Fourth graders are introduced to the book THE SAND HORSE and discuss the title and cover illustration. They listen to the story listening for words and phrases to describe the setting. They then brainstorm key words to illustrate the...

Explore the history of the American novel in the contexts of literature and US history. How does a novel or piece of writing from a particular time showcase the mood during that historical period? After conducting research and discussing...

Elvis Presley's music is the hook for this ESL lesson. Learners listen to an Elvis song, discuss the vocabulary words, and answer questions. This is a great way to have your class discuss new vocabulary.

Middle schoolers create a method for finding the area of a fame for a picture and then transfer their shared methods into algebraic expressions. They develop the algebraic language to communicate and solve problems effectively and...

Students create an audio/video blog for units of study for language skills, vocabulary, grammar patterns, idioms and body language. In this presentation blogs lesson, students select a topic from a unit of study and a message for...

High schoolers purify water samples using various techniques. In this water treatment lesson, students complete a variety of activities to learn about the process. A data chart is included for recording results. A crossword puzzle is...

Students brainstorm ideas about the life of Buddihist monks through the internet or temples. The teacher identifies key terms and has the students look them up for meaning and put them in their notebook. The students then have a...

Learners play a game with shapes. They work in groups to identify the names and characteristics of various shapes. They give each other clues to see if others can identify the shape being described. This is a great hands on activity.

This scripted lesson suggests using the journalist’s five W’s (who, what, when, where, why) to teach readers how to summarize a story and to how to distinguish between significant and supporting details. A template and rubric are...

Students discover how setting, props, and character-action communicate information about the characters and the story. Access to videos and a video camera are important to make this lesson a success.

Students create their own "talking sticks" that reflect personas they have invented in this Art lesson designed to introduce the Yoruba peoples from Nigeria. Emphasis is placed on personal reflection after completing the "sticks".

Students examine the issue of having same-sex classes. Using the internet, they research how this program is working around the country. They interview local education experts and determine how they view the issue. They include an...

Hydra/hygiene, Muse/music.  Many English words are built on roots derived from the names of Greek and Roman gods. After examining a list of Greek and Roman gods and the meaning of their names, class members find the root in a list...

Students investigate the process of making a newspaper using children's literature to create context for the lesson. The readers are asked to predict the events of the story as it is read to them. Then the teacher uses guided questions...

Students engage in a study of apples using children's literature. They conduct research using a variety of resources. Student list facts about apples and compare them while answering some guided questions. They plant some apple seeds and...

Students form words using prefixes.  In this prefix lesson, students compete in a "prefix challenge" to see which team can combine a set of twelve prefixes with a set of twelve words fastest.  Students enter their words in...

Second graders use a checklist to construct a Geo-Town map including a compass rose, a map key, and a paragraph about a walk around Geo-Town, using appropriate geometric and directional vocabulary to identify the two-dimensional figures...

Learners work with a partner to research a historical figure. Using the Internet, they also research the history of the country the important figure came from. They role-play the role of the figure and a reporter. They must ask...

Students write journals in response to the beginning of The Stone Cutter.  For this The Stone Cutter lesson, students discuss the opening of the book and the main character.  Students look for connections with architecture in...

Fifth graders read the poem "Second-Hand Coat" and then discuss objects as a metaphor.

Learners practice using new vocabulary related to equality, social justice and civil rights. They describe how one person can contribute to the common good. They research a person of their choice and share how they have made a difference...

Students identify unknown words and select a strategy to comprehend text. In this vocabulary instructional activity students listen for specific words as the teacher reads. Students try to figure out what the meaning of the specific...

Eighth graders define and use new vocabulary and identify the reasons why Native Americans captured Europeans during the colonial period. They write their own journal entries about the topic and explain the importance of journals as a...

Students compare the Chinese and Western zodiacs, their symbols, their meanings, and their calendars through a in-class discussion and a small group project. This lesson includes vocabulary and extensions.