Learners create a portrait of a woman from our current era. They discuss what they would include in a portrait for our era in the U.S., list current trends and styles, and create a modern-day "Mona Lisa" portrait.

In this daily writing prompt instructional activity, students learn that May 10th is National Clean Your Room Day. Students elaborate about something that they found when they were cleaning their rooms.

Students participate in Valentine's Day writing and literacy center activities. In this writing and literacy lesson, students develop Valentine's Day journals using recycled cards and small blank sheets of paper. They write sentences...

For this daily writing prompt worksheet, students reflect on Mother's Day and sharpen their writing skills as they write a paragraph using 1 of the 4 sentence starters provided.

In this dream come true learning exercise, students list a dream they have, the steps they will take to make it come true, problems they may face, who they can ask for help and what their confidence level is.

Elementary learners write friendly letters with the same subject to two contrasting readers or audiences. They choose words and phrases that will be the most effective for the audience they are trying to reach. They read both letters and...

Have your young speakers participate in a discussion/debate with their whole class on their prepared argument. They listen and analyze other student's arguments and refute arguments using logic and not emotion.

Young scholars compare and contrast statements made by people in "Man on the Streets." They are interviewing them on the current war in Iraq and how they felt on Sept. 11th. These interviews are tape recorded. To see what kinds of...

Students write a news feature or editorial discussing the debate of whether gambling should be legalized in Cleveland. Students research and debate about the issue. Students interview community members to hear views.

Students practice using their new vocabulary word by creating an original iMovie project based on that word.

An engaging biography of "Hoosier" poet James Whitcomb Riley serves as a springboard for study of his unique dialect-based verse. Several activities illuminate differences between spoken vernacular and formal language. Learners record...

Although labeled as a listening test, no questions accompany Jim Davis’ "Flight of Fancy," a short essay in which he describes how he came to be a cartoonist and the creator of Garfield. However, the article is interesting and crafting...

Students use Internet to research definition of an assigned vocabulary word, and brainstorm ideas for how to teach the new word to classmates in an innovative way using a digital format.

Anthony Mann's 1953 film biography, The Glenn Miller Story, is the focus of a series of activities that introduce class members to Miller's life and music. Of particular interest to music students will be the cameos by many famous...

In this Father's Day worksheet, students fill in blanks to complete a friendly letter to "daddy." Students may color the "Happy Father's Day" heading and pictures of dress ties.

Learners create a memory book and acrostic poem for Father's Day. For this Father's Day lesson, students appreciate unique things their fathers do for them. Learners create an original project for their father.

First graders write sentences to their mothers and include them Mother's Day gifts made with paper cups, a balloon and newspaper.

Students collaborate to create a children's book. In this visual arts lesson, student study the components and procedures that go into making a children's book including the shape, size. layout, biographical information about the author,...

Students explore 5 senses poetry.  In this poetry writing instructional activity, students visualize a special day and brainstorm related vivid adjectives and phrases.  Students create mindmaps of the five senses to go with...

To celebrate diversity and the purpose of Harmony Day, the class examines culturally diverse music and expression through line drawing. They discuss that all cultures produce music and that music can convey mood just like art can. As the...

Are you just about to teach persuasion in your class? If so, you should consider this short unit. In small groups, learners create a product, develop a magazine ad for the product, and pitch this product to the class using a visual...

After completing Jane Yolen’s Briar Rose, class members assume the voice of Gemma and craft a personal letter to her granddaughter telling Becca how she feels about Becca’s actions and the discoveries at Chelmno. Complete directions for...