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Here a Bug, There a Bug
Students explore insects and discover that insects found in different parts of the country have characteristics that can be observed and described.
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California Here We Come!
Students, in groups, explore the impac the Gold Rush immigration had on the culture of California. They write a newspaper article from the 1850s identifying immigrant groups to California during the Gold Rush era.
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Science Inquiry Lesson: Mapping Project
Learners explore the methods of creating maps. They create a map of Animas River Park using a compass and measuring tape, develop a single map from the team map sections, and devise another map of the Animas River Park using a GPS unit.
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Colonial America
Fourth graders explore Internet sites about Colonial America, and create multimedia presentations.
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Lesson Plan: Five Themes of Geography
After learning the five themes of geography, learners take an Internet trip and categorize information found into one of the five themes. They answer five questions about the places explored. That is about all there is to this lesson; it...
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The Taxpayer's Responsibilities
Students explore system of voluntary compliance, and describe taxpayers' responsibilities related to filing a tax return.
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Organize Your Own Government
Students, in groups, design a government. They create a web page that describes the group's fictitious nation, details the citizen's culture, identifies the type of government and explores how the chosen government would respond to...
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Benjamin Franklin: Colonial Printer and Journalist
Fifth graders explore how important print media is to everyone's daily life. Students use present daily newspapers and they are to reproduce weather forecasts.
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The Vikings
High schoolers research and explore Viking culture, distinguishing between fact and fiction, and examine their contribution to our society.
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Are things Really More Expensive Today?
Students explore the topics of inflation and deflation within the economy. The Consumer Price Index is used to contrast the price of goods today with that of years past.
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Heartfelt/Handmade Activities: Genre Painting
Students examine genre painting. They explore the Illinois State Museum website, identify how genre paintings were composed, analyze the activities of an Illinois farm in the 1850s, and create a genre painting of current everyday...
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Class in the Media: Writing a Television Show
Students look at popular media presentations to determine what type of messages they convey about class and class-linked behavior. They listen to contemporary music to explore how the songs touch upon social class issues. They read...
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Online Lesson Political Parties, Platforms, and Planks
Pupils explore historical political parties and their platforms. After studying the origins and functions of political parties, students create their own platform to address current issues. In groups, pupils design an ad campaign and...
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Google Earth Virtual Vacation
Students explore different areas of America by using the internet and the "Google Earth" website in this interactive, social studies lesson for late elementary students. This lesson includes a resource link to download a free program to...
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Just Lookin' For a Home
What is a boll weevil? Your class can find out that and more by following the activities included here. Pupils read an article, sing a boll weevil song, add to the song with their own original lyrics, illustrate the song, study the...
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Social Studies: Ancient Egypt
Seventh graders explore the history, geography, and culture of ancient Egypt. They research daily life and compare it with their present lives. Students, in pairs, trace their body outlines on poster paper and work individually to use...
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Ft. Vancouver the Fur Trade: A Skin for a Skin
Young scholars study Fort Vancouver. They discuss trading and what is meant by "a skin for a skin." They complete math story problems that represent possible trading scenarios. They explore the Chinook Jargon trade language.
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I Didn't Do It! (Is Anyone guilty Anymore?)
Students explore the concept of "reasonable doubt" in our criminal court system and compare it to "preponderance of the evidence" in the civil court system. They discuss the trials of OJ Simpson and other historical criminal defendants.
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Respect
Learners explore and discuss why Aretha Franklin's song "R-E-S-P-E-C-T" has been so popular over the years. They survey a variety of definitions and perceptions of what truly respect is and how one shows respect to others as well as how...
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Discovering Your Community
Students focus on the origins of the families that make up their community by exploring their family's origins through themselves, parents, and grandparents. Students create a map marked with family origins for the class.
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Genes-R-Us: or, Real Genetics For Real Students
Students explore genetics and genetic counseling. They research information on human genetic disorders. Students simulate developing a complete counseling service to assist the community.
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Border Art: the Study of Artworks Responding To the Border Between the United States And Mexico
Students discuss the concepts of immigration and migration and explore their own family's history. They examine the media's presentation of the Border Art Project and then incorporate their own views into what they have studied through...
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Was it a New Deal or a Raw Deal?
Students investigate the facets of the New Deal. In this Great Depression activity, students research primary documents to explore the pros and cons of the New Deal legislation. Students respond to 1930's newspaper editorials regarding...