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Exploration of Utopias and Dystopias
If you are considering adding or expanding a unit on utopian and dystopian literature you simply must check out this fabulous resource. Packed with plans, activities, project-based and 21st century learning opportunities, the unit uses a...
Echoes & Reflections
Contemporary Antisemitism
Despite the recognized atrocities of the Holocaust, anti-semitism continues. The 11th and final installment of the Teaching the Holocaust series explores the long-term effects of the Holocaust on modern anti-semitism, asking pupils to...
Curated OER
Who Wrote That?
Students explore the Project Gutenberg website and conduct a webquest to answer questions about well known literature and authors.
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Finding Science in An American Childhood by Annie Dillard
Young scholars read excerpts from Annie Dillard's memoir, "An American Childhood," with the teacher. They experience opportunities to connect English, science, nature and art together from a new and unique perspective. This approach...
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Cuentitos para ni
Vamos a escribir! Your older learners will love writing a children's book for learners at the elementary level. The resource suggests having small groups write their stories and create PowerPoint slides with illustrations, but this can...
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Greetings from Maya Angelou
Students investigate the life and works of Maya Angelou. They complete a Webquest, read poems, listen to a reading by Maya Angelou, answer discussion questions, and write a poem, short story, or essay based on a newspaper article.
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Postcards from Somewhere
Students correspond with e-pals about their community. In this cross curriculum geography, technology, and literacy lesson, students complete a postcard webquest about their home location including local photographs. Students e-mail...
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Hickory Dickory Dock Webquest
Students listen to and read nursery rhymes. They discuss rhyming words. Students play a variety of computer games with rhymes, numbers and telling time. They retell the story through dramatic play, speech, and comprehension questions.
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The Great Gatsby
Students read "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald. In groups, they research the events and spirit of the 1920s and relate events in the novel to actual historical events. They compare the characteristics of various genres and...
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Technology in the English Classroom
There are many ways to use technology to enhance literature and English lessons.
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Fossil Fuels vs. Alternative Fueling Systems
Fourth graders brainstorm the differences between the fossil fuels that people use in their transportation now and what they could use to minimize greenhouse gas emissions. They use a variety of techniques from webquests to writing...
ReadWriteThink
Beyond the Story: A Dickens of a Party
It's time to party like it's 1899! Incorporate a research-based celebration of the Victorian Era into your unit on A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. After learners read the novella or view a production of the play, they craft a...
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Beans Are Seeds
Second graders read literature regarding the growth of seeds. They investigate how seeds need water and light to sprout and then grow. They experiment by planting their own bean seeds. They record the progress of their seeds in both...
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How Does A Seed Become A Plant?
First graders evaluate what it takes for a seed to become a plant. They brainstorm what they know, discuss what they want to know and interact with a Plant WebQuest that indicates what they have learned. They also examine how we get the...
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ESL Poetry Unit
Students complete a twelve lesson unit on poetry. They read and respond to different forms of poetry, write a bio poem, complete an online WebQuest, and in small groups present lessons to the class on various types of poems.
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Civil War Leaders
Fifth graders explore leaders of the Civil War. In this history lesson, 5th graders use picture puzzles, vocabulary, worksheets, WebQuest, a Venn Diagram and role play activities in order to learn who the Civil War leaders were, what...
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The Nobel Prize
Students investigate the Nobel Prize winners for 2001. They complete a Webquest, explore various websites, watch a video, answer discussion questions, and identify and read newspaper articles about Nobel Prize categories.
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The Perfect Society
Students read "The Giver" by Lois Lowry and then attempt to create their own "perfect society". They work in groups to create a Powerpoint presentation outlining the rules of the ultimate society.
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The Last Spin
Twelfth graders watch a video about gangs and how they solve their problems. They role play the role of reporters and in groups they try to figure out why a teenager committed suicide.
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Witches and Wizards Ceramic Marionettes
Students brainstorm and illustrate different types of costumes and characters. After a lecture/demo, students choose their favorite character and create a ceramic marionette.
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Dogsong
Students read the Gary Paulsen novel, Dog song, about wilderness survival, and research information about the Iditarod dogsled race. Students follow the sled race online each day and complete an Alaska scavenger hunt.
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Native Americans
First graders explore the lifestyles of several North American tribes. They investigate about the homes, food, transportation, and daily living habits of each tribe. Pupils use a map to locate several Native American tribes in North...