This activity may have writers evaluate short compositions, but their subjects are quite tall: great Americans. Pupils read one another's compositions and closely examine how specific phrases and diction contribute to shaping American...

The Civil War made slavery illegal, but all ex-slaves were not totally free. Scholars visit eight different classroom stations to uncover life during the Reconstruction Era in America. Groups discover items such as Black Codes, 13th,...

After completing an online activity about the Mayflower, scholars draw a picture about what they know of the Thanksgiving holiday, including a one-sentence summary. A reading of If You Were at the First Thanksgiving by Anne Kamma is...

What did medicine look like a hundred years ago? Two hundred years ago? Invite small groups to conduct research on the history of a chosen medical advancement before reading Phineas Gage: A Gruesome but True Story About Brain Science....

Master Jane Austen's language from A to Z with an activity based on Pride and Prejudice. As kids read the novel, they find (or are assigned) words that begin with each letter of the alphabet, and create one-page documents that show...

Learners identify why trust is important to a community. They explain what is meant by a common resource. They compare and contrast how the community functions when rules are followed or not followed.

Students answer the question "How are the concepts and processes I examine in Biology relevant to my other classes, to my life, and to my community?" This assignment has students actively involved in the intellectual work of location,...

Students study techniques for analyzing primary sources. Finally, students apply these techniques to analyze documents about slavery in the United States.

Seventh graders list the features of an ecosystem and identify local bird species.  In this bird lesson students work in groups to formulate a hypothesis and test their theory by collecting and analyzing data. 

High schoolers explore Virginia Interfaith Center's A More Perfect Union "Misunderstanding" Ad Campaign, view two episodes of PBS America at a Crossroads series, examine historical context of colonialism and geo-political tensions in...

Students summarize the unit on heroes and present picture books to younger students.  In this hero lesson, students compile their portfolios, in which they have presented heroic characteristics of their own classmates. ...

Students create a living animal that could survive in at least one specific region and use the digital desert library to gather information. In this invent a critter lesson, students draw a picture of their animal,  describe their...

Eleventh graders explore the role and impact of recent First Ladies through research and family interviews, then work in groups to present a documentary portrait to the class.

Sixth graders view several segments of the video, "How Animals Survive." They discuss elements of survival. Students list living and nonliving things found in their backyards and schoolyards. Students work in groups to complete the...

Students design a carousel for an amusement park. In collaborative groups they conduct research, develop a presentation, write a descriptive paragraph, evaluate design features, and draw an artistic rendering of their carousel.

Students research characters from different plays. In this Shakespeare and performing arts lesson, students discuss the portrayal of characters from the perspective of real actors. Students work in groups to examine the technique for...

Students explore the cycles of an ecosystem.  In this environmental science instructional activity, students work in groups to research the nitrogen cycle, the water cycle, or the oxygen-carbon dioxide cycle. Students prepare a...

Students research the Ndebele tribe. In this research project, students work in groups to create a traveling museum about the Ndebele tribe.

Fifth graders participate in a research project involving the oceans of the earth. They research with the help of the library and the Internet. They put their collected research into a folder, brochure, PowerPoint presentation and a...

First graders are exposed to a variety of texts that deal with mice. The use of the library is recommended to saturate the classroom with available books. Young students work in groups with the help of the teacher to define traits and...

Eighth graders explore service learning projects. They work, in groups, to choose a video project. Students collect information and present it in a storyboard. Next, they use music, video clips, and still pictures to create their video...

Students research a poem using the Internet or library source. They analyze their selection including a line by line explanation of the poem. Students create a powerpoint presentation of their analysis.

Sixth graders study Columbus Day in relation to who discovered Canada. They complete a KWL about Canada and discuss Columbus Day as an American holiday. After viewing a video, they read articles of Christopher Columbus and work in groups...

Third graders explore the arrangement of nonfiction. For this library skills lesson, 3rd graders examine Dewey Decimal classification as they collaborate to locate nonfiction materials in the library/media center.