PBS
Reading Adventure Pack: Building
Scholars become architects in an engaging unit on building structures. The Reading Adventure Pack features Roberto: The Insect Architect by Nina Laden and Construction Zone with photographs by Richard Sobol and text by Cheryl Willis...
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Art Careers
Students explore art careers. In this career education instructional activity, students explore three different learning stations which simulate several art careers. Students construct a career book after this activity.
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Basic Visual Language Ii: How To Analyze a Visual Text
Students identify techniques used to communicate visually. They compare and contrast different visual techniques found in mass media. They apply their understanding by creating photographs that use a variety of visual literacy techniques.
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Using Social Studies in Five Shared Reading Lessons: Geography
After several short 15-minute mini-lessons, your learners will gain an understanding of the characteristics of a non-fiction text. Using the book Map It by Elspeth Leacock, your class will become acquainted with non-fiction terms...
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Sly Book Channel
Create a commercial for a favorite book and broadcast this pitch on the Sly Book Channel! Learners practice retelling, summarizing, comparing/contrasting, and evaluation skills as they prepare their scripts. The approved scripts are then...
Foreign Policy Research Institute
Teaching the 9/11 Anniversary
Here is a lesson on terrorism and 9/11. While outdated, it could be easily revised for today's teens. It includes targeted vocabulary, a background information activity, critical thinking questions, and step-by-step procedures for...
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An Introduction to Law
With so many different types of law, it can be difficult for learners to discern which is which! Use a newspaper to give tangible examples of various types of law, including criminal, civil, consumer, family, local, state, federal and...
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Jazz in America Lesson Plan 8
Students explore the present and juture of jazz. They identify terms associated with jazz and listen to contemporary recordings. They participate in a class discussion regarding jazz's contribution to and reflection of American culture...
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Create A 3-D Community Model
Students listen to a short story and take notes on the details. Using a graphic organizer, they state what makes up their community. They create a 3-D piece of art that tells someone something about their community. They share them...
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Navigating Nonfiction
Third graders explore the arrangement of nonfiction. In this library skills instructional activity, 3rd graders examine Dewey Decimal classification as they collaborate to locate nonfiction materials in the library/media center.
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From the Mouths of Space Scientists: An Introduction to Space and Weather
After researching the Greenland Space Science Symposium, curious thinkers create a PowerPoint or video presentation. They use the information they gathered to construct their presentation.
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Income and Outcomes
Bring financial literacy into your classroom. Learners use peer support to reflect on their spending and how it reflects their income and their values.
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Leo the Library Mouse
Second graders share how they should take care of library media center books and display their ideas for others to see. They read the book, LEO THE LIBARY MOUSE and discuss book care rules and reflect on how they compare with the main...
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Scavenger Hunt
Fourth graders demonstrate the ability to locate, retrieve and handle media and equipment. They compose a written discourse to inform. They participate in a library media center scavenger hunt.
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Lewis and Clark: Prized Possession
Students create a Sacagawea-inspired wampum belt. In this Native-American lesson plan, students study Sacagawea and her influence on the Lewis and Clark expedition. Students learn about wampum and prized possessions and work in groups to...
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An American Scene Painter
Learners study the work of American scene painter Charles Burchfield. For this visual arts lesson, students research the nature paintings of Burchfield and then paint their own watercolor scenes in his style.
National WWII Museum
A New War Weapon to Save Lives
Young historians view and analyze photos and documents from WWII that are related to blood transfusions and blood plasma. A demonstration of correct and incorrect blood donors visually shows the importance of knowing blood...
Channel Islands Film
Island Rotation: Lesson Plan 1
How do scientists provide evidence to support the theories they put forth? What clues do they put together to create these theories? After watching West of the West's documentary Island Rotation class members engage in a series of...
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League of Nations
What is the League of Nations, when did it begin, and what is it's purpose? Young political minds can explore the answers to these questions through political cartoon analysis. Included are several political cartoons, an analysis...
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Citing Sources
Practice citation skills with this activity, which takes learners to the Library/Media center. There, they will view a Powerpoint presentation and practice collecting data in both print and non-print sources. All necessary materials are...
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America and Canada: The Post Cold War Era
Students discuss the provoking question, "What does the term social change mean?" They discuss the social changes taking place during and following the Cold War. Students participate in a short discussion, they are presented with facts...
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Lily's Crossing
Middle schoolers listen to a story, "Lily's Crossing," about life during a World War. After completing worksheets, they compare and contrast characters in the story. Using math skills, students develop a time line of the war, calculate...
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Letters From Santa
Seventh graders practice the use of word processing software and writing skills. They read letters to Santa from a second grade class and compose an answer that is grammatically correct. Afterward, they cut and paste, save the file to be...
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The Junk Mail Explosion, Why You Buy and How Ads Persuade
Students increase their awareness of persuasion tactics used in "junk mail" advertising.