ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Junk Mail: Negotiating Critical Literacy at the Mailbox
Contains plans for three lessons that teach students to examine junk mail critically. In addition to objectives and standards, this instructional plan contains links to sites used in the lessons as well as assessment and reflection...
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Seuss and Silverstein: Posing Questions, Presenting Points
Contains plans for four lessons that ask students to formulate critical thinking questions and lead class discussions about the issues raised in the books of Dr. Seuss and Shel Silverstein. In addition to objectives and standards, this...
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Book Sorting: Using Observation and Comprehension
Critical thinking, comprehension and analysis skills are the focus of this physical activity. Good beginning to teaching different ways of looking at things.
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Improving Student Writing Through Critical Thinking
Contains plans for a lesson plan about writing draft letters, or reflective letters about pieces of writing that students are submitting to an instructor. In addition to objectives and standards, this instructional plan contains links to...
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Using Word Storms to Explore Vocabulary and Encourage Thinking
Contains plans for seven lessons about working dogs that teach critical thinking skills and a vocabulary strategy called Word Storms. In addition to objectives and standards, this instructional plan contains links to sites used in the...
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Designing Museum Exhibits for "The Grapesof Wrath"
Integrating various creative formats with solid, researched fact, allows students to show what they have learned. The resulting "museum" can be shared with an audience in any of a number of ways. Includes handouts, rubric, and...
PBS
Pbs Kids: Design Squad: Build: Kinetic Sculpture
Try your hand at designing and building an 18-inch tower that can support a tennis ball while a fan blows on it.
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Book Report Alternative: The Elements of Fiction
Analyzing a book takes the form of creating their own when students complete this activity. The stated goal is to help students "Read like writers." Includes link to a template for student use.
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: Civil Rights: Demanding Equality
Teach the history of Civil Rights using this comprehensive learning module. Trace the movement from the 14th Amendment to modern times. The focus is on African American rights but also touches on women and disabled American's rights....
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Paying Attention to Technology Reviewing a Technology
Contains plans for five lessons that ask students to write reviews of pieces of technology (cell phones, webcams, ink pens, satellite dishes, etc.) like they would write reviews of books. In addition to objectives and standards, this...
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Book Reviews, Annotation, and Web Technology
Contains plans for six lessons that ask students to write group book reviews after reading texts in literature circles. Students also learn about research and documentation as they put together their reports. In addition to objectives...
Other
Critical Reading: Three Ways to Read and Discuss Texts
Designed to help students think about their reading and writing skills, this page offers three different ways to interpret and discuss texts.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: The Dome Challenge
In this interactive activity, from the Web site developed for the PBS series "Building Big," think like an engineer and use your knowledge of dome design to match the right type of dome to the right location in a fictitious city.
Huntington Library
Huntington Library: Garden Lesson Plans: Elements of a Japanese Garden [Pdf]
A multi-faceted activity where young scholars learn about the elements of a Japanese garden, then construct a peepshow book that demonstrates their understanding of foreground, middle ground, and background to represent a Japanese...
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: The Skyscraper Challenge
In this interactive activity from the Web site developed for the PBS series "Building Big," investigate hypothetical structural emergencies and figure out how to repair them.
US National Archives
National Archives: We the People
View George Washington's annotated draft of the Constitution while discussing the ratification process. Specifically, the students will analyze changes to the Preamble of the Constitution. Critical thinking questions are provided.
PBS
Pbs: Black Kingdoms of the Nile
A geometry lesson that examines the history and structure of ancient pyramids and engages learners in constructing pyramid models. A comprehensive lesson that considers students with diverse learning styles. Math concepts introduced...
US House of Representatives
Office of the Clerk: Lesson Plan "Play House"
You are a congressman on the first day of your job. What will your day be like? Follow how a congressional term begins and what needs to be accomplished to begin the new term in this lesson plan. Role play the different players in the...
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Bright Morning
Use this lesson plan to delve into the exploration of character development in fiction through the novel "Bright Morning," by Scott O'Dell.
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Corduroy Lesson Plan
This ReadWriteThink lesson features an opportunity for young scholars to respond to literature through writing journals about "Corduroy," by Don Freeman. This idea could be used with other books as well.
US National Archives
National Archives: Road to Revolution: Patriotism or Treason?
What if you lived in the colonies during in the years preceding the Revolution? Would you be a loyalist or join the Sons of Liberty? Students will analyze a picture of a tax collector being tarred and feathered and answer critical...
US National Archives
National Archives: To Sign or Not to Sign
Use this lesson in the middle of a Revolutionary War unit. Students will analyze sections of the Declaration of Independence to answer critical thinking questions. Upon completion of the unit, students will reevaluate their responses to...
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Sti Lesson 10: Interpretation and Meaning
Using the lyrics, music and video of a selected song (example used here is 'One' by the Irish group U2), students will explore the ways in which words, music and visual images interact to create meaning. Students will analyze the...