Students read the book Flat Stanley. In this environmental stewardship lesson, students participate in earth-friendly activities based upon the book. This lesson includes ideas such as using recycled paper to make a "paper pal."

Students, in groups, study the different writing systems from 3000 B.C. to 2000 A.D.

Young scholars participate in an intercultural E-mail exchange throughout a semester. They send newsletter to international penpals/keypals.

Students explore the Passageways website. They read to compare and contrast the motivations and accomplishments of two explorers.

Fifth graders discover the Civil War as taught by their peers. In this Civil War instructional activity, 5th graders create their own lesson plans to teach the class about the Civil War. The students are monitored by the teacher but are...

Learners locate the literary devices used in Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech. In this figurative language lesson plan, students first distinguish between similes, metaphors, analogies, personification, etc. Learners...

Students view photographs from the Civil Rights Movement and write an essay from the point of view of someone in the photograph. They artistically represent various aspects of the Movement.

Eighth graders examine pictures & documents relating to the Hayes Plantation (Edenton, NC). They also use various maps of North Carolina to help them analyze how James Cathcart Johnston used, modified and adapted to the physical...

Fourth graders discover the different groups of people who colonized Texas. They research their way of life and create an informative and creative booklet.

Students complete a variety of activities surrounding castle communities and fairy tales. They write a letter to a fairy tale character, write a fairy tale, create a model of a castle, and draw a map of a castle community.

Students explore homes as shelters while they built writing and technology skills. In this homes of yesterday and today lesson, students produce books using digital photography. Students develop vocabulary while researching how homes are...

Second graders, after spending several weeks developing skills necessary to become a "Community Development Team," create and build their vision of a community. Consideration is given for needs and wants, food, shelter, safety concerns,...

Students participate in a book drive. In this communities instructional activity, students brainstorm ways of collecting books for donation and design a book drive for children in the community.

Students analyze geographic details. In this research skills lesson, students research maps as well as primary and secondary sources to analyze growth, population, and manufacturing in Altoona, Pennsylvania following World...

Students explain the symbols of Canada and their relevance.  In this Canada instructional activity, students read Oh Canada and exchange pen-pal letters with students in Canada.  Students create a class quilt with Canadian...

Students research how the Orphan Train was an example of philanthropy that was aimed at aiding homeless children. They determine how this philanthropic effort continues now by researching contemporary relief agencies. They participate in...

First graders create a "Focus on Me" book of photographs and narrative passages about themselves. They focus on the traits that make each of them special. They become a VIP for a day in order to share the books.

Students practice using words to describe photographs they have taken.  In this descriptive writing lesson, students utilize a disposable or digital camera to take 5 pictures of their life after school.  Students create slides...

Research a historic event using textbooks, primary source documents, the Internet, and other library and media resources. Young historians will take the research they have gathered and write an attention-grabbing, historically accurate...

Students read a fiction and nonfiction accounts about different types of disasters. The class uses iChat AV and iSight camera to interview students in a different part of the country about natural or manmade disasters in their area....

Students explore varied aspects of the design process and learn that most products are designed to reach the worlds wealthiest 10%. In this activity, students work in groups to learn ways in which designers are attempting to rectify this...

Students construct and maintain a school garden. In this gardening instructional activity, students plan the construction of the garden by writing letters to local businesses asking for supplies and materials; students build the garden...

Learners, through the use of examining video clips and Websites, become familiar with the reasons that the settlers wanted the land, broke treaties, and initiated the Indian Removal Act leading to the Trail of Tears.

Students examine reasons that led people to explore, identify "West" as defined following Revolutionary War, explain importance of finding natural resources, develop time line of dates and events leading up to Lewis and Clark Expedition,...