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The Unofficial Guide to Middle School
Sixth graders use Inspiration, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Publisher, digital camera, scanners, and video camera
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Exploring Adlai E. Stevenson II
Fifth graders research work to research six areas in the life of Adlai E. Stevenson II: His Early life, Governor of Illinois, Campaigns for president, Ambassador to the UN, famous quotes, later years. They create a supply of notecards...
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Contemporary Civic-life Issue Research Based Essay
Seventh graders write a five paragraph persuasive essay on a contemporary civic-life issue.
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Protest Music Video
Young scholars create an iMovie that expresses the meaning of a protest song from the 1960's or 1970's. They investigate the emotional and political overtones of the times and use images to interpret the song's meaning.
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Research Listed Websites for Support for Writing a Summary
Summary writing is tough for native English speakers, let alone English language learners! In this plan, high school English learners examine how to annotate online articles and write a one-page summary. They can post this summary on...
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Fish Tanks: Volume and Surface Area
Given a very realistic challenge, your young geometers design residential fish tanks in rectangular and triangular prism shapes. They compute the volume of water each will hold. They also determine the size of plastic covers for each...
Illinois State Board of Education
Solar System
Aspiring astronomers solve problems involving mixed units of the same attribute, including time, money, length, and area. They convert large numbers into scientific notation, then compute and compare ratios to explain why drawing...
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Fort Owen: Cultural Crossroad of the Bitterroot Valley
Fourth graders investigate the history of Bitterroot Valley. They conduct research using primary and secondary resources. The analysis of the information is used to discover the true relationship the settlers and native peoples. Then...
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Targeting Young Speeders
Young scholars research the police ticketing of teens in their city or county. They determine if the police are targeting teens and why. Students explore other ways the community tries to ensure safer teen drivers. They survey teens in...
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Examine the Data
Seventh graders examine a teacher-created database and identify specific variables and develop hypothesis statements as to their possible effect. They create a summary statement either proving or disproving their hypothesis.
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Stick-Slip Movement
Ninth graders operate a model to observe the type of motion that occurs at a fault during an earthquake. They explore the effects of several variables. Students measure movement, calculate averages and plot and graph information.
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String 'Em Up
Students create different patterns using beads. They observe the teacher make patterns with different colored beads, identify the patterns, and create a necklace with colored beads, explaining what their pattern consists of to the class.
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The Delany Garden
Students design and create a garden. They select flowers in small groups and research them. They draw a diagram of the landscape for their garden and plant flowers and observe them as they grow.
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Interviews with the American People "Days of Infamy"
Students 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 questions to...
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How Does Who I Am Relate to Employability?
Sixth graders participate in question and answer sessions and develop a skill-based resume. They identify and explain resume-writing situations in which an ethical dilemma may present itself. Finally, 6th graders identify and project the...
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Jumpin' Pepper and Lazy Salt
Students examine the result of a negative charge. After rubbing a balloon with a wool cloth, students hold it over a mixture of salt and pepper. They observe the pepper "jumps" to the balloon. Students discuss their observations and then...
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Holiday Writing Prompts
Students experience and practice their writing skills during the holiday season. They express themselves in a variety of ways including writing about a favorite part about the holiday break, what's the best gift you've ever gotten and...
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The Crash Scene
Fifth graders explore geography by participating in a mapping activity. In this engineering instructional activity, 5th graders identify the differences between latitude and longitude and practice locating precise points on a globe or...
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Ordering Rational Numbers and Finding Their Approximate
Middle schoolers explore the concept of ordering rational numbers on a number line. They represent rational numbers as decimals and percents. Pupils create a foldable about converting fractions to decimals to percents, and use a...
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Math Detective: Rounding Four Digit Numbers
For this rounding four-digit numbers worksheet, learners read the multi-step story problem, complete the table and write an explanation of their answer.
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Making Field Journals
Students follow a bookmaking format to create a book and use it as a garden journal. In this science journal lesson, students follow book making directions to create a garden and science journal.
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Persuasion in Print
Advertisers target teenagers. Groups select three magazine advertisements for similar products, analyze the appeals used in each, create a poster that features the persuasive techniques used, and present their findings to the class. The...
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Two-Step Problems and Money Concepts
Elementary schoolers solve two-step equations and practice money concepts. They solve multi-step addition and subtraction contextual problems and apply money concepts to real life situations. Pupils use pictures and counters to help them...
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The Hat
Honing reading and communication skills through the theme of farm animals is the focus of this lesson plan. Students read a book about Scandinavian farm animals and complete prediction journal activities. They complete a worksheet about...