Yale University
Discovering Persephone
Here is a resource that introduces learners to how the stories from Greek mythology explain the workings of natural phenomena, movements of the seasons, and how the conflicts of the gods mimic our own daily difficulties. Learners...
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A "Boring" Lesson in Geography
Young geographers will enjoy this entertaining instructional activity on maps. You choose ten of the unusual town names that your students found and provide activities that challenge your charges to apply their newfound geography skills....
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Using the Internet to Challenge Young Writers
Designed as a professional development exercise to introduce teachers to the Internet, the activities in this resource ask novice web surfers to access a series of sites, bookmark them, and answer question about information found on the...
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Diurnal Temperature Changes and Water Vapor Content
Students examine the greenhouse effect, as they determine how moisture in the air affects the diurnal temperature range. Their investigation help them to explain different climatological regimes of both the Southern Great Plains and the...
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Mapping a Site Using a Coordinate Plane
Learners map their playground as if it were an archeological site. They locate objects on the playground and determine their location using coordinate points. A related instructional activity is Coordinate Grid: Mapping an Archeological...
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Paragraph Unity
Your class can construct a well-written paragraph. They utilize a sequential method which assists them in formulating a concise expository piece. The paragraph must contain a topic sentence, five supporting sentences, and a conclusion.
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The Earth Moves Around the Sun
Students demonstrate that the movement of the sun causes shadows which were used as the first indicators of telling time.
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How Mountains Shape Climate
Pupils use raw data to make a climatograph; they explain the process of orographic precipitation and the concept of a rain shadow.
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Iraq, Where's That?
Students identify the Middle Eastern countries on the map and the oil-producing countries of OPEC in the region. They examine whether the presence of important producing oil fields qualifies as a characteristic of this region.
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Create a World
Young scholars combine imaginative powers with known map-making techniques to create a whole new world.
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Ghost Crystals - Light & Water
Woo, ghost crystals, just in time for Halloween! Young scientists experiment with light and water as they make and observe ghost crystals. The lesson does not include the process for making the crystals, but provides a web link where a...
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Persuasive Writing: Fact or Opinion
What is the difference between a fact and an opinion? Middle schoolers categorize statements as either facts or opinions before writing a persuasive essay to support a thesis statement they create. This is a great introduction to...
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Ice Cream in a Bag
Here is a good version of this classic chemistry activity. Learners are given a simple recipe for how to make home-made ice cream by putting all of the ingredients into a ziploc bag. Before doing the activity, I would recommend having a...
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Are You Sleeping?
Here is a measurement lesson focusing on length. Learners use their feet as the unit of measurement for furniture in the classroom and at home, and sketch the pieces of furniture they measured.
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The Gathering and Analysis of Data
Young mathematicians gather data on a topic, graph it in various forms, interpret the information, and write a summary of the data. They present their data and graphs to the class.
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The Writing Process
Show your young researchers how to find information, brainstorm a topic, map or outline their own stories, and create rough drafts. This lesson plan also shows learners how to peer edit, conference with the teacher, and write their final...
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Human Needs Analysis : An Introductory Activity to the Holocaust
Students discuss what an individual needs in order to exist and in order to exist happily, and they analyze the different types of human needs - physical, emotional, intellectual, etc.. They discuss the possible impact of having these...
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Kids and Leisure in Early 1900s Ann Arbor
Fourth graders describe how Michigan has changed and stayed the same over time; describe and classify human/cultural characteristics of Michigan; describe and explain the importance of individuals and groups who have made a difference.
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Odd and even
Learners play a game requiring them to select groups of odd or even numbers of objects with the aim of reaching a total which is an odd number. They carry out a more formal investigation of patterns in additions of odd and even numbers.
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Elephant Seals - Evolution
Students create posters or skits based on specific adaptive characteristics of elephant seals.
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Number: Rounding Off and Approximating
Young mathematicians access a website that leads them through three activities that enable them to practice their rounding and estimation skills when it comes to numbers and math word problems. There is also a very good worksheet...
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Radiation Budget Lesson: Exploring Albedo
Students experiment with sunlight and temperature. They study the definition of albedo, or the percentage of incoming sunlight that is reflected, rather than absorbed.
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Line and Shading = Shape and Form
Young scholars collect natural objects and draw these objects with and without shading.
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Light and Shadow
Students compare and draw items with shading based on where a light source is in relation to the object.