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Fiction vs. Nonfiction
Students explore fiction and nonfiction writing. They identify the elements of fiction in a short story and identify the criteria necessary in a nonfiction piece. Students distinguish the author's purpose in an expository text,...
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Pound A Poem
Young scholars participate in various poem-related lessons to learn how they can make a difference in the lives of people they don't know. In this poetry activity, students discover that this pound a poem competition is about raising...
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Making Good Decisions
Students explore the consequences of their actions. For this personal choices lesson, students practice balancing different interests involved in compromise. This lesson includes downloadable materials and 2 extension activities.
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Bovine Oversteps Boundaries
Seventh graders read a newspaper account of "Grady the Silo Cow" and complete news-writing activities. In this news-writing lesson plan, 7th graders read the newspaper account about the cow. Students examine newspapers and work in groups...
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Your State's Architectural Scrapbook
Students examine architectural designs and styles found in their state and/or community and create scrapbooks that identify those specific traits. This middle-level art lesson can be adapted to work in a social studies classroom.
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Grab Hands and Run: Understanding Human Rights
Sixth graders read the novel Grab Hands and Run by Frances Temple. They explore the effects of war on human rights. Students explore the idea that human rights are protected by the United Nations. They identify the human rights that were...
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Who Built the Pyramids?
High schoolers examine the two theories on how the pyramids at Giza were built. They watch a video on pyramids, take notes, and write a five-paragraph essay on how they think the pyramids were constructed.
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Show And Tell
Have you ever saved your money to buy something you really wanted? Elementary schoolers share how they saved their money for things they wanted, and they bring in one or two items that they bought with their personal savings.
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Problem-Based Learning With Chinese Art
Students form small, cooperative learning groups, research a major Chinese dynasty and present their findings to the classroom in this multi-day lesson adaptable to many different age levels.
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Alexander Graham Bell: Voice of Invention
Students watch a Biography episode about Alexander Graham Bell -- his remarkable inventions, family life, and the individuals who influenced his work.
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Plaid to the Bone
Students study Lady Anges Randolph and other heroic woman using multimedia. They create class presentations with their findings. They write a diary about living in a medieval castle after researching what life was like in them.
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Kindness Fables
Students create a fable that is based on kindness. In this fables lesson plan, students read and discuss different fables. Then they discuss kindness, and write their own fables based on the kindness of others.
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Create Your Own Lucky Charm
Middle schoolers create their own lucky charms. In this St. Patrick's Day lesson, students discuss symbols of luck. Middle schoolers make their own lucky charms out of clay.
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Hey, I've Got A Question!
Seventh graders explore the Solar System. They develop a research question and use inquiry-based research skills to find the answers to their questions. Students write up their findings and create a multimedia presentation.
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Persuasive Advertisement For A Novel
Sixth graders engage in a project to persuade classmates to read a certain novel. They create a poster using persuasive advertising language. Media can be included in the form of pictures and other graphics to make the visual...
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Make A Pinata
Students work cooperatively to create pinatas using balloons, old newspapers, flour, water, tempera paints, string, scissors, and candy in this excellent lesson for the Elementary classroom. This can be ties into a unit of study on...
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Greeting Card to A Character
Students create a greeting card from one character to another after finishing a novel. Individually, they use their imagination to write the paragraph using the text to support their ideas. They share their greeting card with the class...
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Show! Don't Tell!
Students write a descriptive paragraph. In this writing instructional activity, students define elaboration and discuss the characteristics of an elaborate paragraph. Students write a paragraph that contains vivid adjectives, strong...
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Hay un Chico Mexicano
Learners explore Hispanic challenges. In this introductory Spanish lesson, students read structured narratives pertaining to Hispanic children. Learners discuss the narratives in order to better understand the lives of Mexican immigrants.
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Writing A Character Sketch
Middle schoolers are introduced to how a character sketch is an outline of a character that includes the character's outward appearance, family members, personality, interests, and beliefs. They then think of a character they would like...
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Manga and Me
Upper elementary and middle school learners study Manga cartooning and create a Japanese character based on their own features and personalities. This style of cartooning is easily-accessible for most young scholars. With a little...
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Political Cartoons
Students examine a variety of historical cartoons. They recognize a political cartoon and identify the main idea, symbolism, exaggeration and caricature in political cartoons. Students analyze a political cartoon by Benjamin Franklin.
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Scarecrow Recycled
Students create their own scarecrows. In this recycling instructional activity, students discuss the purpose of scarecrows and discuss how they are constructed. Students make their own scarecrows out of recycled materials.
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Rice Wreaths
Students create rice and glue holiday wreaths in this Art lesson plan ideal for the 1st or 2nd grade. The lesson plan can be adapted for older or younger students and includes an ingredient list and step-by-step directions for...