Lesson Plan
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Habitat Happenings

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students examine the characteristics of the Prairie Creek Habitat in Illinois. In groups, they travel between various stations writing haikus and reading brochures. They identify what occurs in each habitat and identify the animals...
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River Research

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Students use the internet to research the streams and rivers found in Illinois. Using the information, they identify and describe the rivers and streams along with the physical characteristics of a river ecosystem. They share what they...
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Exploring Adlai E. Stevenson II

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders research work to research six areas in the life of Adlai E. Stevenson II: His Early life, Governor of Illinois, Campaigns for president, Ambassador to the UN, famous quotes, later years. They create a supply of notecards...
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Vocabulary Development - Word Tiers

For Teachers 9th - 12th
This lesson focusing on classifying vocabulary words as concrete, abstract, or content specific could best be used with older students and adults. A list of words and the classification chart is provided.
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Whoever You Are

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students examine cultures, traditions, and feeling throughout cultures. In this cultural lesson, students use literature, maps, and cultural information to examine how people have universal feelings despite their different cultures and...
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Pipe Cleaner Sculpture

For Teachers K - 6th
Learners of any age can make the most out of their pipe cleaners. This art project idea is very simple and yet, it could result in some amazing works of art. They use pipe cleaners, flat styrofoam, straws, pasta, and beads to create...
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Lotto or Life: What Are the Chances?

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Though the website does not seem to have the mentioned video, a reding and lottery style games simulate the chances of finding intelligent life somewhere other than Earth. Without the video, this lesson is short, but it can be a useful...
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Looking Back

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the difference between a communist and a free-market economy. They discuss challenges occurring in Macedonia and explain the mood of its people.
Lesson Plan
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Road To Roota

For Teachers 2nd - 7th
Did you know that there are comic books that can help learners discover economic concepts like supply and demand. The format of this lesson is highly engaging and enables them to discover how economics can be an exciting field of study....
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Special Candy Game

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Building a strong classroom community starts with group activities focused on sharing and respect. The class sits in a circle, shares a talent they possess, then tell peers to throw them a piece of candy if they don't have the same...
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Creating Stage Designs that Reflect

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students identify and research cultural, historical, and symbolic clues in dramatic texts. They demonstrate knowledge of research sources.
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Edgar Allen Poe And The Art Of Composition

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers evaluate several works by Edgar Allen Poe based on the criteria in his essay, "The Philosophy of Composotion" Their analysis is documented using a graphic organizer. Learners begin the pre-writing process for their own...
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Librarian

For Teachers Pre-K - K
Students read books, learn about the letter l, and eat pudding all to learn about how to act in a library. In this library lesson plan, students also practice tip toeing around the room.
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Building Log Cabins

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders design and create a log cabin in this lesson. They use ratios to help make dimensions of a house. They draw out how they want their house to look and gather the materials they need to complete the house. The log cabins...
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Rainforests: What Are They?

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders investigate rain forests by reading a habitat checklist.  In this environment lesson, 2nd graders read the book The Great Kapok Tree, and discuss what characteristics make up a rain forest.  Students explore a...
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Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Program

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Here’s the overview for a series of lessons about the Japanese American internment introduced by the resource entitled “A Fence Away From Freedom.” Included are the link to the Smithsonian website on which the lessons are based, a list...
Lesson Plan
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Because of Winn-Dixie

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students make connections with the book Because of Winn-Dixie through writing.  In this writing lesson, students pretend to be the main character and write a letter to her mother, using very descriptive language.  Students also...
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Cultural Inquiry Lesson 2B: Finding Artifacts and Analysis

For Teachers Higher Ed
Students build on their knowledge of sources, by looking at 2 types of information sources: artifacts or primary sources and analysis or secondary sources. They brainstorm a list of primary and secondary sources connected to one of...
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Differences Between Fiction And Non-Fiction in the Library

For Teachers K - 5th
Students examine the differences between fiction and non-fiction books in the library by discussing kangaroos. They distinguish between facts about kangaroos, and using their imaginations and imagining what they would do with pet kangaroos.
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Philanthropy is Everywhere Lesson 3: Philanthropy "giants"

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars discover corporations that engage in philanthropy. They identify who the recipients of corporate philanthropy might be, complete worksheets and compile the related data.
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Mystery Words - Part Two - School Terms

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students increase their vocabularies with the mystery words activity. For this vocabulary lesson, students solve the mystery words using clues.
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Sizing Up Schools

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore the meaning of education and research the various strategies different American states are using to try to meet the academic requirements of the public school system.
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Finding Our Place in the Community

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders search TDC database for images of our hemisphere, continent, ocean, country, state, and city. They identify their place in the hemisphere, continent, ocean, country, state, and city.
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Return South Migration Lesson Plan

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students study the reasons so many immigrants returned to the South following the Civil Rights Movement. They examine how the former slaves influenced the cultural life in the Northern cities.