Sixth graders work in small groups to organize a wagon train for a trek westward. They determine leadership responsibilities and rules needed to make a successful trek.

Students appreciate the natural environment.  In this "four L's" lesson, students  observe, reflect and appreciate unique ecosystems and how they help sustain life.  Students create posters with the four L's.

In this United States government worksheet, students learn about the 3 branches of the government: Executive, Judicial, and Legislative. They then answer 10 questions about what they learned. The answers are on the last page of the packet.

Students cast animal tracks on a field trip. They split up to capture tracks from different areas and use plaster of Paris to mold to the footprint. They bring casts back to class, create a negative mold and paint it black.

Students analyze the environmental impact of pollution. They demonstrate an understanding of law, punishment and enforcement. Applying their knowledge, they create their own anti-pollution laws.

Students discuss the war in Iraq, Adam Michnik's essay "We, the Traitors," and the notion that we bear a collective responsibility to rise up against oppression, within a modern geo-political context. They each write a research report on...

Sixth graders listen to "Sixteen Tons" by Tennessee Ernie Ford and discuss what it means to owe one's soul to a store. In this mathematics lesson plan, 6th graders determine what a miner's income was minus his expenses graphing findings...

Students focus on the First and Ninth Amendments of the Bill of Rights. Before visiting a museum, they examine the Americans with Disabilities Act. During the visit, they work together with a museum member to watch a video and get...

In this citizenship and government laws learning exercise, students identify what the United States government provides for its citizens, the foundations of that government, the principles of the Constitution, any amendments to the...

Students examine the role of lobbyists in Washington, D.C.  In this Legislative Branch lesson, students watch video segments and read excerpts about lobbying. Students write essays that explore the pros and cons of lobbying.

Fourth graders take an unannounced test (failure is expected) and the top scores are rewarded with candy bars. They compare this test to the literacy tests given before 1960 and votes to candybars. They journal their responses.

Students discover ways to surf the Internet while being kept safe from other web dangers.  In this web surfing lesson, students utilize several different web programs such as imbee.com, Disney's Surfswell, and Netsmartz, which allow...

Young scholars exercise their creativity by designing an original quilt and a written explanation of its meaning. They use primary sources to develop an understanding of Underground Railroad routes through Indiana.

Twelfth graders review facts about roles of Asia and Japan in World War II, read When My Name Was Keoko to familiarize themselves with daily life and historic events during World War II in Korea, and participate in student-led...

Eighth graders locate the major land forms and bodies of water on a map of Louisiana. In groups, they discuss the role of the Mississippi River in the Battle of New Orleans and how land and water affect the outcome of battles. To end...

Students identify and discuss First Amendment rights, examine how to make sound legal judgements regarding photographs of private individuals, examine difference between public and private figures as far as libel law is concerned,...

Students explore the role of bureaucracy in United States government; they then examine the history, leadership, organization, and goals of executive agencies.

Students discover what are the components of soil. They examine how it is formed and it's importance. They engage in garden activities and processes. They hold a handful of garden soil and describe what they see. They take a...

Learners explore the Westward Expansion Movement of U.S. history. In this Westward movement lesson, students use primary and secondary source documents research personal accounts of those who travelled west during the era....

Fourth graders practice responding to a writing prompt and practice proofreading. They write three paragraphs explaining good classroom rules and tell why each of three rules is a good one. Each paragraph should have at least three...

Learners examine the various types of family relationships. In groups, they analyze sibling rivalry, birth order, positive and negative aspects of relationships in general. To end the activity, they complete a short quiz on this...

Pupils get to know each other and feel comfortable speaking and reading with each other in class. They practice asking a variety of questions, learning about the class rules and guidelines as well as goal-setting and assessments.

Fifth graders explain the purpose of the government by examining the Preamble to the Constitution. They identify ways in which the government is preserving those rights today. They discover one of the fundamental principles of...

In this multiplying integers learning exercise, students solve 18 different equations by multiplication. First, they multiply the signed integers by applying the appropriate rules. Then, students multiply the absolute values of each and...