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Water: The Flow of Women's Work

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students view photographs, read, and reflect on their own environments to gather information about gender roles in Lesotho and the United States. Students role-play gender role related scenarios and write about their reflections on the...
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Choices and Commitments: The Soldiers at Gettysburg

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students investigate the Gettysburg Campaign and the major actions for each day of the battle. They read primary source documents, write a diary entry, analyze the Gettysburg Address, and write a persuasive speech regarding an issue in...
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Countries of Africa

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students investigate the different countries of Africa. In this African geography lesson, students choose an African country to investigate and construct the country's flag. Students use a map of Africa to color in their country.
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Growing Plants in Science and Literature, More Than an Empty Pot

For Teachers 1st - 4th
Students read The Empty Pot as an introduction to plants. In this planting lesson plan, students understand a sequence of events in the book and relate it to the sequence of a plants life. Students grow plants and record information in...
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Using Primary Sources to Discover Reconstruction

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders discover how reconstruction had an impact on racial issues in the United States. In this Reconstruction lesson, 5th graders are introduced to primary vs. secondary resources and then rotate through stations to view...
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The Demise of the Great American Frontier

For Teachers 6th - Higher Ed
Students are introduced to Frederick Jackson Turner and how early Census data, when combined visually with maps, effectively demonstrated the end of the frontier.
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Off to the Future

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students read a handout and predict the position of the San Andreas Fault far in the future. In this future world lesson plan, students use a map worksheet to demonstrate the path of the Pacific Plate millions of years from now.
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Our City's Temperature

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students use a thermometer to record temperatures from their homes throughout the city, and then hypothesize reasons for the temperature variations. They use a weather graph worksheet that's imbedded in this activity to orgainize their...
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Does One Tree a Forest Make?

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students take a walk around the schoolyard looking at and identifying the trees. One leaf for each tree is collected. A chart is developed that represents the population of trees on the school ground. They keep journals and write an essay.
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Novel Guide for My Brother Sam is Dead

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders explore the effects of war. In this American Revolution lesson, 5th graders read My Brother Sam is Dead and complete the provided comprehension, characterization, and vocabulary activities
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A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students, after reading the book, "Esperanza Rising," create a virtual display by combining different story elements into a visual representation. They choose the setting and characters of a scene that will act as a springboard of ideas...
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Marine Life, Oceans, Lakes and Rivers

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students examine the types of organisms found in oceans. In groups, they read articles about the research done at certain sites. They work together to research their own water ecosystems and report the findings to the class. To end...
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Hot n' Cold

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students keep a weather log. In this weather and temperature lesson, students discuss the information that can be obtained from a map and lead into a discussion about temperature. Students watch a video about temperature and...
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Antebellum North Carolina

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders examine pictures & documents relating to the Hayes Plantation (Edenton, NC). They also use various maps of North Carolina to help them analyze how James Cathcart Johnston used, modified and adapted to the physical...
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Here Today, Gone Tomorrow

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students explore erosion. Through multi-media and hands-on activities, students identify the effects of wave erosion and hurricanes on a barrier island. Students watch a video and create a cause and effect chart of their observations. ...
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Bone's Adventures

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students read and discuss a chapter from the book "A Dog's Life," focusing on the point of view of the dog in the story. They explore dog rescue organization websites, and play the online game "Bone Travels On," creating a story map and...
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Costa Rican Sea Turtles

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students read "One Tiny Turtle" by Nicola Davies. Using the internet, they research the characteristics of turtles off of the Costa Rica coast. In groups, they complete a worksheet and define vocabulary words they are unfamiliar with. ...
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Ellis Island/Angel Island

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders research Ellis Island and Angel Island. In this library media lesson, 4th graders use resources from the library to locate facts about Ellis Island and Angel Island. Students construct a Venn diagram to compare and...
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You Can Die Here

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Students examine Death Valley including the amount of precipitation and winds that it gets.  In this climate based lesson plan students explain the reasons for the amount of precipitation and windward patterns in Death Valley.
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Word Wall Activity List

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders perform a variety of activities with a dynamic, ever-changing classroom word wall as outlined in these lessons. They become less dependent on the word wall as the school year progresses.
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The Musher's Trail

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders follow the Iditarod race that begins in March. They research data and select a musher to trail in the race. Then they write daily in a journal about events that happen on the trail, including pictures from the Website.
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Raton Pass and Glorieta Battlefield

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students complete a variety of activities that go along with the study of and possible fieldtrip to Raton Pass and Glorieta Battlefield on the Sante Fe Trail in New Mexico.
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Microclimates of Our School

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students read the story "Weslandia" by Paul Fleischman, define the term microclimate, gather and record data in various places on school grounds to establish the presence of difference microclimates, analyze and compare microclimates,...
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The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854: Popular Sovereignty and the Political Polarization over Slavery

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students read selections from the Declaration of Independence, Northwest Ordinance of 1787, and the Wilmot Proviso of 1846. They contrast the maps of 1820 and 1854 to analyze developments in the national debate over slavery. They...