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Thomas Jefferson's Library: Making the Case for a National Library
Learners examine the need for a national library. In this Library of Congress lesson, students analyze primary sources to investigate the persuasive techniques that Thomas Jefferson used in a letter meant to show his...
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Stand Up and Sing
Students locate historical references in songs. They create music/lyrics to illustrate an historical topic.
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Defining Drought
Young scholars examine the hydrologic impacts of drought. They look at drought from a variety of prespectives. Students first focus on the scientific definition of drought, including weather patterns, water cycles, water requirements by...
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Chance (Probability) Operations in Dance Composition -
Eighth graders investigate modern-dance choreographer Merce Cunningham's historically significant contribution to dance-making history. Specifically, 8th graders explore and practice Merce Cunningham's choreographic use of chance...
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What I Want to be When I Grow Up
Sixth graders discover different careers in music. In this career exploration lesson plan, 6th graders explore four different categories of music careers: music education, music performance, music business and music therapy. Students...
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The History of Evolutionary Theory
Students are introduced to the concept of evolution by natural selection from a historical standpoint. They examine the evidence and arguments that support the theory of natural selection.
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Marcus Garvey and the Rise of Black Nationalism
Learners answer preview questions about different terms to describe African Americans. In this Black Nationalism lesson, students listen to background information on Marcus Garvey, then read an editorial by Garvey on the Return to...
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Dinosaurs 1: Where Are the Dinosaurs?
Students explore dinosaurs. In this dinosaur identification lesson, students watch video clips for different dinosaurs from the Discovery Kids website. Students discuss the clips with their teacher. Students may then role play the...
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Literature: Porgy and Bess
Students examine the various portrayals of African-Americans in literature, focusing on the opera, Porgy and Bess. They conduct Internet research on African-American culture between the two World Wars. Students write fictional or...
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Charolotte Perkins Gilman's "The Yellow Wall-paper" - the "New Woman"
Young scholars analyze the life of American middle to upper-class women in the mid- to late-nineteenth century and early twentieth century. In this women's suffrage lesson plan, students visit the given links in the lesson plan to...
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Making Good Decisions
Students read an article. For this problem solving lesson, students read an article where they must solve the problem presented. Students work in groups to discuss the issue and come up with a way to solve the problem.
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Build Your Own Adventure
Sixth graders write a narrative. They choose options for plot and climax within the context of an outdoor survival story.
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Folk Dance Explorations in the Choreographic Work of Modern Dance
Tenth graders participate in a lesson guided by an essential question: in what ways does choreographer, Mark Morris' work, "The Office," reflect Eastern-European traditional folk dance? During the lesson's first sessions, students...
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The Human Organism
Young scholars discuss human emotions and mental health. For this mental and emotional health lesson, students write a short story regarding the "think and share" choice. Young scholars include emotion, the connection between feelings...
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Water and Ice
Students observe what happens to water as it goes from a solid to a liquid. In this exploratory lesson students gain an understanding for the water cycle while working in groups observing what happens to water as it changes...
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East Asian Study Seminar
Students research and experience the culture of Zen Buddhism. They engage the practice of meditation by practicing themselves in a variety of contexts with different cultural readings.
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The Memory Play in American Drama
Students take a closer look at a memory play. In this American drama instructional activity, students read Tennessee Williams's The Glass Menagerie and analyze it as a memory play. Students discuss the linear and non-linear aspects of...
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Introducing the Victims of the Holocaust
High schoolers consider the plight of Holocaust victims. In this World War II lesson, students discuss the number of Jews who were persecuted during the war and read biographies by Holocaust survivors. High schoolers compose essays on...
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Treasures of the Silk Roads
Learners examine and discuss art objects from the Silk Roads. They analyze images of artifacts, create a word map, and develop and write a short story or poem based on the slides viewed.
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The Journey to Civil Rights
Learners investigate the concepts that surround the Civil Rights Movement. They conduct research with the help of the teacher and use chart paper to create posters about major people involved. Students also complete a timeline graphic...
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The Human Organism
Students identify their feelings and learn constructive ways of handling conflict. In this feelings and conflict lesson, students read a story about conflict and identify ways to understand emotions and resolve conflict.
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Sampling Rocks
Students study rocks they find on the playground. In this investigative lesson students collect and analyze rocks they find and answer questions about them.
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Tools: Science Stations
Students explore technology by completing engineering activities in class. In this simple tools instructional activity, students utilize three science stations to perform tasks using a nutcracker, bottle openers, hammers and other tools....
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Proto-Cubism: Thinking Like Picasso
Eighth graders create blind contour drawn portraits. They work in small groups and pose for each other, creating portraits that express multiple points of view. Students also view a PowerPoint presentation on Cubism and complete a...