Fifth graders pose to create the uppercase letters of the alphabet for digital photos. They use the photos and iPhoto to create an alphabet book with text.

Students analyze and apply their personal responses through poetry and film to a challenging and disturbing event-the Holocaust. They use a digital video camera to film each student reading their poem.

Students use primary resources to examine the context the writings of Mark Twain. They criticize the resources for reliability, accuracy, perspective, relevancy, and authoritativeness.

Tired of finding sentence fragments in your students' writing? Use this straightforward activity to help them identify when a sentence is not complete. Sixteen sentences prompt learners to rewrite fragments as parts of a complete...

Keep your class thinking about Seedfolks after they read each chapter by requiring them to keep a journal about the story. Hand out these journal entry prompts at the beginning of the story so that your learners know what to expect. For...

Third graders define, identify, measure, and assess the level and impact of violence in media. The media forms evaluated include music, sitcoms, news, and other programs that are identified and shared by the class. 

Fifth through eighth graders think of themselves as newspaper reporters as they listen to a presentation by a guest speaker. As reporters, they take notes during the presentation. Using these notes, they create a rough draft and then a...

Explore the difficulties in compiling an oral history with this lesson. Young researchers conduct interviews and consider how point of view changes various accounts of a single incidence, resulting in conflicting information. They view a...

Pupils analyze the characteristics of company towns. They locate former company towns on a map. Students classify the perspectives of residents of company towns. Creative writing unfolds within this lesson.

Learners create a cover letter that they can use. They discuss the type of employment they are seeking. Students discuss the parts of a cover letter, body, and closure. They use a template to make their own cover letters. Learners go...

Practice public speaking in this oral presentation lesson. Middle schoolers list the characteristics of a powerful speaker. They watch a video of two speakers, compare them and discuss the qualities of a good speech. Afterwards, they...

Students explore cultural features.  In this multicultural acceptance lesson, students define and discuss "culture," and distinguish the difference between individual characteristics and cultural characteristics.  Students...

Sixth graders examine character traits. In this character education lesson, 6th graders set goals to strengthen particular personal character traits. Students watch their instructor model the character trait journaling strategy prior to...

Exploring the idea of working to achieve the American Dream, the class reads an excerpt from How the Garcia Girls Lost their Accents by Julia Alvarez. Following, the class analyzes the excerpt and discusses the theme of the reading using...

High schoolers compare and contrast the genres of poetry and hip-hop. They view a poetry slam and write about it in their journals. Learners view a Lauryn Hill music video and respond to it in their journals. They compare and contrast...

The first STEM lesson in a group of 10 explores composting. After discussing how to make a better tomorrow, classes are challenged to track garbage in their communities, visit a local waste management facility, and conduct a survey...

Students interview senior citizens in their community about their role in helping others. They compare notes with one of their classmates to see the different ways they have helped the world. They invite their senior citizen to talk to...

Students examine the cultural and religious diversity within the United States. Using the differences, they discover they are a source of growth and change as well as conflict. They identify the changes that occur when new immigrants...

High schoolers view a film about the genres and disciplines of performing arts. They examine the theatre community in Chicago and the origins of theatre companies. They answer questions and discuss them to end the activity.

Pupils research a famous woman from a previous lesson. They develop a chant about her and her accomplishments. They share their findings with the community.

Students compare communities to which they belong. In this social studies and language arts lesson plan, students discuss trust and use a Venn diagram to compare two communities to which they belong.

Students create writings and drawings to share with a children's hospital. They reflect on the project and how they have changed as a person. They also discuss how the community benefited as a whole.

Learners examine how nonprofit organizations give back to the community. They role-play as members of a board from a philothropic organization. They develop a plan to bring arts back to the community for the benefit of the children.

Students explore responsibility by participating in class exercises. In this classroom community lesson, students utilize flash cards which assign one of six jobs to every student in the class. Students perform their class...