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Winter is All Around Us
Learners present what they have learned on Antartica. Students identify deciduous and evergreen trees and plants; identify and study about the habitats of animals that migrate, hibernate, and adapt; study the Aurora and Aurora Borealis...
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I, Robot by Isaac Asimov
Students contemplate the questions raised by the book/movie I, Robot. For this theoretical physics lesson, students consider the pros and cons as well as the possibility of robots that can think.
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Language Arts: Plotting Stories
Second graders read the story, "The Foolish, Timid Rabbit," as part of a unit on appearances. After reading with partners, they write their own stories that include elements about some forms of matter from their science studies. Students...
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Primate Primer
Students examine the different branches of the primate family tree. They create fact cards about various species of non-human primates and then write fictional skits about interactions among the different primates.
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Sense-itive Issues
Students consider the difficulties of adapting to the loss of different senses. They work in small groups, each developing a fictional superhero who experiences a loss of one of sense and must compensate for it with his or her other senses.
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The United States and the Soviet Union were Engaged in a Cold War
Students work together at figuring out the definition for what cold war means. In this social science lesson, students listen to "The Butter Battle Book" by Dr. Seuss and recognize how this story relates to the cold war between the...
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Treasure Chest
Students explore Chicago in the fur-trading era. In this Chicago lesson, students discover what life what like during this time. Students read an historical fiction story about life in the fur-trade era. Students view replicas of...
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Ramona Quimby, Age 8
Third graders read Beverly Cleary's book "Ramona Quimby, Age 8" and then complete a series of extension activities. Students explore cause and effect, sequencing, related websites, grammar lessons and comparison skills.
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The Heat is On!
Fifth graders investigate evidence for changes in matter that occur during a chemical reaction.
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Counting Crows
Students discuss the fable, The Crow and the Pitcher. For this literature lesson, students read the fable and create a crow sock puppet. Students use their puppets to dramatize the fable.
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Language Arts Exploration
While an interesting lesson idea involving the exploration of a story about an Asian American boy named Imduk, a teacher would need to have assess to the Scott Foresman reading program to make this work. If not, a teacher could use...
Dream of a Nation
Big6 Research Project
Do research projects at your school look like a class of eighth graders staring at a blank screen? Use the Big 6 research method to guide middle schoolers through the process of finding a topic, searching for and evaluating sources,...
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???The Hell of Mirrors??? by Edogawa Rampo
Students read and analyze the story "The Hell of Mirrors," by Edogawa Rampo. They watch a video excerpt, answer discussion questions, construct a periscope, complete handouts, define key vocabulary terms, take a quiz, and write a book...
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Comparing or Contrasting Two Books
Students compare two pieces of literature. In this literary comparisons lesson, students read 2 books that they personally select and then compare and contrast the literary elements of each in a comparative essay.
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Other Worlds
Students explore the variety of 'other worlds' in fiction and their uses in reflecting our own. They explore the role of myth and
legend as the basis for modern story telling. Book extracts are provide for classroom use.
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Identifying Genre and Subgenre #2
In this identifying genre and subgenre #2 worksheet, 9th graders read 17 short summaries, then select the genre and subgenre from the choices given and explain their choice in writing.
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Identifying Genre
In this identifying genre worksheet, 9th graders read the titles and descriptions of 15 stories, identify and write the genre and subgenre from the list provided.
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Population Patterns
Students study patterns of population growth in an ecosystem and why populations must remain in balance. They interpret basic population graphs and suggest scenarios about different population growth patterns in an ecosystem.
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"The Fog Horn" by Ray Bradbury
Learners read Ray Bradbury's "The Fog Horn" and complete reading and vocabulary activities. In this reading and vocabulary lesson, students review the vocabulary for the story and take turns reading the story. Learners discuss the story...
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A Little Mystery and Intrigue in Writing Short Detective Stories
Pupils read and analyze the twelve short stories in the novel "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes." They create their own detective that has to solve a new kind of crime, and write and edit a short story with their original detective as...
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The Giver: A Research Unit
Eighth graders complete a reading of Lois Lowry's, The Giver, and determine a social problem the effects the "utopian society." They research information about the social problem using a number Internet, print, and media resources. They...
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Endangered Species... It's Not Too Late
Students choose an endangered species to research and report on. In this endangered species lesson, students complete a worksheet to gather information about their endangered animal and then use to write a book about the animal and...
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Beautiful Birds
Students explore the traits of birds to uncover information about their eggs, feathers, beaks and other characteristics. The data is probed through a variety of exploration centers.
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It's Just a Barn
Investigate Pennsylvania Barns. Have your class consider the elements common to Pennsylvanian barns and why they are significant to the food production process. They write summaries of Frederick Watts and his impact on agriculture.