Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary
Benjamin Franklin and the Long Struggle for Independence
Students explore U.S. history by reading biographical material in class. In this Benjamin Franklin lesson, students identify the life of Franklin and the events that led him to become one of America's first heroes. Students complete an...
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The Age of Exploration
The Age of Exploration provides a way for students to learn about various topics relating to geography, history, and science.
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The "Write Sport"
Fifth graders discuss the history of sports in Iowa. In this sports lesson plan, 5th graders write a friendly sports letter and a how to directional writing. They write five entries in their journal from the point of view of a piece of...
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American Indian Tribes
Second graders explore two Indian tribes. They explore how tribes lived using natural resources. They compare Eastern Woodland and Plains Indians.
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The Journey of the Magi
Middle schoolers create storyboards. In this pre-Christmas special lesson, students produce a storyboard for a TV version of the poem, "The Journey of the Magi". Options to complete with or without technology are included.
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Values and Beliefs of Manifest Destiny
Fourth graders examine the beliefs of Manifest Destiny and its role in the California Gold Rush. They analyze a painting to gather information about Manifest Destiny.
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Where's the Grass
Students participate in a grassland game. In this grassland lesson, students simulate the impact of grazing animals and invasive weeds on grasslands.
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Black Hawk Island Hike
Students explore Wisconsin's natural and cultural history through hands-on exploration of Upham Woods. They are shown the basic paddling skills and they work in teams to paddle across the river on barge. Students describe cultural...
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Introduction to the Panpipe
Students examine the panpipe and the cultures that use them in their music. They view photos of Peru and Bolivia and discuss their cultures, listen to recordings of music that includes the panpipe, and construct a panpipe using PVC...
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Reporting on WWII in Alaska
Students explain the people and the political, geographic, economic, cultural, social, and environmental events that have shaped the history of the state, the United States, and the world.
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Stories Reveal Character
Young scholars research a person who had a role in the Lewis and Clark expedition. They work together to create and perform a skit showing the person they researched role. They write their own journal entries to end the lesson.
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A Wampanoag Thanksgiving
Students examine how the Wampanoag tribe celebrated Thanksgiving. They discover how they helped the Pilgrims when they first came to the New World. They identify the similarities and differences between people.
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The Role of Fire in Healthy Prairie, Brush and Forest Lands
Students create a Venn diagram to compare and contrast wildfires and prescribed fires. In this earth science lesson, students conduct a series of experiment to explore fire characteristics. They describe favorable conditions to start a...
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Prairie Voices: Abbie Gardner Sharp Cabin
Students study the events of the Spirit Lake Massacre. In this Iowa history lesson, students consider the role of Abbie Gardner in the Spirit Lake Massacre as their instructor presents a lecture.
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We're All The Same on the Inside
Students discuss prejudice around the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. They use brown and white eggs to discover that they are both the same on the inside even though they look different on the outside.
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Abenakis Before Contact: Different Worlds Meet
Students study the lives of the Abenaki before contact with Europeans and how their lives changed after contact with the Europeans.
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Westward Expansion
Eighth graders explore the components of the Westward Movement in the United States. Understanding the past and the linkages it has to the present is the intended goal of this seventeen day unit.
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Invasion of the Habitat Snatchers!
Fourth graders investigate invasive plants found in a park or school environment and acknowledge the problems caused by the plants. They describe 4 methods of control of invasive plants.
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Challenge to Communicate
Students examine the journals from Lewis and Clark and identify how they spoke without using words. They participate in a game in which they use non-verbal communication with each other. They write their own journal entries to complete...
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"Architexture": Exploring Architecture Through Clay Tiles
Young scholars explore and analyze the architecture of San Antonio, Texas. They watch a video about tiles created by Harding Black, and discuss pictures of architecture found in San Antonio, Texas. Students then design a clay tile...
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Bittersweet: Diabetes
Ninth graders examine the disease of diabetes. In this diabetes and health lesson students examine the disease, the people who are most at risk for diabetes, as well as how to best prevent diabetes.
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Burs in Your Furs
Students explore the concept of animal welfare. In this wild animal habitats activity, students discover the work of wild animals in sustaining their habitats as they participate in a classroom simulation. Students discuss how wildlife...
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Fields, Meadows, and Hedgerows: Trees, Bushes, and Plants
In this trees, bushes, and plants worksheet, students gather facts and answer short answer questions about trees, bushes, and plants. Students complete 8 questions total.