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Elements of Myth
Students read and act out myths. In this world mythology lesson, students read and analyze myths from various cultures and then recognize their attributes as they prepare presentations of myths that explain natural phenomena.
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The Desert is Theirs: Adapting to Our Environment
Students determine how animals and people adapt to the desert environment. In this desert lesson, students review vocabulary about the desert and how humans have to make changes to accommodate their environments. They listen to and...
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Solar Power
Fifth graders create their own solar panel. They use this experiment to see how the sun can be used as a form of energy.
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A World of Myths
Students read and write myths. In this world mythology lesson, students read and analyze myths from various cultures and then recognize their attributes as they write their own myths to explain natural phenomena.
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1st Grade - Act. 22: Retelling the Tiny Seed
First graders write sentences and illustrate ways seeds travel.
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Animal Communication
Young scholars use three nonfiction selections in order to investigate the concept of animal communication. They use a graphic organizer for the information as it is gathered in the reading.
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Meet the Reformers
Seventh graders interpret historical evidence presented in primary and secondary resources. In this American reformers activity, 7th graders research the accomplishments of selected reformers. Students then use the information they...
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Let Me Convince You
Young scholars discuss the purposes of persuasive speaking and writing with emphasis upon what makes them different from other kinds. They brainstorm and discuss ways to select "The Greatest American Who Ever Lived" and prepare a...
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Silent Spring
Students read background information about Rachel Carson found on the listed website links. They analyze and answer questions about her work and how it is linked to science then they research pesticide usage and alternative methods.
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The Thrill of Big-Wave Surfing
Students view a PBS Nature program about big-wave surfing and participate in a class discussion about their experiences with surfing, body boarding, or body surfing. Students create a drawing based on a reading and post their art around...
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Understanding Daoism through study of the Daodejing
Young scholars work in groups and study Daodejing. They describe how Monkey's behavior (from the Monkey Stories) is governed by the Yang and the Yin powers.
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Researching Another country's Holiday: Organizing and Recording Information
Prior to this activity, 5th graders will have collected notes from several sources. Students extend their note taking to include at least one example each of summarizing and paraphrasing. They record bibliographic information for each...
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Listen! Listen! Learn All About It!
Fourth graders view non-fiction videos. They write questions that can be answered with information in the video. Every 10 minutes the video is stopped and the class discusses the questions.
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Community Commerce
Sixth graders explore commerce in their own community. They interview local business owners and collect data about their town. Students research the history of a local business and its daily operation. They prepare a presentation to...
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Five Paragraph Essay
Eighth graders are introduced to the mechanics of writing a standard-form essay. They draft, edit and polish a five-paragraph essay about spending the day as an animal of their choice.
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New York Explorers
Fourth graders investigate the early explorers of New York state. They identify their country of origin, reason for exploration, and the results. They produce a PowerPoint based on their results.
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What Happened Next?
Fifth graders read one short story on their own. After reading, they are given a series of sentences and events from the short story and put them into the correct sequence. To end the instructional activity, they draw pictures from the...
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The Class Garden Essay
Fifth graders use a class garden as inspiration for a specific writing assignment. They conduct research into different types of flowers in photo images taken with a digital camera. Students write a creative essay and draw a picture to...
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Growing Pains of the Yearling
Fourth graders read The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings.
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Following a Monster
Students follow tracks of a monster who has walked through their classroom to see what he has done. They discuss sequencing vocabulary before using computer software students sequence the monster's visit using a concept map. In a word...
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Broadcasting World War II
Third graders listen to several broadcasts from the WWII era. They research, write and perform simulated radio broadcasts concerning topics related to American society in World War II.
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Exploring the History of Canyon De Chelly: The Navajos
Students are introduced to the novel Sing Down The Moon written by Scott O'Dell. Throughout the book, after each chapter is read, class discussions and journal writing is incorporated into the unit.
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Scavenger Hunt
Students search for items in various parts of the newspaper noting the different types of information it provides.
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Identifying and Describing Story Elements
First graders examine how to identify the different elements of a story and how they fit in a definite sequence. The use of comprehension skills is essential to retell the story as desired within the lesson.