Lesson Plan
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Survivors

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders explain their understanding of their strength and how it is helpful in a group situation. They also complete graphic organizers by writing at least four of their own personal strengths. Students write about their...
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Overland Trails To The West

For Teachers 5th
Consider the political, physical, and geographical factors that led to and marked the Westward Expansion. Learners will track the various routes developed during the 1800's. They create a first person journal describing what they see,...
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Magical Maps

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders discuss the importance of using maps and how they are used. After they listen to a folktale, they develop their own story line maps and write their own folktale to accompany a map. They also identify and locate the seven...
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Civil War Diaries

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders examine excerpts from a diary of a Confederate soldier and his experiences in a Union prison camp. After receiving character cards, they write diary entries from the perspectives of their Civil War identity. As an...
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Explaining Factors Causing Conflict and Cooperation

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students discuss what causes conflicts amongst groups especially pertaining to Native American tribes. In this conflicts lesson plan, students have discussion questions that they verbally answer and write in a journal.
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Avoir, Être, et Le Passé Composé

For Teachers 6th - 8th
The lesson begins with direct instruction: how and when do we use avoir and être to form the past tense? After identifying the verbs that use either avoir or être, French learners write about five things they did the week prior. Then, in...
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Inventions

For Teachers 4th - 9th
Students study invention steps and design their own invention. In this invention lesson, students discuss inventions and the process of inventing. Studnets write in an inventor's journal and study various types of inventions....
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A Lesson in Vocabulary with El Bronx Remembered

For Teachers 9th
After reading El Bronx Remembered by Nicholasa Mohr, learners complete a KWL graphic organizer based on vocabulary from the novella. A SMARTboard presentation is a good resource for reviewing the vocabulary, as well as the triple-entry...
Lesson Plan
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Creating a Consumer-Awareness Information Campaign

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Young scholars work across grade levels to research and design a community awareness campaign on the benefits of purchasing fair trade chocolate. They develop print advertisements, conduct research, write letters, make posters and...
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Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet: A Novel

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Jamie Ford’s historical novel, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, explores the relationship between a young Chinese American boy and a Japanese American girl set against the backdrop of Seattle during World War II. The teaching...
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Civil War Letter

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers put themselves in the shoes of American Civil War soldiers. In this Civil War instructional activity, students compose letters to their families from the the perspective of soldiers in the war. 
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Reflective Journaling

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers write to influence positive change. For this service learning lesson, students reflect on their service learning experiences as they journal about sharing their time, talent, and treasures. High schoolers share their...
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Blackout!

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students read news reports and first-person accounts of a blackout in a large city and keep weblogs or journals. They take on different roles of people who live in the city or commute there to work and then use their journal accounts to...
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Bodaciously Beautiful Butterflies Take Flight

For Teachers K - 2nd
Young scholars complete study on butterflies using real caterpillars, keep individual daily journals of observations, and complete timeline for their caterpillar/butterfly.
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Nutrition Plates

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students investigate healthy eating habits by studying the food pyramid.  In this personal health instructional activity, students write a recipe for a healthy meal including one item from each section of the four food groups....
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Taking Care of Me

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students brainstorm on the effects of stress on the body. For this health science lesson, students write journals three times a week about how they feel. They determine strategies to cope with stress.
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Living Thoreau As A Means Of Approaching Walden

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate the essays and life of Thoreau in order to appreciate his point of view and understand his way of thinking. They participate in various activities and writing assignments to gain a similar perspective. Students write...
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A Long Time Ago in the Future

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students read and discuss Canadian young adult literature. They compare/contrast the elements of citizenship, characterization, and themes, write journal responses, and identify the elements that define Canadians.
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Introduction to The Stone Cutter

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Students write journals in response to the beginning of The Stone Cutter.  In this The Stone Cutter lesson, students discuss the opening of the book and the main character.  Students look for connections with architecture in...
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Create Personal Calendars

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders create graphic calendars from printed sources.
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Class Rules (Responsible Personal Conduct)

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students consider the necessity of rules. In this citizenship lesson, students consider the reasons for rules as they are introduced to their classroom rules and procedures.
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The Final Word

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Although this instructional activity is based on “Final Word,” Craig Wilson’s USA Today column, the strategies could be adapted to any local columnist. After reading three articles independently, groups share observations about content...
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It Matters to Me: Iowa quarter reverse

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
What matters to your pupils? What values do they hold dear and how does that shape your classroom community? These are some the questions you'll get your class thinking about when they engage in this lesson from the US Mint. They will...
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Environmentally Friendly

For Teachers 4th - 8th
What can your pupils do to promote better conditions for wildlife? After researching issues around wildlife management, class members use the Internet to locate three different organizations devoted to protecting wildlife. They then...