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Civil Rights and the Michigan Supreme Court II
Young scholars view a PowerPoint presentation on the Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society's Civil Rights and/or the Native American Rights. They write a reaction paper and prepare for a class discussion. They work in groups and...
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Wsshington Monuments Projects
Eighth graders choose a landmark or monument to investigate (individually or with a partner). After agreeing on items to study they research the landmark/monument and prepare a presentation.
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A Festival Day In Ancient Greece
Sixth graders present a Greek festival. In this Greek festival instructional activity, 6th graders experience many facets of an ancient Greek festival. Students in sixth grade present the Greek festival to second grade students.
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Poetry Describing Ordinary Life
Students examine the cultural and historical context which a poem is written in or describes. For this poetry lesson, students listen to an online recording of Philip Larkin reading "The Whitsun Wedding." Students explore how the poem...
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Is It an Authentic Gutenberg Bible?
Sixth graders conduct Internet research to determine what makes Gutenberg Bible authentic, view Ransom Center's digitized version of Gutenberg Bible, and create Powerpoint presentation supporting research findings.
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Dinosaurs
Students research and identify the characteristics of a variety of dinosaurs. They participate in a class discussion about dinosaurs, analyze and examine fossils, and conduct research using a variety of sources to write and present a...
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Birthday Party
Students help plan a party for Q-Bear and think about some of the different ways people celebrate their birthdays. They then demonstrate knowledge and understanding of customs and traditions associated with participation in cultural...
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Comic Book Project
Students write a fictional story into a comic book format. In this creative writing lesson, students analyze example comics and discuss the format. Students create a comic book using imaginary characters that find a solution to a problem.
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The "Big Four" of the Michigan Supreme Court
Young scholars identify the justices on the Michigan Supreme Court known as the "Big Four". They relate to them by researching their lives. They participate in an activity in which they practice their investigation and presentation skills.
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Sectionalism, Popular Sovereignty and Secession
Students read and discuss background material on several key decisions that played a role in the Civil War including the Missouri Compromise, the Kansas-Nebraska Act and the Dredd Scott Decision. They create a timeline and write an essay.
Read Works
Retelling A Life
Use comic strip format to help organize and sequence events in a story. The lesson here focuses on The Story of Jackie Robinson: Bravest Man in Baseball; however, this strategy could be used for summarizing any text. Pupils must choose...
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All About Me
Young scholars explore autobiographical stories. They write about a personal experience that is significant and memorable. Students specifically explain the chosen events. They define autobiography and share their stories.
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Steps to Freedom
Students complete discussion and reading comprehension activities for the novel Almost to Freedom by Vaunda Micheax Nelson. In this African American history instructional activity, students discuss the Underground Railroad and complete a...
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Holidays in Kansas
Students identify holidays celebrated by different cultures in Kansas and create a timeline of when they started to be celebrated. In this Kansas holidays lesson plan, students create a timeline wall in their class for each holiday.
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Taxation Without Representation
Eighth graders empathize with how colonists felt when they were taxed without representation. They use a metaphor of students and a school principal to describe the strained relationship that developed between the colonies and Britain.
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Dynastic Explorations
Students complete a unit of lessons on medieval Chinese dynasties. They examine the impact the Chinese culture has had on their own lives, label maps, conduct research, read stories, create bamboo stick sentences, write poems, and make...
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Who's Inside the Mitten?
Students read "The Mitten", by Jan Brett. They discuss vocabulary presented in the story and sequence significant plot events. They make masks to represent several of the characters and act out the story.
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Say It with Meaning: Applying Sayings and Phrases
Students complete a unit of lessons on well known sayings and phrases. They create a journal, write paragraphs, sequence events, and analyze key vocabulary for various sayings and phrases throughout the school year.
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The Secret School
Fourth graders read THe Secret School. In this language arts lesson, 4th graders make predictions prior to reading and discussing the story. Students write a summary of the chapter.
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Evacuating a Volcano: A Simulation
Students explore hazards associated with cataclysmic natural events, and human responses to them by creating emergency plans.
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Neighborhood Rubrics
Students use a rubric to analyze their neighborhood and write a persuasive essay about changes that should be made. In this writing lesson plan, students use a rubric to grade their neighborhood and brainstorm improvements. Students...
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Character Education-Honesty
First graders learn the importance of honesty as they practice problem solving, listening, and sequencing skills. The lesson uses the story, " Too Many Tamales."
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Predictable Powers
Students use prior knowledge, the title, cover, and illustrations to make predictions about a story. They record their predictions on a Story Impression Worksheet, listen to the story, and check their predictions.
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Take the Last Train to Clarksville: Arkansas's Historic Depots and Railroad History
Young scholars study the history of railroads and depots in Arkansas using websites and memoirs. They complete activities that explain how and why the railroads were built, and the different ways people used them.