Middle schoolers take a close look at the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation system. They study how the Army Corps of Engineers built and monitor the system. Learners discover how a lock and a dam work, and study three benefits of...

Students analyze "To Build a Fire" by Jack London and "The Open boat" by Stephen Crane. They write an essay in which they compare and contrast the narrators and plots in each story.

Did you know that modern Chinese literature “grew from the psychoanalytical theory of Sigmund Freud”? Designed for a world literature class, seniors are introduced to “One Evening in the Rainy Season,” Shi Zhecun’s stream of...

Students research examples of different types of sailing ships, investigating the vessels as well as the politics, economy, and people at the historical time and place the boat was launched. They create displays for a museum exhibit...

Students paint their own cloudy sky after studying paintings of the artist John Constable. In this John Constable lesson plan, students read and discuss the outdoor paintings of this artist and then complete their own painting of the...

Young scholars research Captain Cook and why he died and create a radio program script of the announcement of his death. In this Captain Cook lesson plan, students are given pictures, letters, and background information for their research.

Students use arm muscle strength to perform a partner activity. In this strength building activity, students work with a partner to create a "boat" with mats and a scooter. Partners take turns being pulled or pulling the scooter boat.

Reinforce sentence styles with this lesson, which prompts young grammarians to build complex and compound-complex sentence structures. They respond to non-print text and identify subordinators as parts of speech procedure. They spell...

Students complete a scavenger hunt which highlights events on the journey by Lewis and Clark. Using the internet and journals, they identify events on the journey and places them on a timeline. They complete a worksheet as well to end...

Seventh graders consider factors in making road transport planning directions. They write a short speech for a presentation at an inquiry. They debate and analyze the information presented in the debate.

Students identify the key characteristics that comprise American literary naturalism in Jack London's "To Build a Fire" and Stephen Crane's "The Open Boat." In this naturalism analysis lesson, students identify characteristics of the...

Sailboat design requires more than a half-circle and triangle sketch. After viewing a slideshow presentation that outlines the requirements for sailboat design, learners draw a design, perform the needed...

Role play community members who are both for and against the construction of a dam. Research the pros and cons and then hold a classroom debate. This activity ideally follows a series of stream studies, links to which are included. Use...

Young scholars study the continents of the world. In this Internet geography lesson, students connect to online mapping games. Young scholars collaborate in order to develop their understanding of world geography, including countries and...

Students evaluate how volunteering helps others. In this philanthropy activity, students define what a volunteer is and brainstorm a group volunteer project to implement in the school. Students write an essay describing how volunteering...

Students select a personal photo for an experience to write about. In this personal experience lesson, students find a photo of themselves that contains a 'small moment.' Students write about the personal experience in the picture.

Students explore and analyze the relationship of buoyancy and displacement needed to make an object float. They examine various boat designs, then design and build clay and aluminum boats that hold a cargo of marbles.

This math lesson focuses on coins - specifically the nickel. Students use plastic nickles in order to gain practice counting by fives, and adding amounts of cents. Students complete a worksheet where they tally up different amounts of...

Students explore a transportation story. In this reading comprehension lesson, students read The Thumb in Box and discuss the provided discussion questions regarding the plot of the story.

Students investigate the different concepts involved in crossing a body of water that is polluted through a simulation that is supposed to be done without a boat. The goal of the lesson is for groups to role play after creating a plan...

Students consider the impact of invasive species on local environments. In this ecology lesson, watch the video, Arizona Wildlife Views, which focuses on invasive species. Students develop vocabulary, relate to meaningful comprehension...

Students create historical stories based on factual evidence. In this Telling the Stories the Past Tells Us lesson, students write historical stories using strategies such as characters, plot, setting, and voice. Students analyze several...

Learners explore nonfiction text. They identify the cover, title page, and table of contents of a nonfiction book. Pupils work in groups to create a chapter for a nonfiction class book about heroes.

Students become familiar with basic facts and behavior of the American Bald Eagle using a combination of classroom presentation, Video, Internet searching, "hands on" computer activity, and touching of feathers and displays.