Lesson Plan
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The Art of "Green" Flying

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Learners create an airship that doesn't use fossil fuel. In this flying lesson, students research different types of flying machines that only use wind power. They discuss invention designs by Alexander Graham Bell and Leonardo Da Vinci...
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The Pan-American Exposition of 1901

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students examine the impact of the 1901 World's Fair. In this activity on invention and politics, students watch a video then conduct Internet research in order to learn about the Pan American Exposition. Students will create a brochure...
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Diversity/Journalism - Book Making

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders explore Canadian culture by creating a book. In this community analysis lesson, 3rd graders identify the First Nations people of Canada and discuss the culture, language and diversity. Students create a book discussing...
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From Greece to Main Street

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Young scholars consider the influence of the Greeks on American architecture. For this American Greek Revival architecture lesson, students identify the attributes of architectural style as they compare the Parthenon with the Lincoln...
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Alexander Calder: Master of Balance

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students build simple mobiles. In this equilibrium lesson, students investigate the functions of three types of levers as they analyze artwork by Alexander Calder. Students then create their own simplified mobiles.
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Nureyev: The Unconquerable Will

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students consider the development of dance across cultures. In this dance genre lesson plan, students study the history of Russia and the Mongol Tatars. Students research how classical ballet made its way to Russia and create...
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Writing Folktales

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students consider the structure of folktales. In this writing skills lesson, students list the attributes of folktales that they read in class. Students then complete handouts based on the elements of the tales as well as types of tales...
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You're Invited to a Ceili: Exploring Irish Dance

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Learners recognize a Ceili as an Irish dance of celebration and investigate Ireland while studying the dance.  In this Irish dance lesson, students search the geography of Ireland, read poetry, identify costumes, draw and perform a...
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Math Jeopardy

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students write questions for a Jeopardy game. In this integer review lesson, students review integers by navigating through a linked web site. They play a Jeopardy game. Students create five questions, one for each of the assigned...
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Bats and Boas Abound

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners investigate Puerto Rican boa constrictors and bats. In this animal science lesson, students read an article about the bats and snakes found in Puerto Rico. Learners use various art supplies to create a diorama of the habitat of...
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Sense of Place: No River Too Wide-Bridges

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders discover the history of their hometown Des Moines River.  In this U.S. Geography lesson students speak with Iowans that tell stories of the settlers and early villages near the Des Moines River.  Students document...
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Camouflage: A Study of Stealth and Survival

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students study insect camouflage. In this organisms lesson, students design and create their own 3D insect models to blend into a habitat. Students write a paragraph about the camouflage their insect has and explain how their insect is...
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Building A Nation

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students build their own nation in groups where they create a name, flag, declaration of independence, form of government, mathematical layout, and more. In this nation lesson plan, students also provide a scale drawing of their nation...
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Discovering the Wetlands!

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Learners name wetland plant and animal life.  In this ecosystem lesson students go birdwatching and interpret native plants through art. 
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Making The Holidays Special

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young scholars examine ways in which holiday television specials reflect some of the religious, historic and cultural themes of the holidays on which they focus. They create their own holiday television specials in groups, each focusing...
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Michigan-Made Products

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students conduct research of three different products that are made in Michigan. They determine how the product is made, manufactured, gathered, or found. They work with a partner to produce a multimedia presentation using their combined...
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Canadian Conoe Trip

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders research Canadian geography - the land and the bodies of water. They then plan an imaginary canoe trip through six major water bodies in Canada. They conclude the unit of study with a creative story.
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Sacred Sites

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students read about the one-year anniversary of the bombing of the Mosque of the Golden Dome, or Askariya Shrine, in Iraq. They explore a number of other sites of religious significance to create designs for a geography Web site on holy...
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Heightening Awareness

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students review their prior knowledge about Haiti. They examine violence in Haiti by reading and discussing "HAITIAN FORCES BATTLING UPRISING REPORT RETAKING 3 TOWNS." In groups, students research specific time periods of Haitian history...
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Justice or Injustice?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students participate in a human rights discussion and define the concepts of justice and injustice. They research the concept justice in order to create a Wisdom Wall identifying human rights issues. Students also participate in an Image...
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So, So Surreal Self-Portraits

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students take virtual trip back in time to 1924 when a Dada manifesto sparked the Surrealist movement in Europe and the United States. They explore about the history of Surrealism and visit online galleries of notable artists of the past...
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Getting to Know You

For Teachers Pre-K
Students participate in tactile and visual exploration. In this tactile and visual exploration lesson, students listen to John Archambault's, Grandmother's Garden, and sing the song, "Friends Are Like Flowers." They participate in ice...
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Writing about Art:Comparing Portraits

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Students compare and contrast an academic and Impressionist portrait. In this art history lesson, students look at two different styles of painting and write a paragraph as if they are the subject in the painting. They compare and...
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Contemporizing Myths

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students examine Rembrandt's "Abduction of Europa." For this Greek art lesson, students discuss how the artist has taken an ancient Greek myth and contemporized it. Students read origin myths and choose a scene to illustrate in a...