Students investigate the Underground Railroad. In this slavery instructional activity, students read books about slavery, the Undeground Railroad, and how slaves escaped the south. Students develop knowledge about coded songs and...

Students write a persuasive letter. In this persuasion lesson plan, students listen to the story Dear Mrs. LaRue: Letters from Obedience School and discuss the vocabulary and parts of a persuasive letter. They write their own letter to...

Eighth graders read act 1 scenes 1 & 2 of the play Diary of Anne Frank. In this Diary of Anne Frank lesson plan, 8th graders discuss how the setting of the play affects the mood of the story and answer short answer questions.

First graders explain that everybody is unique in their own way by participating in this lively, art and language based series of lesson plans. They would greatly benefit from engaging in these plans in the beginning of the year as an...

Students use description language to clarify ideas and create vivid images in an essay focusing of strong verbs. They discuss weak verbs and explore that the better image the words create, the better the reader understands the text.

High schoolers read and analyze the N. Scott Momaday novel, The Way to Rainy Mountain. They share photos of an older family relative, write about the relative, listen to an excerpt from the book, and conduct an Internet research on the...

Students explore the concept of differing time zones. Students refer to maps to identify the time zones in particular regions. They role play phone calls from different time zones. This lesson is intended for students acquiring English.

Reflecting on what life was like during the Holocaust, 8th graders will read excerpts from the book, The Diary of Anne Frank, then complete five classroom activities that reflect on the readings. The classroom will be set-up to portray...

Students canvass the important elements of art in the seven lessons of this unit. Story structure and in particular, color is perceived as essential to the development of the idea of a picture.

Students examine how Pip's inner thoughts are portrayed through the medium of film in "Great Expectations." After viewing the film, they answer discussion questions, and compare and contrast the differences between the portrayal of...

Third graders read a story and grow a beanstalk. In this literature and life science lesson, the class reads "Jack and the Beanstalk," then lists fairy tale elements and write a puppet show. The students plant pinto beans and observes...

Students explore the themes of the book Swimmy by Leo Lionni. In this literacy lesson, students dramatize a character from Swimmy and identify common themes such as cooperation and caring. Students create a new ending to the story.

Students explore story structure. In this literacy and story structure lesson plan, students listen to picture books and illustrate a favorite part of the story. Students share their pictures and place them in sequential order on a...

Students listen to books and answer questions using reading skills. In this reading lesson, students develop reading strategies such as decoding, understanding characters, and comprehension. Students relate characters and events in the...

Students explore bullying.  In this character development lesson, students discuss verbal and nonverbal bullying. Using the "sticks and stones" adage, students write a sentence describing a hurtful act on a gray piece of paper,...

Students research the Roaring Twenties. In this 1920's America lesson, students analyze primary sources to develop an understanding of lifestyles and values of the era as they read F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby.

Fifth graders study verbs. In this grammar lesson, 5th graders access the web site known as www.wideworldofverbs.com reviewing the verbs in each sentence and write five sentences using the correct usage of verbs.

Fifth graders respond to literature using graffiti boards. In this literature response lesson, 5th graders listen to a reading selection and respond by creating graffiti on a large piece of chart paper. They show their understanding of...

Learners complete activities with the story The Three Billy Goats Gruff.  In this literature lesson plan, students listen to the story and then participate in shared reading. This lesson plan offers three extensions which link the...

Students explore the relationship between movies and culture, looking at movies as both a part of and a reflection of popular culture. They research the specific historical and cultural realities present during the run of a particular...

Ninth graders research the history of a person who was aboard the Titanic and write about the part he/she played in the world's greatest maritime disaster.

Students explore storms and compare the similarities and differences of hurricanes and tornadoes through the use of a Venn diagram. They conduct interviews as part of their research into the myths and legends of storms.

Young learners examine how different traits could give one organism an advantage over another. In groups, they view two different organisms in different environments. To end the lesson, they complete a Venn Diagram on the two organisms...

Students explore colors and shapes. In this art concepts instructional activity, students discuss shapes, lines, and color while creating a variety of abstract designs. The instructions for several art activities are provided. Basic art...