California Academy of Science
Colorful Fish Adaptations
I love lessons that incorporate the arts, they're so engaging and address a more diverse set of learners. Your class will investigate the reasons fish from the coal reef have adapted such colorful fins. They design a fish that uses color...
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Concise Directions: Pictures in School
Learners practice giving directions. In this descriptive writing activity, students create maps and other visual aids that provide sets of directions for learners to get from one location of their school building to another.
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Focus on the Art of Photography with Photography Lesson Plans
Students explore the world around them through the lens of a camera with these photography lesson plans.
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Music and Art of the Harlem Renaissance
The music of the Harlem Renaissance can provide a way for students to learn about musicians like Dizzy Gillespie and Louis Armstrong.
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Adapting Narratives for Skits to Teach Language Through Drama
Students in a Spanish foreign language class are giving topics to develop a skit to preform in front of the class. As a class, they are introduced to new vocabulary and the concept of paraphrasing. After performing their skit, they...
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A Fine, Fine Reader
Students practice reading more fluently by giving them experience reading various character parts in a story and expressing the attitude of their character. They interact with the book, "A Fine, Fine School," by Sharon Creech as well as...
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What Do You Think About . . .?
In this recognizing opinions learning exercise, students write sentences giving opinions, asking for opinions, agreeing, and disagreeing. Students write fifteen sentences.
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Franklin Says "I Love You" Lesson Plan
Students listen to the story Franklin Says I Love You by Paulette Bourgeois in order to discuss the meaning of the story and to focus on the concepts of love, kindness, and giving. In this lesson on manners, students discuss Franklin's...
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Origin of the Purple Heart
Students research the origin of the Purple Heart. In this writing lesson plan students research personal stories of friends or family who have received the Purple Heart. Students then design their own armed forces award complete...
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As a Bird Flies or as a Submarine Dives...
In this geography activity, students look critically at a map containing a variety of different directions. Students answer 2 short answer questions regarding giving someone the best directions from point A to point B.
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Guided Reading: Chicken Sunday
Students write about giving a gift. In this writing lesson students read the book Chicken Sunday by Patricia Polacco. Students read silently and discuss the story with their classmates. Students write about wanting to buy a gift for...
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Heroism in English Myth
Students read the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. They investigate how present-day definitions of heroism have been influenced by cultural heritage and identify philanthropy themes intrinsic in their reading.
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We Are the Guardians of the Earth
Students understand their responsibility to the world. In this religion, philanthropy lesson, students research the life of Aaron Feuerstein and his views of the responsibility of a person to his world. Students complete several worksheets.
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Analytical Essay
What is an analytical essay? Introduce this type of thinking to your young writers. First, discuss what it means to analyze something. Then, identify the different components of an essay and what details are embedded in each component....
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Great Robert Frost Poems: Fun Trivia Quiz
This 10-question quiz tests familiarity with several Robert Frost poems. Before giving this quiz, you will want to review the questions to be sure you've covered each of the poems.
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Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird: Fun Trivia Quiz
You could use this Fun Trivia Quiz to get ideas for making your own assessment on To Kill a Mockingbird, but because anyone can make these online quizzes, I do not recommend giving it as a class assignment without a thorough review of...
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Great Expectations: Fun Trivia Quiz
Test your learners' knowledge of the characters in and basic plot of Great Expectations with this quiz. This quiz is online and provides immediate feedback. You'll need to look closely at the content before giving it to your class;...
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What is Poetry and Where Can You Find It?
Students examine different types of poetry in music, commercials and printed works. They identify themes of philanthropy in poetry as well. They finally share their findings with the class.
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Newspaper Stories
Students examine the structure of the newspaper. In this newspaper lesson plan, students look at the different types of articles about giving, sharing, and acts for the common good. They realize the types of voice that are used in the...
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Traveling on the Orphan Train
Middle schoolers explore the components and meaning of philanthropy. In this community awareness lesson, students are able to identify and research agencies and organizations that provide services to children in need, compare and...
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Opening our hearts and hands to others
Students study the act of charity in Judaism. In this charity lesson plan, students read about the act of giving in the Jewish culture called tzedakah, and give gifts to others.
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Painting Pictures with Poetry
Young scholars develop their own smilies and metaphors. They examine writing of the Poet Laureate. They identify philanthropy in quotations of others.
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"So, What Do You Think?"
Take a stand! Even the most reluctant speakers find their voices if the topics are engaging. Use pictures, photos, or word prompts (I think pizza is the best lunch on the school menu. What do you think?) to stir responses. Encourage...
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Giving and Taking Directions (Middle School)
Middle schoolers describe the difference between a declarative sentence and a command. They complete a diagram verbs, prepositions and numbers. They follow directions on a map and create directions of their own to another location.