The Lincoln-Douglas Debates of 1858: Interactive Map Activity

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders utilize an interactive map to explore the 1858 Senate campaign in Illinois and how factors such as population, transportation, and party strongholds can affect campaign strategies.
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Urban Treasure Hunt

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders use clues, and a photo, to find the location of a building in Illinois. They then take a present picture and create a powerpoint presentation to compare past and present features
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Land Use Issues

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Learners examine living and non-living things in their environment. They identify trees, plants, and grasses in their neighborhood and those that originate in Illinois in this unit of lessons.
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Biological Control of Purple Loosestrife

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the role of Purple Loosestrife in Illinois and Indiana rivers. In groups, they collect a wide variety of plants in a wetland and raise beetles in a controlled environment. They introduce the loosestrife into the...
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The Lincoln-Douglas Debates of 1858: Interactive Map Activity

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students utilize an interactive map to explore the 1858 Senate campaign in Illinois. They examine how factors such as population, transportation, and party strongholds can affect campaign strategies. Students write an essay discussing...
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Penny Basketball: Making Sense of Data

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Explore four web-based interactive sites to develop a baseline understanding of statistics. Learners play a series of penny basketball games and collect data regarding their shooting statistics. Groups decide who is the "top" penny...
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Daily Weather Calendar

For Teachers 3rd
Young learners will love this fun weather activity that incorporates math, science and writing. Each member of your class gets a turn becoming a meteorologist! At the end of recess, the two chosen meteorologists met the teacher at a...
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The Last Great Canal

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers participate in a scavenger hunt dealing with the Civil War in Illinois.
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Abraham Lincoln and the Arts

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers engage in a study of history and how the figure of Abraham Lincoln has evolved into a national cultural icon. They discuss the importance of his life and how he influenced the political landscape of America in the past and...
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Steps to Think and Share

For Teachers K - 5th
Students discover how to look underneath what they say they want and discuss their true concerns or needs. They practice negotiating using the five-step Think and Share Response.
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Makiko's New World

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students analyze the internal and external causes of the Meiji Restoration. They look at the goals and policies of the state and their impact on Japan's modernization. Students also assess the impact of Western ideas on Japan and realize...

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