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History on Film: Creating Heritage Moments
Fifth graders examine significant events in fur trade history. In small groups, they conduct research, develop and write a script, and create a videotaped "Heritage Moment."
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ESL Poetry Unit
Students complete a twelve lesson unit on poetry. They read and respond to different forms of poetry, write a bio poem, complete an online WebQuest, and in small groups present lessons to the class on various types of poems.
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Native Americans
Fifth graders discover that different Native American groups had different ways of living because of their environment. They discuss with the teacher to learn that different environments have different food choices. They then research a...
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Decades
Students work cooperatively to research the people, places, events, and things that represent their assigned decade. They creatively, write and present ten minute dramatizations of information about their assigned decade.
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Understanding Primary Sources
Students draw conclusions from primary sources and share information and interpretations with a small group. They are introduced to the Jigsaw technique. Students discuss why a grocery receipt would be a primary source. They...
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Introduction to Fractions Using Cuisenaire Rods
Fifth graders use Cuisenaire rods in order to discover how to represent fractions with real objects. In this instructional activity on fractions, 5th graders first examine and learn the colors, lengths, and numerical values of each rod;...
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Dance Cards
Students choreograph a simple dance and have experience performing. students choose their own groups-usually of about 3-4, or assign the groups. Each group receives one dance card. They are to decide the order in which to do the steps.
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Basic Features of a Civilization
Middle schoolers, in groups, identify items they would want to take with them to a deserted island. They present their ideas to the class and explain how they relate to the eight features of civilization. They consider this exercise in...
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Roll On
Second graders, in groups, develop models to show how forces such as gravity, friction, equal, unequal forces and change in direction work on marbles.
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Totally Us
Students create unique biographies. In this Totally Joe lesson, students read the James Howe book and then collaborate to write name biographies in small groups.
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You Are Uniquely You
Students discover their unique attributes and complete a group service project. In this service project lesson, students work in groups to define an audience, create a service project based on boosting the audience's confidence, and then...
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Pigs Will Be Pigs
Students practice adding money after reading a story. In this economics lesson, students read the book Pigs Will be Pigs by Amy Axelrod, and examine how decimals, dollar signs, and adding money is used when making a purchase....
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Mesoamerican Cultures
Students compare and contrast the Mayan and Aztec cultures. In this Mesoamerican cultures lesson plan, students visit classroom stations that feature the landmarks, popular foods, and gods of the 2 cultures. Students discuss their...
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Media Awareness: Helping a Product Cross the Finish Line
Students develop critical thinking skills to understand and create advertisements. In this journalism lesson, students analyze the elements necessary for effective advertisements and work in cooperative groups to create and present...
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Butterfly Round-Up
Students classify the characteristics of butterflies and moths moths. In this life cycle lesson, students identify butterflies and moths common in the state of Iowa as well as their characteristics. Students then learn the proper...
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Understanding language registers as a means to more effective communication
Students become familiar with registers of language through class discussion and exposure to examples of a common fairy tale written in two different registers. Working in small groups, students then translate a story into two different...
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Be a Responsible Citizen: Vote!
Pupils explore American citizens' rights and responsibilities through group research on the Internet and develop a presentation for the class.
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Changes in Matter
Eighth graders, in groups, explain the difference between physical and chemical changes.
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Disorders of the Brain
Students, in groups, conduct research about a specific disorder of the brain, create a character study of a person with that brain disorder, and then present the information to the rest of the class.
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A GHG Challenge for Northerners
Students analyze, prioritize, and present their interpretations of a GHG Challenge. After reviewing background materials on reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and Suzuki's Nature Challenge, students work in small groups to create a...
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National Debate Over Treaty Ratification
Students review the main points of the Versailles Treaty. In groups, they analyze a variety of political cartoons about Wilson and the treaty itself and share their findings with the class after completing a worksheet. To end the...
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Christmas at Mud Flat Lesson Plan
Young scholars analyze the characters in the book Christmas at Mud Flat. In this early childhood lesson plan, students analyze characters in the book, then choose which character they personally identify with the most. Young scholars...
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Law of Sine and Cosine
Students solve problems using the law of sine and cosine. In this precaclulus instructional activity, students learn the law of DeMoivre's Theorem and Heron's theorem. They use both theorems to solve problems.
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Understanding the Indoor Environment: Vocabulary Development
Learners acquire new vocabulary by reading an assigned text and determining the meanings of unfamiliar words. In this vocabulary development lesson, students acquire strategies to use in a small group as they decode meanings...