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Conquistadors: Inca Rebellion
Students explore the Incan culture. In this Incan history lesson, students research the rebellions that occured upon the arrival of the Spanish conquistdors. Students write essays regarding the rebellions and whether or not they could...
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Earthquakes: Learn From the Past, Prepare for the Future
Students examine the destruction caused by earthquakes. In this community safety lesson, students examine the risk involved in living in an earthquake zone and how to prepare for future earthquakes.
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Scavenger Hunt
Students and their families participate in nature walk to locate, observe, and identify scavenger hunt items as well as other items of interest, compare and discuss finds with each other, and identify items found that do not belong in...
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Flannery O'Connor's "A Good Man is Hard to Find": Who's the Real Misfit?
High schoolers read and analyze the short story, "A Good Man Is Hard to Find," by Flannery O'Connor. They write a one-page response, explore various websites, take an online interactive journey, and write a final assessment paper.
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Art: Weaving Based on Draft Patterns
Fourth graders observe the process of drafting a pattern on graph paper. After creating their own patterns, they create their own weavings, and explain its title to the class.
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A Picture Says a Thousand Words
Students create a writing selection with a well-developed plot. They use a personal photograph in which they are visible to base their autobiographical writing. They write a description of the events surrounding the photograph in the...
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The Tobacco Time Bomb: What's In A Cigarette?
In this enlightening and disturbing health lesson, students read and discuss information on smoking and closely-look at the ingredients in a cigarette. You will be amazed at the list of ingredients that are found in cigarettes. This...
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Biodiesel: An Alternative Fuel Source
Students explore the advances that are being made in alternative fuels.In this biodiesel lesson students evaluate different petroleum and alternative fuels.
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Newsletters to International Penpals/Keypals
Learners participate in an intercultural E-mail exchange throughout a semester. They send newsletter to international penpals/keypals.
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Famous Photographers
Student explore, research, and discuss the life & artwork of famous photographers. They analyze & critique the artwork, photographers through a presentation. They recognize and identify technological developments in the...
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Pennsylvania Watersheds
Students identify the major watersheds of Pennsylvania. In this forestry lesson plan, students learn what a watershed is and are assigned one of the major watersheds of Pennsylvania. Groups then need to determine the boundaries of the...
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Ancient Egypt Alphabet Book
Students research Ancient Egypt using a specific letter of the alphabet as a guide. In this Ancient Egypt lesson, students independently research their assigned topic using ProQuest or other research software. Once students have...
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On the Oregon Trail
Learners work with primary documents and latter-day photographs to recapture the experience of traveling on the Oregon Trail. Working in groups, they write a scene for the movie that is historically accurate and based on the kinds of...
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Exploring The Columbian Exposition
Fourth graders listen to a read aloud of a book that provides background information on the Columbian Exposition. They research the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition and the city of Chicago at the turn of the century and create a...
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The Renaissance: How did it change the world?
Eighth graders identify the conditions in Medieval Europe that contributed to the beginning of the Renaissance. They find characteristics of the Renaissance in its art, economy, discoveries, and ideas. They examine the ideas of Humanism...
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Renaissance: Rebirth to Revolution
Sixth graders use a variety of resources to research the Middle Ages and Renaissance over a nine-week period. Working in cooperative teams, they become experts on specific topics. Students hold a Renaissance Faire and role-play as...
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Allegory in Painting
High schoolers define allegory and discuss its use in the visual arts, examine paintings from various time periods and identify allegorical themes in them, and explain what makes an image allegorical.
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My Money
Young scholars identify and interpret the relationships between various components of currency, discusses the uses of money, and provides advanced lessons on making change. They also identify the various ways that money is used and how...
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JFK, LBJ, and the Fight for Equal Opportunity in the 1960s
High schoolers examine the presidencies and John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. In this American history lesson, students specifically analyze the civil rights support of the 2 presidents and their support of civil rights legislation....
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The Branches of Government
After reviewing and reading about the three branches of US Government, complete this activity with your class. In groups, they will place their "cards" on the board under the correct branch. This lesson is weak and unclear. I'd make a...
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Giving Directions
While incomplete, this lesson provides an interesting way to approach an activity on giving and following directions. Learners work in groups, using a newspaper and maps, to give each other directions to a specific location. The handouts...
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Learning the Value of Rules - A Paper Clip Game
Using a game, learners discuss laws and fairness in society. In order to play the game, they line up in rows in the classroom. The teacher gives them paper clips based on their sex or other criteria. They can begin to discuss issues of...
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Sampling the American Dream
Students, after viewing a variety of different and unique websites, write a short paragraph on each one that describes their reactions to specific information on unfamiliar subjects. They react to each website as personally as they can.
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Wrap a Gift
With wrapping a gift as the focus, this lesson has learners practice vocabulary and formulating descriptions. They wrap and unwrap a gift identifying the objects as they go. This activity could be enhanced to make it a richer experience.