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Cleaning Air with Balloons
Young scholars examine how a pollutant recovery method functions in cleaning industrial air pollution. They listen to a teacher-led discussion, conduct an experiment with balloons, static electricity, and pepper, and observe and record...
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Is That Natural?
Students examine how they use and waste natural resources. They participate in a class discussion about natural resources, in small groups complete a worksheet identifying ways students misuse natural resources, and create an...
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Seals: From the National To the Local
Third graders investigate official government symbols by completing a scavenger hunt. In this U.S. Government activity, 3rd graders participate in a scavenger hunt in which they locate seals or logos in their community. Students...
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Readers Theatre: Presenting Historical Events Through Theatre
Students examine historical events. In this instructional activity on the US Constitution, students engage in a theatrical exploration of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. They also engage in an extensive discussion, complete...
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Discovering Mexico through Murals
Students describe the Mexican culture and relate it to their own culture. They investigate the Mexican culture through internet research, textbooks, and class discussions. Students create a mural of their school culture. They interview...
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Coming Soon: Sodas with Vitamins
Students react to a series of statements about sodas, then read a news article about the addition of vitamins to sodas to increase sales. In this nutrition and current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a discussion...
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Salon Simulation
High schoolers examine the role of the 'Salon'. In this historic communications instructional activity, students role play and use discussion to enhance their understanding of the role the Salon played in 18th century Europe. High...
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A Different Drummer
Eighth graders investigate philosophy and meditation techniques by discussing Emerson and Thoreau. In this philosophical traditions activity, 8th graders identify the men Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau, their work, and...
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Reaganomics Debate
Young scholars examine the effectiveness of 'trickle down' economics. In this "Reaganomics" lesson plan, students use readings, analogies, discussion and debate to understand basic economic concepts. Young scholars will analyze the what...
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Post Civil Way Reconstruction
Eleventh graders research different documents pertaining to the reconstruction era. They present their findings to the class in structured presentations and unstructured discussions. Students compare and contrast their findings about...
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Civil War
Historical poetry is lyrical in form and rich with content. After examining the differences between the Northern and Southern states before and during the U.S. Civil War, learners complete a Venn diagram and create an illustration of the...
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Zen and the Work of Frank Lloyd Wright
Students experience Zen philosophies reflected in artwork, poetry, and architecture. Students will explore these connections and expand the discussion to include a professional author of their choice.
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Stranger Than Fiction
Learners reflect on the importance of science literacy. They review the year's science curriculum by reading, discussing and writing questions on teacher-selected New York Times articles and the related science content.
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A Walk in the Forest
Students explore interrelationships among plants and animals. Students listen to Where to, Little Wombat? by Charles Fuge, and contribute words and phrases for a classroom animal and plant survival chart. Students take a walk in a...
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In the Middle - Middle School Poetry
Students analyze and interpret poems. In this poetry lesson, students are read poems aloud, discuss the meanings in groups, and complete two worksheets after listening to the poems. Links to the worksheets and discussion questions are...
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The Texas Cowboy: Myth and Reality
Students create "cowboy ballads" in this interactive, multi-day lesson plan. The cowboy is researched using various sources and class discussions. Students evaluate individual work at the end of the lesson plan.
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Pictures of the Past: I Remember When...
Students, after discussing and analyzing the value of reminiscence for people of all ages, write a reminiscence essay on their own lives and then create a story form the perspective of an older person.
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The Middle Passage
Fifth graders explore slavery conditions by viewing a video clip on the Internet. In this slave ship instructional activity, 5th graders discuss the transportation of black men and women from Africa to the United States in the 1700's and...
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Thanksgiving Traditions
Everyone celebrates traditions in different ways. Young writers share the ways their families celebrate Thanksgiving with a journal writing prompt and discussion activity.
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Oceans and Coasts
Students explore the topic of marine pollution. They define key vocabulary words, list examples of marine pollution, complete a true/false handout, read an article, and participate in a class discussion.
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Comparing Data
Eighth graders create a survey, gather data and describe the data using measures of central tendency (mean, median and mode) and spread (range, quartiles, and interquartile range). Students use these measures to interpret, compare and...
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Kentucky: Past, Present and Future
Fourth graders analyze how Kentucky's past is different from the present. They research why Kentucky was even explored and settles. What social issues face Kentucky now. Discussion lies on how Kentucky can be improved for the 21st century.
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Web of Life Game: Trout
Students explore the concept of food webs. In this food web lesson, students demonstarte the connection between species. Students use a ball of string show how the food web works, then have a class discussion.
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A Victorian Prison
Prisons in Victorian England were miserable places, designed to deter people from committing crimes. To understand why these prisons were so tough, young historians review documents and pictures from Coldbath Fields prison. After...