National First Ladies' Library
Peace in the Middle East: A Primer
Middle schoolers are introduced to the concept of three Abrahamic religions and complete the Comparative Religion Exercise. They view slides after taking their best guesses and read the article, "The Path to Peace Runs Through a History...
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Transportation Through Time
Third graders measure the speed at which they can walk in order to understand speed and distance traveled. They then research the history of transportation and express data in a class timeline.
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Proof of the Primate-ive Roots of AIDS
Students explore recent breakthroughs in H.I.V. and AIDS research, as well as research various epidemics that have devastated the world population at various points in history.
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Virtual Visits
Students rate a variety of kid-friendly museum Web sites for both their educational and entertainment value. They reflect in writing about the overall success of each site to pique their interest in art, science, history or culture.
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Art and Technology - Design - Alexander Calder
Middle schoolers gain an awareness for the work of Alexander Calder, study a variety of utilitarian objects and discuss their purposes, and create graphic of a utilitarian piece using computer graphic software.
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Putting It on the Map
Learners consider the purpose of various types of maps and their different uses throughout history. They create their own maps and reflect on the map-making process.
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Labeling a Map of Australia
Third graders label a map of Australia. Using the internet, they research the history and maps of the continent and print a blank map. They review on how to use a compass rose and legend. In groups, they create a brochure to share...
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African Art is Alive: Drum, Dance, Storytelling....
Students investigate and experience African culture through various art forms. Students explore the physical and political geographies of Africa through mapping activities. Students, in groups, prepare presentations about different...
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Harvest Happenings
Students explore the history of agriculture and develop a personal connection to agriculture. Students investigate how farming practices have evolved through the years and create poetry relating to harvest.
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Create A Medical Chart
High schoolers investigate the disease of Duchenne muscular dystrophy in a unique way. They create a medical chart for a mock patient that has the disease. This allows them to research the disease in order to obtain information for the...
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People of the Plains:Music and Dance
Fourth graders are given a worksheet stating the goal of the day, different sections to visit, and time spent on each section. They are given the CDs, 4th graders are told to insert the CDs into the computer. Students go to The Plains...
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Reflecting On The Past, Looking Towaards The Future
Pupils engage in a lesson that is concerned with the formation of a multimedia presentation to create a documentary of a middle school. They take photographs with a digital camera and use computer software to create a school project.
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Olympic Biographies
Students create a book of biographies in order to profile famous Olympic athletes through history. In this biography writing instructional activity, students research information about historic Olympians, first by listening to a short...
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My America
Eleventh graders compare 1920's America to modern America. In this historical perspectives lesson, 11th graders research both eras in American history using inquiry skills. As a culminating activity, students create digital slide shows...
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Global Change- Time and Cycles
Students study trees and their growth. In this investigative lesson students work in groups to reconstruct a 50 year climatic history using a simulated tree ring.
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Cold War into Guerilla War
Young scholars examine the Cold War and the War on Terror. For this American history lesson, students research print and nonprint resources regarding both wars. Student compare the experiences of youth at the time so both the Cold...
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Women Come to the Front
Pupils examine the role of women in World War II. In this women's history lesson, students research selected Internet sources to locate information regarding the roles of selected women in the war. Pupils write papers about the woman of...
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Imperialism and Expansion: Part 1
Young scholars explore the era of imperialism and expansion of the United States. In this American history lesson plan, students play a game regarding the U.S. attempts to expand the nation in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
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A Year in Arizona
Fourth graders create a calendar about their state. In this state calendar instructional activity, 4th graders select a state theme and create a calendar based on that theme. Students write paragraphs for each month related to the theme...
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Kites: Patang - The Indian Fighter Kite
Students investigate the history of fighter kites and build their own. In this aeronautics lesson, students discover how other countries utilize fighter kites and where they originated. Students create their own fighter kites...
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How much rice to US farmers grow?
Fourth graders examine rice farming. In this rice farming lesson plan, 4th graders compute how much of the world's rice the US produces. Students gain information about the history of growing rice and how much rice other countries grow...
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Lesson: The U.S. Westward Movement
Students research the U.S. Westward movement. For this U.S. history lesson, students research the topic, complete a creative writing activity for the lesson, and a design activity for the lesson.
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The Red Studio Shows the Way
Students look at the painting The Red Studio Shows the Way, and critique the art piece. In this critiquing art lesson plan, students discuss how the painting expresses ideas and feelings and history.
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Products Made from Petroleum
Young scholars research products made from petroleum. In this transportation lesson students try to find products other than fuel, made from petroleum. They look for the most unusual or surprising products and describe the history and...