In the deserts of Arizona and New Mexico, some tiny creatures show just how quickly natural selection can turn a mutation into an advantageous adaptation. Watch a video about rock pocket mice, who show that one small change can make all...

This writing pre-assessment has minimal instruction but maximum support and encouragement. It begins with a review of the book, Rain School, through a think-pair-share and small group discussion. The discussion...

As the final lesson plan in a larger beginning-of-the-year unit to establish routines and teach close reading skills, this plan is designed as an assessment piece. Using the story, The Librarian of Basra, learners independently...

Informational text about the Civil Rights Movement challenges young historians to prove their reading comprehension skills with six multiple choice questions. After answers are submitted a new screen displays a score,...

Students explore characteristics, roles and cultural expressions of Indian community in New Zealand. They describe traditional practices of Diwali Festival, collect and record information, design open-ended questionnaire, create Diwali...

Learners are shown visual examples of Dragon Dance costumes and identify cultural characteristics and ceremonial design qualities. Students listen to the teacher tell about the significance dragon dances have played throughout Vietnamese...

Students participate in a game to get to know their classmates. In this getting to know you lesson, students use the tags with sentence starters to get to know their classmates. Students fill out the tags and walk around to learn...

First graders discuss the difference between old toys and new toys. In this toys lesson plan, 1st graders bring their teddy bears to school and determine which is oldest and which is newest. They then discuss how a curator at a museum...

In this Chesapeake Bay activity, students read word problems and answer questions about years passed, and money spent on the two ways to drive over Chesapeake Bay. Students complete 5 problems.

Students explore visual arts by examining a diorama in class. In this geography lesson plan, students examine an island off the coast of New Zealand and identify the physical attributes of the land. Students answer study questions...

Third graders study the elements of the Chinese zodiac. They observe the placement of the animals on the zodiac chart while studying the Chinese New Year.

Reading, a math game, and a simulation activity provide the engagement on a lesson about seeds and crops. Learners in grades two through four read an informational passage about crops, seeds, and farming. They highlight important...

In this English worksheet, students complete a variety of exercises involving news generated about the soft drink Coke. Students read an article, work on 6 warm-ups and answer 8 statements as true or false. Students match up 10 synonyms...

Learners examine the works of two fashion illustrators. They use the internet to research the artists and share their information with the class. They create their own original work.

Students consider the immensity of the the task the author undertook to learn Chinese. They examine the rigors involved in learning another language-particularly one as notoriously difficult as Chinese and compare aspects of Chinese...

High schoolers are asked to use their imaginations to take the idea of biotechnology one step further. Before beginning this activity students read and complete a report on the book "Jurassic Park," which deals with the use of...

Students investigate the history of civil rights by viewing historical photographs.  In this U.S. history lesson, students discuss why Black Soldiers fought for their rights by joining the Union Army in the 1800's.  Students...

Students use primary documents to analyze the events surrounding black soldiers joining the Union Army. In this content area reading instructional activity, students view multiple primary documents, analyzing and answering questions...

Students research explorers and explore how exploration affected the Western Hemisphere; students demonstrate competency in using multimedia encyclopedia and information software, and present PowerPoint presentation to class with two...

Students identify how the tilt and position of the Earth causes the seasons. After a discussion of the seasons and when they begin. Using themselves as the objects in the universe, they role play how the rotational movement of the...

Fifth graders understand that traits are inherited and change over time. In this physical traits lesson, 5th graders compare produce items for similar traits. Students create large graphs to show their results. Students discuss genetic...

For this 8th grade math test, 8th graders complete 27 multiple choice problems. Problems cover a wide variety of concepts from geometry to linear equations and computation with exponents. The test is from 2005.

Students explore different aspects of stem cells.  In this human biology instructional activity, students complete numerous activities including reading an article and discussing it, watching a video on stem cells reproducing over...

In this current events instructional activity, learners analyze political cartoons about the 110th Congress. Students respond to 3 talking point questions.