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Pirate Unit
Students complete a unit of lessons on pirates. They read and analyze the novel, 'The Stowaway: A Tale of California Pirates,' define key vocabulary terms, participate in a literature circle, and write a report on pirates.
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Historical Fiction: A Wealth of Interpretations
Students read a book from the Dear America series and contrast different points of view. They respond to the book either by participating in a literature circle or completing a journal entry. They compare and contrast two books or a...
Facing History and Ourselves
Literature Circles: Preparing for Literature Circles through a Fishbowl Discussion
Students examine the attributes of productive conversations. For this fishbowl discussion lesson, students observe a modeled discussion of a literature circle. Students watch a discussion of "The Bear That Wasn't" and note how...
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How Tragic!
Students study and interpret a classical tragedy and role play a character from the play. In this tragedy instructional activity, students discuss a specific work to discover the form, structure, and characteristics of the genre and...
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Literature Circles: Typical Discussion Day Structure
Tenth graders practice and facilitate a discussion. In this literature lesson, 10th graders practice using effective discussion strategies. Students participate in reflection and self-assessment on their own discussion abilities.
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Literature Circles
Have you always wanted to try Literature Circles in your ELD class, but couldn't find a good way to start? This instructional activity is made for you, your middle-school readers and ideally, your SMARTboard (though the instructional...
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Words to Warm the Winter: Keeping Things Organized
Fifth graders are in Literary Circles according to the book they've chosen and choose roles.
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How Tragic!
Tenth graders read and study, in-depth, a specific classical tragedy, in this case, Oedipus. They explore strategies from making meaning out of or interpreting texts, as well as strategies for determining how authors create meaning in...
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The Lorax
Third graders identify environmental problems. In this natural resources instructional activity students participate in several activities that support critical thinking about the environment and natural resources. The students write,...
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Mini-Unit: Natural Resources
Young scholars explore how their choices affect others. In this character development and ecology activity, students debate choice-making issues. Young scholars listen to The Lorax by Dr. Seuss and identify choices the characters made...
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Discovering the Journal of Augustus Pelletier
Learners explore journals. In this Discovering the Journal of Augustus Pelletier lesson, students read the historical fiction book and conduct research activities to validate events in the plot that reflect the Lewis and Clark...
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Literature Circles: The Cay and Timothy of the Cay
Students read and discuss The Cay or Timothy of the Cay with other students. They complete Literature Circles role sheets. Students map the journeys of Timothy and Phillip. They put the events of the stories on a time line.
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The Lorax
Third graders identify and list five problems presented in The Lorax by Dr. Seuss. They relate these problems to current environmental issues and debate how to make a difference then participate in different activities to improve their...
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Rules and Consequences in the Classroom
Students study rules and consequences as well as learn positive, healthy behaviors in and out of the classroom. In this behavior lesson, students discuss behaviors that got them into trouble at home. Students name trouble behaviors at...
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Words to Warm the Winter: Characters Count!
Fifth graders take part in a mini-lesson on characterization, discuss roles for Literary Circles and meet for the first true session of their Literary Circles.
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English Novel: Fallen Angels
Students identify a character in Fallen Angels and discuss the changes that occur in that character throughout the Vietnam war. For this Fallen Angels lesson, students participate in literary circles in which each student has a...
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Proud to Be of Service
Observe the National Day of Service and Remembrance with a service learning lesson plan. After discussing the events of September 11, 2001, learners plan and implement their own service learning project in honor of American heroes.
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Indiana Travel Guide
Fourth graders create a travel guide about the state of Indiana with 100% accuracy. They label the capital within the travel guide with 100% accuracy. Students label one major river in the right location with 100% accuracy. They circle...
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English Novel: Fallen Angels
Students work in literary circles to discuss the novel Fallen Angels. In this Fallen Angels lesson, students find quotations, make connections, and identify themes as they discuss the novel. Students discuss changes in the characters...
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Land as a Valuable Resource
Students investigate why the soil is important to our lives. In this natural resources lesson, students have a farmer as a guest speaker. Students begin to understand how farmers use and protect our natural resource. Students write...
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Vocabulary Development
Learners utilize various vocabulary strategies. They use vocabulary logs to record strategies they have been taught, such as the Frayer Model (definition, picture, examples, non-examples), writing their own definitions, and using...
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Our Treasured Trees
Students discuss natural resources and renewable resources with trees being considered renewable resources which need special attention. In this Earth science lesson plan, students write a list of reasons for why it would be good to stop...
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And Still The Turtle Watched
Third graders discuss ways to be kind to the Earth. For this conservation lesson, 3rd graders listen to the story And Still The Turtle Watched by Sheila MacGill-Callalhan. They compare how the early people treated the Earth to how we...
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Be Kind to our Earth
Students make a list of ideas on ways we can take care of our Earth and complete a class project planning sheet where they problem solve to help save the Earth. In this Earth lesson plan, students also play a conservation charades game.