Michigan State University
Interviewing
Do you have pests at your school? Find out through a series of interviews with school personnel. Scholars visit a variety of knowledgable individuals to ask them questions, record their answers, and present their findings to their...
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Parent's Choice
Students evaluate Web sites offering services, programs and supplies for Students. They write Web guides, directing parents and guardians to useful information, and write letters to companies offering recommendations for improving sites.
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Welcome Home
Students explore, examine and study about the war in Iraq and consider the problems and concerns faced by injured veterans coming home. They then create questions and conduct interviews with veterans in order to develop proposals for...
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What's In Store for Four More
Young scholars examine issues that they consider to be priorities and how President Bush might address them in his next term. They create public service announcement scripts motivating citizens to stay involved in these issues beyond the...
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Air Conditioning
Young scholars explore the roles that the United States government agencies play in weather forecasting, climate control, and other climate-related environmental issues. They then write letters to President Bush recommending how a new...
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Love Hurts
Students examine how the love bug virus caused billions of dollars in damage after it spread from Asia. Students create profiles of hackers and design a public service announcement and posters to discourage the creation of such viruses.
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Constellations
Students explore constellations. They read trade books about constellations and write notes including their locations, origins, and names. They research and report on one constellation in the Northern Hemisphere and share their report...
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An Investigation of Primary and Secondary Sources Using The Records on Mary McLeod Bethune
Students listen to a summary of the life of Mary Bethune. They read or listen to an excerpt from an interview with Mary Bethune. They discuss the differences between the transcript and the draft of the biography.
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The WPA, Zora Neale Hurston, and the Cross City Turpentine Camp
Students read Zora Neale Hurston's essay "Turpentine" and analyze the document using the Document Analysis Worksheet. They determine the author's purpose and point of view and their effects on the text.
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Quilting: The Story of the Underground Railroad
Students explore quilting. They read and discuss the book, Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt. They research African American quilting traditions on the Internet and name three common qualities in quilts. They create a quilt block...
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Tasty Mapping
Young scholars create an edible map. In this civics and geography instructional activity, students research their town's features and local government. Young scholars work in groups to design and create a physical map of their town based...
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Empathy and the Vietnam War
Students explore the implications of the draft during the Vietnam War. For this Vietnam lesson, students analyze the lyrics of songs that explore differents opinions of the Vietnam draft. Students particpate in a role-play activity...
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Treaties
Students explore Canadian maps. For this map skills and Canadian history lesson, students locate reserves that originated from treaties made while establishing the Saskatchewan First Nation reserve communities. Students research these...
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Long-Term Goals
Students set long-term and short-term goals. In this character education lesson plan, students determine whether goals that they write for themselves are long-term or short-term.
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Migration
Students read sections from the Migration Issue Brief concerning why migration happens and the economic and cultural effects of migration. They study about the immigrant population in their own community.
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Bigger Than Life
Eighth graders explore the life of Jackie Robinson. In this American History lesson, students examine different examples of courage. Students read an article about Jackie Robinson.
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Bringing Tolerance to Our Beaches
Young scholars relate tolerance and discrimination within a Biblical context. They read "The Sneetches" and apply it to situations occuring now. They write a letter to Congresss speaking out against discrimination.
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Unconditional Kindness
Students express their feelings about their neighbors and how to be kind to others. Teacher and students discuss the meaning of philanthropy and how they can be kind to others. After reading a particular trade book, students are assessed...
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Stories of Students Who Took Action: Human Rights
Students read stories of young human rights advocates and discuss examples where young people made a difference. They consider local problems, relate them to human rights principles and role-play possible solutions.
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Crossword: Simple Machines
In this simple machine worksheet, students read the simple machine definitions and then complete the crossword puzzle for the simple machine terms.
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Magical Musical Tour: Using Music Lyrics to Teach Literary Elements
While music lyrics are often used to teach literary elements, the richness of this resource comes from the wealth of exercises, activities, and support materials provided in the packet. Although designed for gifted learners, the...
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A Test of Faith
Secondary schoolers investigate the debate surrounding the current sexual abuse crisis in the Catholic Church with this New York Times lesson. Through discussions and written reflection, they explore their own thoughts and opinions on...
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Word Up!
Study the importance of word choice in informational text. Middle and high schoolers locate unfamiliar words and phrases in newspaper articles of their choosing, and use online word sites to explore the definitions and histories of each....
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Character Tea Party
A tea party in Wonderland? An East Egg brunch with Gatsby, Daisy, Tom, and Nick? Breakfast with Miss Havisham, Lady Macbeth, and Abigail Williams? Or dinner with Andre, Hamlet, and Randle Patrick McMurphy? Class members select a favorite...