Students discover that the sense of smell helps us to enjoy life and explore unsafe conditions. They smell Christmas by making gingerbread ornaments.

Students examine Chinese and East Asian writing characters. They discuss how their writing systems differ from others found in the world. They practice reading and pronouncing Chinese and Japanese names and words.

Students mix colors and expand a painting stroke vocabulary.

Students watch segments of a video to explore portraits. They create a self portrait using mixed-media.

Students research symbols from Texas history and make selections for quarter designs. In addition, they include written explanations to accompany their drawings. Coin designs cultural background and visually represent patriotism and...

Fourth graders explore Japanese customs and history. They create their own works that reflect these traditions. They identify and use primary and secondary sources to learn and communicate about the past.

Students create a magazine that is circulated in an alternative format. They design each issue in the form of a student-created box. They explore issues relating to experiences of young people in different times and places.

Students understand that writers utilize various techniques to persuade an audience. They develop an awareness of how the media works to persuade them as the consumer. They create a visual representation of various feelings and emotions...

Students discuss philanthropy. In this fair trade lesson, students discover the meaning of fair trade. They are given the definition and work in small groups to read further on the topic and answer questions. This lesson includes...

Learners create an autobiography. In this writing lesson, students use a life map as a graphic organizer to develop their autobiography.

Students refine their fieldwork skill by conducting interviews. From the position of an outsider, they conduct research and interviews. Student interviews are maintained as a part of a portfolio. Interview kits and assessment...

Learners investigate city management and government by creating a fictional city in groups.  In this civics lesson, students create rules and a mascot for their fictitious city which they create from poster board cubes....

Sixth graders discover locations and countries in Europe by identifying them on a map.  For this European geography lesson, 6th graders read the book The Lost Little Elephant, with their class and discuss the geography referenced in...

Eighth graders gather ideas generated from other poems and their own inspiration, to create original poetry. A celebration is included as students bind and submit poems for publication.

First graders listen to two books about Rosa Parks. They contribute factual information for a web. They listen to an interview with Rosa Parks on the internet, adding more information to the web. They write and illustrate a book using...

Third graders make predictions about the story "The True Story of the Three Little Pigs" based on background knowledge. They read the story, stopping to verify or reject predictions. They write their own opinionated fairytales.

Students engage in a reading comprehension lesson that focuses on specific sounds found in words. The lesson includes a variety of experiences that include games, a storybook, and literature response writing.

Middle schoolers read Red Boots On and explore  prepositions.  In this poetic form lesson, students analyze the use of prepositions in the poem. Middle schoolers might also explore the rhymes or objects.  Students write...

Students explore U.S. Geography by analyzing a map. In this state vs. country instructional activity, students utilize a U.S. map and locate the state of Kansas before researching the history and customs of the state. Students...

Middle schoolers participate in a mock trial on the Whiskey Rebellion that took place in the state of Pennsylvania in 1794. They analyze the perspectives presented by both sides to determine whether the Whiskey "rebels" were guilty of...

Young scholars investigate life skills by participating in a voice recording activity. In this baking instructional activity, students identify the ingredients needed to create pizza menu items and the steps which should be taken to bake...

Eighth graders study poetic devices included in conversation poems and explore their eloquent messages. They read and discuss poems by Langston Hughes and Don Marquis.

Students read and analyze the story elements of the novel "Holes" by Louis Sachar. They play a "Holes" matching game, complete a timeline of story events, complete a Cause-and-Effect graphic organizer, conduct research on Louis Sachar's...

Learners analyze common logos they see daily and describe what the logos bring to mind. They redesign a company logo incorporating the company's philosophy into their sketches. Students present their findings and redesign to the class.