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Once Upon a Time
Students use Inspiration to Identify the defining characteristics of Fairy Tales, They create a literary web, study the basic structure of plot, and recognize that themes reoccur across literary works. They complete Once Upon a Time...
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Exploring Film Genres for Telling Hero Stories: Narrative Shorts
Students research that a narrative film tells a story using camera movement, sound, lighting, editing and other film making techniques. The audience must be taken into consideration when making a film. They explore what makes their hero...
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Language Arts: Plotting Stories
Second graders read the story, "The Foolish, Timid Rabbit," as part of a unit on appearances. After reading with partners, they write their own stories that include elements about some forms of matter from their science studies. Students...
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Tall Tales Today
Young scholars explore the attributes of American tall tales. In this folklore lesson, students read several tall tales, describe the elements of tall tales, and then use hyperbole to write their own tall tales.
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Swimmy
Students explore the themes of the book Swimmy by Leo Lionni. In this literacy lesson, students dramatize a character from Swimmy and identify common themes such as cooperation and caring. Students create a new ending to the story.
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Analyze The Learner; Chocolate Fractions
Third graders describe, represent and compare fractions using pieces of a chocolate bar. In this fractions lesson, 3rd graders demonstrate how to read and write fractions correctly. Students then integrate technology by using...
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Plot/Story Problem/Resolution
Students analyze the plot, problem, and resolution of a story. In this story analysis lesson, students read stories and fill out graphic organizers about the plot, story problems, and resolution.
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Amelia Earhart: A Biography
Second graders investigate the accomplishments of Amelia Earhart. They read and discuss a biography of Amelia Earhart, complete a Venn diagram, and conduct an interview with a classmate and write and publish a biography of their classmate.
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My Bank, My Budget, My Decisions!
Students build a budget. In this philanthropy lesson, students write a personal budget that includes spending, saving, investing, and donating. Student philanthropists donate money to charities.
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Create a Pamphlet
Students explore weather conditions. In this weather investigation lesson, students use various search engines to list three facts about weather patterns, new vocabulary words, and a picture of a weather condition. Students use this...
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Dr. Seuss
Learners read books by the same author and compare what they find. In this Dr. Seuss instructional activity, students learn about Dr. Seuss' writing style, listen for the rhyme scheme in his stories, and create a KWL chart on Dr....
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My Brother Sam is Dead: A study of the Revolutionary War
Fifth graders complete an analysis of the Revolutionary War through literature. After "My Brother Sam Is Dead," students create a time capsule containing items that would be relevant during the Revolutionary War. They identify key...
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Philanthropy in A Christmas Carol
Students explore philanthropy in literature. For this cross curriculum literacy and character development lesson, students read A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens and note charitable acts described in the story. Students relate story...
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Show Me the Story
Learners examine the elements of a story, read a review of Chris Rock's new sitcom, "Everybody Hates Chris" and create original sitcom episodes based on their own lives.
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Number the Stars
Fifth graders examine threat to all people (particularly the Jews) resulting from the imposition of Nazi authority, and appreciate the courage exhibited by ordinary people acting out of conscience.
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The Lorax Explorations
Students read and debate the purpose of Dr. Seuss' The Lorax, analyze its story elements, and write their own The Lorax II.
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Hope In The Hard Times - A Unit on the Great Depression
Young scholars examine the Great Depression through the analysis of the novel, 'Bud, Not Buddy.' They analyze photos from the National Archives website, complete a character analysis, and conduct research and summarize a topic from the...
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How Many Languages do you Speak?
Students explore the Tamil language. They listen to parts of a story read in English, Hindi and Tamil. Tamil word cards are matched with their English equivalent. Practice saying basic Tamil words daily within the lesson.
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LA CENERENTOLA (Cinderella)
Young scholars investigate different cultures' versions of the Cinderella tale in comparison to the Rossini opera synopsis. They experience dramatizing a Cinderella tale and study about the group and individual process required for...
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Thanksgiving Traditions
Everyone celebrates traditions in different ways. Young writers share the ways their families celebrate Thanksgiving with a journal writing prompt and discussion activity.
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Historical Heroes
High schoolers determine whether the ends truly justify the means by examining the behavior of historical and fictional heroes. They view and discuss film versions of Gangs of New York and Les Miserables. Then they break into small...
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Dramatizing Tam's Slipper
Students investigate the Japanese version of the Cinderella tale. In this fairy tale lesson, students read Tam's Slipper and construct a Venn diagram to compare and contrast the tale with the American version.
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Quick as a Cricket
Students explore similes through Quick as a Cricket. In this similes lesson plan, students investigate what a simile is and recognize them when they see them. Students write similes about themselves and illustrate...
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Arthur's Nose
Students read a story and complete a story map. In this diversity and acceptance instructional activity, students read Arthur's Nose, make a story map, research Aardvarks, complete a Venn Diagram comparing Arthur's nose to other...