Young scholars apply rules to compare and rank the hardness and softness of minerals. They perform a scratch test on four unknown mineral samples, read a bar graph that illustrates the comparative hardness and softness of four named...

Students explore the penguin life cycle. In this penguin life cycle lesson, students read the book The Emperor's Egg by Martin Jenkins. Students look at the pictures and make predictions. Students identify facts about penguins and do...

Young scholars interview a hero. In this heroes instructional activity, students read Number the Stars to begin a discussion about heroes and then create mind maps on each character. Young scholars pick a local hero and interview them...

Fourth graders read a nonfiction story that is presented to them with graphic features, and presented to them with only the text.  In this text features activity, 4th graders decide what the benefits of text organizers are and...

Second graders study the talents and interests that have helped people to "make the world better." They begin by reading a story about 5 individuals who have "made a difference." This webquest extends this exploration by guiding the...

Fourth graders use a Palm eBook Studio text to read about tropical ecosystems. They use a study guide to orient their reading, use software to create a map of a tropical ecosystem and take a quiz.

Students listen to a book being read and answer questions when prompted. They describe a time when they were helpful to others. They explore how they felt when they helped others and name classroom jobs that are important. They discuss...

Students listen to a "Help Wanted" story, paraphrase the story, and discuss vocabulary. After reading the story again, students complete a worksheet replacing the vocabulary words with their own words so that the story makes sense to them.

Junior geologists examine topographic maps online and learn how to read them. they answer seven associated follow-up questions. This lesson plan is only a general outline and does not provide the details or the websites that you...

Students explore the Great Awakening by reading articles and write summaries of them, and then evaluating the perspectives.

Emerging writers read an online story and write their own original story. They read the story Turkey and Turkey and create their own online story using PowerPoint software and clip art. Include time to share completed works! 

Students walk through exposure to material on Great Inventions and Transportation using scaffolding techniques such as: language simplification, pre-reading, graphic organizers, note taking and more.

Students read and analyze information related to the book Island of the Blue Dolphin. They select appropriate information for the purpose of investigating part of the book.

Students research physical science by completing worksheets. In this gravity lesson, students read assigned text regarding the rotation of Earth and the gravitational force caused by the speed of which it rotates. Students complete a...

Second graders explore cause and effect. They read Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. They discuss their own experiences with bad days. Students identify the causes and effects in the book. They write a letter...

Students demonstrate how to take bearings using a compass. In pairs, they select objects in the classroom then write down its first initial and bearing. They exchange papers and try to disciver their partner's object.

Students get to know the characters and events that shaped American folktales through writing, drawing and singing activities. Handouts and worksheets are included.

Students explore the elements of film to analyze character, action, and the themes in the movie, "Quiz Show." The lesson encourages students to make personal connections and real life applications as they view the movie, critically.

Students analyze a technical article about population growth and present possible solutions.

Fourth graders the symbols that are used on weather maps. They develop five day forecasts based on information they gather from weather maps in the newspaper and on the Internet.

In this picture and word associations instructional activity, students view and determine who is portrayed in eight pictures and then answer eight multiple choice questions.

Go West, young man! Scholars investigate the impact of African American settlers moving to the Nebraska territory, following the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act in the mid 1800s. Using primary sources, timelines, maps, and...

Did Western settlers receiving free land from the Homestead Act realize it wasn't really free at all? Scholars investigate the impact Western expansion had on Native American culture in the mid-1800s. They use documents, timelines, and...

How can opinions slant facts? Workshop participants learn how to examine primary and secondary sources and identify the author's point of view. They also examine how visual art impacts the meaning and rhetoric of sources. Full of...