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Substance Abuse Prevention
Students evaluate the impact of substance use and abuse in society and the workplace. They identify support services in the workplace which deal with substance abuse. They create an "ideal" policy statement governing substance abuse in a w
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Making the Personal Political
Students identify controversial topics on which they have strong opinions and model their own persuasive opinion pieces after the featured article. They compose persuasive essays on controversial issues that "hit home" for them.
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Ways we are Alike/ Ways we are Different
Students complete a chart comparing and contrasting African villages with their own communities. The lesson focuses on the Mbuti and Fulani people. They explore their style of living, their traditions and everyday life in these villages.
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Making the Connection With Quilts
Fourth graders engage in a lesson which integrates the study of the Underground Railroad in Indiana with a Language Arts unit on quilts. They write a book report on one of the quilt books read in class and design a quilt block for the...
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Rural Voices Through Photography
Students research the history of the Depression particularly in the ways it was documented by photography. Then they take their own pictures in the style of one of the best documentarians, Dorothea Lange.
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Everybody Celebrates
Examine the holidays of La Posada in Mexico, Hanukkah in Israel, and Kwanzaa in the United States. Learners identify the countries on a world map, listen to stories, create art projects for each holiday, and make recipes celebrating...
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Learning To Look
Sixth graders investigate a flower plant and the plant cycle. They extend observational skills when looking at a tree by observing, questioning and sharing ideas. They observe a living and nonliving flower and compare and contrast how...
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Finding Science in An American Childhood by Annie Dillard
High schoolers read excerpts from Annie Dillard's memoir, "An American Childhood," with the teacher. They experience opportunities to connect English, science, nature and art together from a new and unique perspective. This approach...
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Everyone Has a Culture -- Everyone is Different
Students are shown various statements and respond to each as a class. They discuss the differences between different groups of people and why they behave differently as well. After completing a worksheet, they discover aspects of their...
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Reduce, Re-use, Recycle
Learners determine the importance of recycling to reduce waste, to employ trash in useful ways, and to save the environment. They estimate the percentages of landfill waste that items constitute, based on what they found in their own...
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The Many Shades of Our World
Students discover diversity. In this civil rights lesson, students consider that skin color is unique and that diversity is common in the world as they complete artwork that reflects the writings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
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Look At Those Leaves!
Students collect, observe, sort, and measure leaves. In this leaf instructional activity, students take a walk to collect leaves. They bring the leaves back into the classroom to observe, sort, and measure them. They visit a website to...
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Winter Holiday Activities Extravaganza
Students define culture and explore elements that are part of the custom or culture of a place. For this holiday lesson, students identify the cultures they participate in. Students identify the differences in people's...
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Explore Efficient Energy Uses
In this energy learning exercise, students explore different ways to conserve energy. They write a short description for each of the 10 methods presented.
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Harriet Tubman
Students study the contributions of Harriet Tubman. In this service learning lesson, students explore the work of Harriet Tubman as a conductor on the Underground Railroad.
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Everyday Heroes Then and Now
Students explore the concept of philanthropy. In this philanthropic heroes activity, students read Kate Shelley: Bound for Legend and discuss the Industrial Revolution. Students consider Kate Shelley's contributions to society as they...
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I'm in a Tizzy! How Can I Help? King Day
Students listen to the book Miss Tizzy and discuss how characters feel about Miss Tizzy. In this unconditional kindness and philanthropy instructional activity, students understand how when you do a good deed it somehow comes back....
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Folk Music
Learners explore Folk Music in Iowa. For this folk music lesson, students discuss different types of folk music and how it relates to life in Iowa. They take the tune of a song and write their own lyrics to describe their life.
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Out of the Dust: Visions of Dust Bowl History Lesson Overview
Students complete activities with the book Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse. In this literature lesson, students read this story and view the Dust Bowl history from the eyes of a child. They discover the Great Depression and life in...
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Sleep
Students examine sleeping habits. In this sleep instructional activity, students examine their sleeping patterns and create a log. Students illustrate their dreams and create a plan to improve sleep patterns.
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How Can We Prevent Type 2 Diabetes
Learners summarize research they have conducted on Type 2 Diabetes. Students identify healthy lifestyle choices and set goals for their personal health. Learners reflect on their research findings in a journal entry.
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Database Detectives Hold an Election ~ Part 3
Pupils use a database to conduct a schoolwide election. They discover the importance of voting and democracy. They incourage one another to vote.
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Distribution of children living at home
High schoolers examine census data to evaluate the number of students of certain ages living at home. This data is then used to determine the need for day care, or other social programs. They use this information to explore social policies.