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We're Going to the Zoo!
Young scholars write and publish a poem as part of a class poetry collection after analyzing the poetic structures of haiku, limericks, sound poems and free verse. After viewing a multimedia demonstration of the poetic structures, and...
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Day of the Dragon King
Second graders explore various cultures to compare them to their own culture. They read Mary Pope Osborne's Day of the Dragon King and identify the Chinese New Year, Chinese Zodiac, and how the zodiac differs from ours. After reading,...
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Writing a Book Review
Students examine the different formats book reviews can be presented. As a class, they brainstorm what they already know about writing a book review adding to a concept web. They write their own review using the tips giving to them and...
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Teaching About Peace Through the Cranes of Hiroshima
Students listen to the story of "Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes." They discuss the events of Hiroshima, effects of the bombing, and methods people can make a difference in achieving peace in the world. Students use orgami paper and...
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Build-A-Horseshoe Crab
Students discover many facts about horseshoe crabs. Students identify the main body parts of horseshoe crab. They explore the habits of the horseshoe crab and their importances to the ecosystem. Adaptations for younger students are...
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War Stories
Students watch the film "The Perilous Fight: America's World War II in Color". Using the film, they work together to develop proper interview questions to use while talking to World War II veterns. After the interview, they research...
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House Floor Plans
Sixth graders investigate the mathematical concept of area. They are given a certain square footage and asked to draw the initial floorplan for a house. Students use computers to create the plan. To finish the drawing it must include the...
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Case of the Missing Cookies
Students imagine they are a detective who has been asked to solve the theft of cookies from a jar in the student cafeteria. Students practice using the steps of the scientific method to solve the crime. Finally, students write a detailed...
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Toothpick Bridge Design
Eighth graders are introduced to what makes a strong, sound structure. They explore about the truss structure, the importance of the strength of the triangle and the distribution of forces along the truss. Students work in teams to...
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Qu'est-ce Que C'est? Foreign Phrases
Eighth graders develop their reading comprehension skills by reading foriegn phrases. They also use the foreign phrases to develop their writing skills.
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Literature Response for Home-School Connections:
First graders explore learning skills that can be practiced at home in the ten lessons of this unit. Oral reading, letter formation, fairy tale identification, and phonic awareness exercises are provided in this unit.
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Is It The Flu? What Do I Do?
Students use the internet to research the flu. Using various websites, they identify who should get flu shots, how to protect themselves and guidelines for getting over the flu. They write a one page report on their findings to end the...
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China CultureQuest
Pupils use the internet and other tools to examine the culture of China. In groups, they brainstorm a list of topics they want to know more about and practice writing Chinese letters. They create a collage to show the class what...
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Rebuild Your Community
Students explore the concept of rebuilding a community after a disaster. In this rebuilding after a disaster instructional activity, students discuss the role of government in rebuilding a community. Students discuss financial issues...
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Resilient Poetry
Students read The Seven Resiliencies, a Maya Angelou poem, and complete writing activities to analyze the concept of resiliency. In this poetry lesson plan, students group in a circle to read the resiliency handout and discuss the text....
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Propaganda in the 1900's
Students examine primary sources to discover information about life in the 20th century. In this propaganda lesson, students analyze posters from the time period and present their findings to their classmates.
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Cold War Battle Grounds Arms Race, Space Race, Sports
Students explore the Space Race and Arms Race. In this Cold War lesson, students watch video clips and read information about how the Cold War was fought. Students complete a writing activity based on the information presented.
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Swimming with Crabs
Students explore Earth science by completing several graphic organizer activities in class. In this oceanography lesson, students research ocean inhabitants such as blue crab and oysters. Students complete graphic organizers about the...
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Map Studies
Middle schoolers analyze maps of Europe, and research and discuss current wars in Europe, and compare them to World War I and World War II.
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Finding Their New World
First graders place stickers on maps indicating their understanding of the cardinal directions. They locate Jamestown, England, the Atlantic, and Virginia.
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Following Multi-Step Directions
Fourth graders demonstrate reading and following multi-step directions. They discuss the importance of following directions when assembling something or when following map directions, then independently read through a list of...
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The Star Spangled Banner
Fourth graders investigate the importance of The Star Spangled Banner after listening to a teacher explanation of how Francis Scott Key wrote the song. They talk about the battle during the War of 1812 that led to the writing of the...
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Similes, Metaphors, and Personification
Eighth graders explore figurative language, specifically focusing on similes, metaphors and personification. They work on the web to identify poems that demonstrate simile, metaphor, and personification, then analyze how it enhances...
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An Encyclo-ME-dia for Every Child
Learners create a digital scrapbook that shows information-text and pictures that are specific to each child. They make charts and graphs. They use digital cameras, scanners, software, to write captions, stories, poems, letters, and...