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Exploration of "Pillbugs"
Fifth graders define vocabulary terms, identify the characteristics of a pillbug, and create a dichotomous key. Then they examine the pillbugs and make observations and record these observations. Finally, 5th graders observe specific...
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Marco Paul's Travels on the Erie Canal
Students conduct research in order to create an understanding of The Eerie Canal and its place in history and the world. students use a variety of primary and secondary resources to aid in the research process.
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Civil War Diaries
Fifth graders examine excerpts from a diary of a Confederate soldier and his experiences in a Union prison camp. After receiving character cards, they write diary entries from the perspectives of their Civil War identity. As an...
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Leaves for Our Tree
Young mathematicians review fact families and create a Math Fact Family Tree. This clever lesson plan includes some excellent printouts that support the lesson.
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A Delicate Balance
Students reflect on racial balance in their own schools, debate merits of policies that seek to create and maintain school racial diversity, and write essays on whether their school should promote racial balance.
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What Does Time Have to Do with it?
Students investigate time. In this investigative lesson, students run through an obstacle course using standard timers. They record the time and apply this knowledge to problems in math. Students record their predictions, and graph...
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Differentiating by Interests
There are many ways teachers can differentiate lessons to link into student interests.
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Ph-ocusing on Photosynthesis In and Out of the Garden
Pupils are introduced to the concept of photosynthesis. As a class, they brainstorm a list of what they already know about plants and individually grow a plant on their own in the classroom. They record their observations daily and...
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Order My Steps
Students organize and sequence their writing ideas using different graphic organizers. They use the ideas to write a story that takes place over two days.
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The Weekly News, Part 1
Fifth graders explore things that happen in their schools. In this journalism lesson, 5th graders use the writing process to prioritize their collected information. Students write a weekly article for a classroom news report.
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Science That's Out of This World
Students use iChat AV and an iSight camera to "meet with" a space scientist to ask and answer questions, visit relevant websites, and broaden their understanding of the solar system and space. They videoconference with a sientist and...
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Say What?
Students explore the literal and figurative meanings of twenty-nine phrases and sayings. This unit of nine lessons integrates written expression and convention to demonstrate the value of idioms to the language.
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Super Spreadsheets
Middle schoolers develop a spreadsheet containing statistical data. They describe and interpret the data to make conclusions. They review the differences between an unorganized spreadsheet verses an organized one.
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Revision Lesson
Students, through a series of 4 lessons, explore what it means to revise their written work. They revise a bland story together and then practice revising their own papers by identifying the main action and "exploding" that moment into...
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Key Pals
Second graders analyze the proper form of friendly letters and write emails to a key pal. In this friendly letters and email lesson, 2nd graders discuss sending friendly letters and view examples of the letter format. Students then...
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A Comparison of Indentured Servants and Slaves
Sixth graders examine and compare the lives of slaves and indentured servants using primary sources and the historical fiction books, "Molly Bannaky and Barefoot." They analyze and compare advertisements for runaway slaves. Students...
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Read a Transportation Story
Third graders research the building of a transcontinental road. In this railroad history lesson, 3rd graders discuss past and present transportation. Students look at historical photos and compare and contrast photos from today.
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Schoolyard Field Guide
Fourth graders observe, plan, research, and create a field guide for the trees that are in their schoolyard. In this trees lesson plan, 4th graders make careful observations of what they see around their school and create a guide.
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Missing May
Third graders use a map of their state and find unusual names of towns and communities. They select three to five of the more unusual names and develop a plot that could use the town as a setting. Students write a synopsis for possible...