Students explore biology by writing animal poetry in class. In this animal characteristics lesson plan, students research the Internet for facts about an "ugly" animal such as a bug or small critter. Students complete worksheets about...

Eighth graders examine the Protestant Reformation and the Spanish Armada. After taking notes, they read an excerpt of their textbook and complete a worksheet. To end the lesson, they complete a timeline of the major events of both time...

Eighth graders read and respond to a poem. In this reading and responding lesson plan, 8th graders read a poem as a class and respond to questions about it.

Students explore the ways science is presented in a children's television show. Students conduct internet research, and then create and design a skit that highlights the problem-solving process.

Students draw a literacy response picture demonstrating knowledge and appropriate use of computer hardware components (monitor, mouse) using KidPix and Kidspiration software with a minimum of two different pictorial details on their...

Students explore issues surrounding death penalty debate and participate in a values-clarification activity to help them form their opinions on this topic. They create a talk show to discuss issues involved with DNA testing and the death...

Students research the life and music of Hank Williams. They take a quiz on country music, watch a video about Hank Williams, research Williams' song lyrics, create a poster and write a bio poem about his life and work.

Students read the story behind objects in the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum and create a story about an object in the exhibit. In this design lesson, students explore the "Design for the Other 90%" exhibition and create a...

Fourth graders investigate conflict and social justice. In this conflict resolution lesson, 4th graders consider conflicts they have experienced and think about how they could have applied conflict resolution strategies to change the...

Eighth graders explore the geological process of plate tectonics. In this plate tectonic activity, 8th graders design, construct and present a working model of a plate tectonics concept. This activity includes a rubric, worksheets, and 2...

Learners analyze Shakespeare's Macbeth by completing the creative activities. In this Macbeth activity, students discuss the timeline for William Shakespeare and identify the characters for Macbeth. Learners read Act One, Scenes i-v of...

Eighth graders compare and contrast maps of Europe before and after World War I. In this World War I lesson, 8th graders color and label maps of Europe prior to the war and after it. The historical maps can be accessed online.

Students demonstrate reading comprehension by drawing a picture and writing a sentence about giraffes. In this early reading comprehension lesson, students listen to a read aloud and watch a video about giraffes before drawing a giraffe...

Students analyze an unknown primary source document to determine its origin. In this Constitution lesson, students read primary source documents and contrast and compare the evolution of the drafts of the Constitution. Students analyze...

Students research the Tuskegee Airmen and the Flygirls of World War II. They write an account of one of the flyers of what they think happened.

Students play a Jeopardy game in which the questions are about different genres. They can use this activity as a review before a test.

Young scholars participate in a game-like format to identify characteristics of genres. They categorize stories into genres bases on story summaries after a class discussion of the characteristics.

Students investigate the planets in our solar system. They conduct research using a variety of resources in order for students to make cognitive connections with the demonstrations made by the teacher. Students discover how to recognize...

Students create a time line. In this biography lesson plan, students define biography and autobiography and then read short examples of each. Students create a time line using a read aloud.

Eighth graders consider the Holocaust. In this Holocaust lesson, 8th graders prepare for a trip to the National Holocaust Museum by reading and analyzing testimonies of 2 former Nazis. 

Learners explore the Bill of Rights. For this U.S. Constitution lesson, students participate in classroom debate regarding the first 10 amendments to the Constitution. Learners then vote for the amendments they would like to ratify.

Learners explore the concept of design, and identify items in their lives that have been designed. They explore the concept of book design and create and arrange their own page layout.

Students use ratios and proportions to represent quantitative relationships as they investigate the concept of how percentages are used by designers. Students decorate the same room using three different percentages of colors.

For this first of four lessons on book design, students are introduced to the vocabulary of book design through the use of bookwalks and a non-linear PowerPoint presentation in game-show (Jeopardy!) format.