How is the wind up there? The class builds a topography model using materials available in the classroom, then place wind flags in different locations on the landscape. Using a fan as a wind source, pupils collect data about how wind...

Pupils take a mid-unit assessment, completing a point of view graphic organizer based on an informational article about offshore drilling. Next, learners answer text-dependent and short-answer questions about the text.

Fifth graders investigate the origins of foods they eat while they consider social justice issues. In this food sources lesson, 5th graders play a game and then research food distribution, food security, and hunger in the world today....

Eighth graders compare two visual works of art about John Brown. They read a text or listen to an interview, and identify information about him. They debate their opinions using evidence in written and visual texts. They research other...

Eighth graders take a closer look at the life of Union soldiers. In this American Civil War lesson, 8th graders read and analyze a series of letters from Lt. John Hadley to his fiancée. Students chart their findings from the letters on...

Students investigate the effects of war on soldiers. In this World War I lesson, students link to the provided Web link to locate primary sources about American soldiers during the war. Students write historical narratives based on their...

In this primary source analysis worksheet, students examine Native American history to complete the graphic organizer about gender roles in Native American societies.

Eighth graders interpret historical evidence presented in primary resources. In this Civil War lesson, students analyze photographs taken by Mathew Brady.

In this word recognition lesson, students use a karaoke program to read and sing songs, enhancing their sight word recognition. Students preform these songs to each other. This could also be a fun way to introduce new...

Eleventh graders compare and contrast the visions of abolitionists and proponents of slavery. For this slavery lesson, 11th graders read primary documents representing both sides of the slavery issue and use graphic organizers to analyze...

Seventh graders complete a unit of lessons on the Westward expansion of the U.S. They play the computer game, Oregon Trail III, read primary source documents, conduct Internet research, write diary entries from the pioneer viewpoint, and...

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.

Young scholars, in groups, conduct Internet research on various renewable energy sources. The groups create several multimedia slides for inclusion in a class presentation. Topics covered include solar, nuclear, and geothermal power.

Young scholars participate in a variety of reading exercises, such as choral reading and reading response journal, to reinforce concepts about space and nocturnal animals.

Students create story webs to aid comprehension of ecosystems. In this reading strategies lesson, students discover the importance of organizing information while reading a nonfiction text. Students produce story webs to communicate...

Middle schoolers engage in a lesson which reminds them that root words indicate the base meaning of a word, and that those roots are found in many different words that have similar meanings. Pairs of pupils use construction paper and...

How did the founding of the American colonies lead to a revolution? Use the essential question and sample activities to guide learners through a series of history lessons. Additionally, the packet includes effective strategies to...

The Grapes of Wrath may be the most famous novel set during the Dust Bowl, but what other stories cover the same time? The unit focuses on the Karen Hesse novel Out of the Dust. Learners keep a timeline of the Dust Bowl, maintain a...

Gulliver's Travels tells the story of a man who goes on voyages and encounters strange people. A unit plan introduces readers to the classic text, as well as excerpts from other examples of sarcasm and satire, such as "A Modest...

Use Nathanial Hawthorne's immortal text on the influence of religion on the early American settlements, as well as its continued impact on American culture, with a unit that focuses on The Scarlet Letter. In addition to Hawthorne's...

Biodiversity is essential for every habitat, but many species are at risk due to pollution and other factors. Explore several different species native to Illinois in a gallery walk with posters that learners have created after research...

Students determine the difference between major and minor details after researching animals and completing graphic organizers. They write descriptive paragraphs for classmates to guess what animal is being described.

Miss Frizzle's class provides the inspiration for your young learners! Read "The Magic School Bus Explores Outer Space," and discuss the solar system. First learners will complete a KWL chart about a planet they're assigned to. Then, as...

Students explore water as a feature of culture. In this visual arts lesson, students consider the necessity of water in every culture. Students select water symbols and use their artistic skills to create water symbol silhouettes.