Students discover the life and work of an American author, either Samuel Clemens or Louisa May Alcott. In this study of visual and written portraits lesson, students take a look at the authors through four different sources: a portrait,...

Learners discover various facts about spiders including different species, body parts, and types of webs.  In this insect biology lesson, students begin a K-W-L chart about spiders, are read I Love Spiders by John Parker and Amazing...

Students identify various shells. In this oceanography lesson, students create a KWL chart to activate background knowledge on shells. Students read the book Ocean Day and learn about waves, tides, and the seashells that can...

Students explore the career of beekeeping. In this careers activity, students examine the importance of the beekeeping industry. Students read stories about beekeepers and write comparisons. Students write a report on beekeepers and the...

In this Bangladesh instructional activity, students read about the lives of men and women and the weather in Bangladesh. They then take that information to create a poster. Maps are also provided.

Learners identify different types of sea horses. For this sea horse research lesson, students learn associated vocabulary and listen as the teacher reads Elaine Landau's, Sea Horses A True Book. They visit assigned Internet sites to find...

Students investigate the stages of plant life. Students create a K-W-L chart. They describe six main stages of the plant life cycles. Using stickers, students create a life cycle flow map.

Students complete a KWL chart on Albert Einstein. After they read an article, they discover more about his iconic status and how future scientists view him. In groups, they create trading cards about Einstein and another scientist of...

Fifth graders learn about this history of jazz music. In this musical influences lesson, 5th graders read God Bless the Childand listen to a recording of it. Students create a KWL chart on jazz and early 1900s music and dance. Students...

Students read a story and respond.  In this caring and helping others lesson, students read Arthur's Halloween making predictions as they go.  Students write a report on caring, create a caring journal where they record how...

Students examine the implications of North Korea's nuclear testing. They develop a K-W-L chart, read an article, write questions, conduct research on their self-generated questions, and create an exhibit of their findings.

Students explore concrete poetry. In this lesson about poetry, students read A Poke in the I, by Paul B. Janeczko, and are introduced to concrete poems. Students read several different kinds of concrete poems including single-word, and...

Learners research key people, places, organizations, and nations involved in Iraq's "transition." Then they present their research in a lesson format to fellow classmates at a teach-in.

Students create a picture of a train. In this train lesson, students read Freight Trainand discuss the trains that they see. Students discuss what it would feel like to be a train and play a game where they pretend to be a train. They...

Students take a "trip" to Africa. In this Africa lesson plan, students watch a National Geographic video on animals from Africa. They pick an animal to research, create a poster about, and make a field guide. 

Students read about weather and create a computer log about weather.  For this Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs lesson, students listen to the story and discuss different weather patterns.  Students develop a list of weather...

Students learn the characteristics of the rainforest.  In this rainforest activity, students read stories about the rainforest and discuss them.  Students work in groups to brainstorm all the facts they know about the...

Students explore the concept of Imperialism. In this foreign policy lesson, students examine the policies of the US and other countries through time. Students then create a political cartoon of their own and create a timeline that...

Students discuss an ecosystem. For this coral reef lesson, students fill in their own KWL chart and contribute ideas to a whole class KWL chart. They read an article as a class to spark ideas for facts they can add to the "K" part of the...

Students analyze the 2008 presidential primaries by reading and discussing the New York Times Upfront article "Primary Matters." They complete a KWL chart, complete a handout, read the article and answer comprehension questions, and...

Sixth graders explore different climates. For this compare and contrast lesson, 6th graders look at the differences in climates of America and Europe. Students use KWL charts and graphic organizers to record information about different...

Students examine the food pyramid. In this health/math lesson students make biscuits. Students are assigned a group to measure out ingredients. Students also discuss which part of the food pyramid biscuits fall into and the nutritional...

Third graders explore the Mexican sauce Mole and the culture of Mexico.  In this Mexican culture instructional activity, 3rd graders find Mexico on the map and access prior knowledge about the country.  Students discuss Mexican...

Students explain the importance of having Marine Protected Areas. In this ecology lesson plan, students research MPA's in any of the Great Lakes. They play a MPA simulation game and identify MPA's on the map.