Students examine the author's lively text to determine how she achieved her many literary effects. They discover the author's techniques in describing people and events, in setting tone, and in establishing pace. They reflect about the...

Learners explore how to use a double bar graph by polling other students about their feelings and experiences with pets. They also have the opportunity to think about how pets affect their lives. Learners poll their classmates to find...

Students identify that shaking may result in damage in the form of structural failure, soil liquefaction, and landslides. They also identify that earthquakes can cause damage that disrupts people's lives. Finally, students view a...

Young scholars examine lives, philosophies, and political beliefs of four Enlightenment Thinkers: Baron de Montesquieu, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Thomas Hobbes, and John Locke. Students then work with partner to write short speech from...

Using Google Earth, Google Docs, and other Google Tools, collaborative groups of seventh graders research and then create and share online newspapers reporting on the early development, geographical features, political issues, and...

Third graders create visual poems using crayons, making a connection to an important aspect or event in their lives.

Sixth graders discover that they are active participants in Canadian culture. They engage in investigation of the past and various symbols of Canada. They explore their concept of culture and demonstrate an understanding of culture...

Students use this activity as a logic problem that is based on real organisms and real data. The problem is to develop phylogenies for seven related populations of lizards living on the Canary Islands. Three phylogenetic charts are...

Students engage in solving a logic problem based on real organisms and real data. They develop phylogenies for seven related populations of lizards living on the Canary Islands.

Students discover that it is possible to be challenged and "culture-shocked" by the norms of one's own culture when returning home from having been away and living in another culture. They examine and compare the customs of modern...

Students study different types of bears, their characteristics, and habitats. They discuss what they know and what they want to learn before visiting a website to look at images and information about bears. They listen to teacher read...

Learners research the life of the first family. In this U.S. Government lesson, students take a White House quiz, read an article about the first family and write in their journals about a typical day in their lives versus what a day...

Students investigate the Inuit People. For this Inuit lesson, students locate where they live on a map, outline their history and describe their lifestyle. Students play Inuit games, practice using the Inuit alphabet and examine the...

Learners add details to their narratives. In this narrative writing instructional activity, students look at a simple four sentence narrative and add adjectives and adverbs to make it more descriptive. They do this activity whole class,...

Students read the "Chicago Tribute Markers of Distinction," and pick one famous person to write about. In this creative writing worksheet, students write about this person's home. Additionally, students pretend that 100 years from now, a...

Young scholars trace and analyze the impact of the atomic bomb on warfare, society and government. They apply this process to other more modern technological inventions in our lives.

Young scholars view a video about Nelson Mandela and apartheid. They discover what it was like for people living in South Africa during apartheid. They work together to discuss strategies that could be used for people to better...

Students examine the relationship between anger, aggression and teenagers. As a class, they share a difficult situation in their own lives and review the techniques to properly deal with it. In groups, they discuss how they feel about...

Fourth graders discover movement through the telling of "The First Fire", a Cherokee tale. Small groups are given sections of the story to tell by creating dances. Music (live and recorded) adds to the final performance and assessment.

Students study about how sequels are created by using a well-known fairy tale to create their own. They choose a fairy tale, make a list of all the characters in the story, and generate 3 ideas (minimum) per character. They each select...

Learners explore limericks. In this poetry writing lesson plan, students listen to and read a variety of poems written by Edward Lear. Learners count syllables and identify meter by clapping as they read aloud. Students complete a...

Fifth graders experience simulations in order to meet the required Social Studies standards. For this simulation lesson, 5th graders experience a teacher set-up simulation of students being put in the Responsible Thinking Classroom for...

Students study how the electoral college works to select a U.S. President.  In this history lesson, students examine the U.S. Elector College methods then answer questions and write an essay that relate to the state where they live.

Eighth graders investigate historical documents of the United States by reading the Mayflower Compact.  In this U.S. History instructional activity, 8th graders analyze the wording of the original Mayflower Compact of the first U.S....