Students create a sundial to measure local apparent time as it relates to the position of the sun in the sky. In this sundial instructional activity, students cut and glue gnomon to a sheet of thin cardboard.  Students then set the...

Harry Potter, Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret, To Kill a Mockingbird. Kids view a slide show and then discuss the seven banned books featured in the presentation and the reasons why the books may have been banned.

Seamounts in the Coral and Tasman Seas are home to more than 850 different species. Groups explore hydrothermal vents, researching the organisms found there and their energy source. They also learn about seamounts, exploring their unique...

After viewing the West of the West's documentary Cache, individuals craft either a newspaper article chronicling the discovery of the cache on San Nicolas Island, a historical narrative of the placement of the cache in the cliff side, or...

Students participate in a simulation of life on a deserted island. They work with their group to develop an island survival plan and summarize it in a journal. Students use a worksheet and challenge cards to earn points. They will be...

Students read and discuss background material on several key decisions that played a role in the Civil War including the Missouri Compromise, the Kansas-Nebraska Act and the Dredd Scott Decision. They create a timeline and write an essay.

By utilizing a graphic organizer called a bubble map, young readers work toward developing their vocabulary. After reading a story, a word that has something to do with the story is put in the middle circle. Then, other words that have...

Seventh graders summarize an article on Masdar. In this summarizing lesson students clearly explain three of the four points provided in an outline of the article. The students write an essay and identify six physical features of the...

Students, viewing an Internet site, plot the path of several satellites using latitude and longitude over the course of an hour. They learn the four basic types of satellites and their purpose.

Young scholars write a report about infectious diseases where they demonstrate their understanding of new terminology. In this writing instructional activity, students analyze the effect of disease in their lives and and make scientific...

How much do you know about the holidays around the world? Second graders put their knowledge to the test with a 14-day lesson about global celebrations. They read informational text, employ KWL charts, and compare and contrast the many...

The ideas present for analyzing Don Q are tried and true, and the beginner to the novel will find the information helpful. The most productive activity on this resource would be the mind map (link available) that gives readers and...

Fourth graders explore family histories. In this social studies lesson, 4th graders identify the countries from which their ancestors came and locate them on a map. Students discuss the role that Ellis Island played in immigration in the...

Students create an awareness of the vast percentage of water covering the earth. They relate similarities/differences between topographical maps and other maps of various time periods. Students examine how to use a topographical map.

Students create skits based on pairs of words. In this Twelfth Night lesson, students create a cluster map in which they brainstorm a dialogue/scene based on their word pair. Students perform and record their scenes and discuss...

Pupils study thematic maps (included with the lesson plan) to determine possible relationships. They develop three hypotheses about the relationship. Students choose one of their hypotheses to explain. The explanation is to include...

Students explore Mount Everest. In this exploration lesson, students read "The Top of the World: Climbing Mount Everest," by Steve Jenkins. Students then respond to discussion questions and participate in a map skills activity.

Students participate in reading activities to discover what a cyclone is and how cyclones affect those parts of the world that they hit. They discuss what kind of shelter would be best to create in anticipation of a cyclone.

Students describe the physical attributes of the East Pacific Rise. After locating the region on a map, students work in groups do define each layer of the structure in order to begin their build. Students build their model according to...

Students read the newspaper to become aware of what is happening in their city, state, nation, and world. They summarize, find locations on a map and ask thought-provoking questions.

What could be more relevant to teens and preteens than experiencing stress? Use an article from the New York Times website to practice valuable Common Core skills for informational text reading, and also get a discussion going in your...

Ninth graders investigate the country of Canada by examining their media in this geography lesson. They use the Internet to research Canadian newspapers and analyze a topic covered by both US and Canadian media sources. After comparing...

The five themes of geography are perfect for introducing learners to some of the ways that people interact with the world around them. This packet contains 20 full lessons, each focused on topics relating to the five themes of geography,...

Enhance your American literature unit with this resource, in which readers access the Nebraska Studies website and read about "Railroads and Settlement." They search for a photograph of some aspect of the railroad from the Prairie...