Curated OER
A VIP - Present Perfect Simple and Continuous
Here is an interesting way to teach the present perfect and present perfect continuous. Individuals practice these verb tenses as well as the simple past by asking a partner questions about an imaginary biography. The biography...
Curated OER
Don't Flick Your Bic!
Students research the ban on lighters and how it is being enforced and interview community members who smoke, especially travelers who have or might be stopped for carrying lighters. Students then write an opinion piece about the situation.
Curated OER
Conversation Lesson: Internet Craze
Learning to support your opinions, debate, build arguments, and effectively respect another's point of view are vital skills. Learners work through a series of topics to practice discussion engagement and verbal communication.
Curated OER
American Revolution Simulation: Colonial History, Drama
Middle schoolers explain why the American colonies declared the independence, students should relate to that which is held most dearly i.e. life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. They participate in a drama that illustrates this.
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Polished Poetry: Strange Zoo
Fourth graders use an online word list editor and software to create opening lines for a poem. They select and edit these into a complete, polished poem about an animal. They investigate parts of speech and alliteration.
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Targeting Young Speeders
Students research the police ticketing of teens in their city or county. They determine if the police are targeting teens and why. Students explore other ways the community tries to ensure safer teen drivers. They survey teens in school....
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What Is Legal With Music On The Web?
Young scholars research what is legal now as far as downloading music from the Internet. They also gather information now that some citizens have been charged with crimes. The research allows students to form informed opinions that are...
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The Candy Thief
High schoolers research crimes and corresponding punishments of students. They interview local judges to see if they try to match the punishment with the crime. High schoolers write an analysis article about crimes and their punishments...
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Towing Cars -- Legally and Not So Legally
Learners discuss the issue of having cars towed in a small community when they should not be. After watching a local news story on the issue, they work together to conduct three full days of research. They write an article to be...
Curated OER
Citizens Hold Their Breath in Smoke-free Cities
Students investigate the laws covering smoking in public places in their community and find out if city council or other governing bodies have considered changing these laws. Students conduct interviews and write an article explaining...
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Same-Sex Schools Gain Ground
Young scholars examine the issue of having same-sex classes. Using the internet, they research how this program is working around the country. They interview local education experts and determine how they view the issue. They include an...
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Pet Food Safety A Con
Students use the internet to research pet food safety laws. In groups, they examine what happened during the pet food recall earlier this year and what is being done to improve the situation. They write a news feature story including...
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Telling Our Stories of Giving - Writing to Persuade
After identifying the parts of a persuasive piece of writing, young writers explore different prewriting activities for the persuasive essay. They have the option to write a news article, personal narrative, or persuasive essay to...
Pennsylvania Department of Education
Informational Writing
Emerging writers identify an informational piece of writing. They are provided with examples of informational writing and view a PowerPoint on narrative writing. Then, they design their own informational writing with a brochure,...
National First Ladies' Library
Blunders on All Sides: The Battle of Bunker Hill
High schoolers investigate the concepts surrounding the historical battle of Bunker Hill while conducting online research using a variety of resources. The information is used in order to create a newspaper article telling about the...
Curated OER
School Newspaper
Fifth graders run a school newspaper on a school website and discover how to use various literary forms as they relate to the writing process. For this school newspaper lesson, 5th graders synthesize information from different sources,...
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Active Voice
Students identify the qualities that contribute to effective verbal and non-verbal communication. They use those qualities as criteria by which to judge an in-class political debate on education.
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What is Framing?
Students practice framing issues. In this writing skills instructional activity, students participate in a classroom activity that requires them to look at specific topical issues by framing them. Students then create collages on current...
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Newspaper Lesson Plan
Young scholars create a newspaper in order to examine the process and impact of political revolutions. In this newspaper lesson, student analyze the impact of selected revolutions while discussing the language style of each newspaper....
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September 11 Lesson Plans
By interviewing family members about 9/11, students can provide material for deep and meaningful discussions.
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Has Peace Finally Settled in the Middle East?
Students evaluate the changes made in the Palestine National Council charter and their potential impact on the future of Israeli-Palestinian relations. They write a brief essay focusing on an article from an Israeli or Palestinian...
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Collars, Curtains and Kings: Exploring the History of Lace
Students design to explore the world of objects as related to lace. Students will create a lace mural highlighting what they learn about the world of lace. Students brainstorm ideas via the internet websites.
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The People's Design Award
Young scholars analyze, critique, and evaluate information from various sources and learn about the design process. In this design activity, students critique work submitted to People's Design Award and create a design of their own to...
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A New Look at Romeo and Juliet
Students explore life and language development in the Elizabethan Age. In this English instructional activity students complete web-quests and other activities surrounding Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.