Lesson Plan
Public Media for Northern California

An Educator’s Guide to Teaching Gun Control Issues | The Lowdown

For Teachers 6th - 10th
The topic of gun control is vast, controversial, and difficult to introduce to young scholars. This gem of a resource covers both sides of the issue and provides topic background, various multimedia and print resources, analysis...
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Alicia Keys, Songs in A Minor

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students watch a video about Alicia Keys and discuss the business side of her career. Groups role-play producers for her new album taking on the responsibility for all aspects, including budgets, contracts, song production, and advertising.
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Show Me the Money

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars investigate the history of paper currency in the United States and consider anti-counterfeit strategies that are used by making their own paper.
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Indian PowWow

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students identify three different American Indian regions and tribes, their food, clothing, shelter, recreation, and transportation. Students create artifacts that can be placed in a museum. Students sing songs, chants, and dance. ...
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Texas in the Mirror

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students research their own and others' perceptions about Texas and become familiar with various symbols from other cultures. In this Texas in the Mirror lesson plan, students write a web page with a picture of a Texan symbol. Students...
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Employee Payroll Simulation

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students simulate creating and calculating employees payrolls using hourly wages, deductions, and proper taxes.
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Working on the Railroad

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars plan a trip on the railroad.  In this railroad creation and implementation lesson, students listen to the song "Working on the Railroad", make a map of where the track was laid and discuss the geographical...
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Traveler's in Time

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students analyze artifacts to become familiar with the Great Migration.  In this migration lesson plan, students read an article and answer comprehension questions. Students role play a migration scenario using an artifact to help...
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Kidding Around In The 1980s

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students examine pop culture of the 1980s.  In this historical time period lesson, students view a Smurfs cartoon from the 1980s and discuss its similarities and differences to cartoons today.  Students work in groups to...
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Talking Rocks

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders explain the difference between Petroglyphs and Pictographs from Ancient Native American peoples. They create symbols that are representative of a story about their world.
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The Kindness Company

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners organize themselves into a simulated company complete with applications, interviews and training. They identify a community need they can fulfill related to cooking or sewing and work to make and deliver the designated product.
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Alfred Hitchcock and David O. Selznick

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers compare/contrast the Hollywood film industry of the 30s and 40s with Hollywood today. They watch a video on David O. Selznick and Alfred Hitchcock, conduct Internet research, and create a poster to present their findings.
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Hawaiian Slide Shows

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students conduct research about Hawaii. They select a specific topic about Hawaii to research, explore various websites, and create a computer slideshow using Claris Works computer software.
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Foreign Language: Travel Brochure

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students research either French or Spanish speaking countries. After compiling information covering the geography, people,government, economy, and culture, they produce travel brochures on their respective countries.
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Giving Human Rights a Human Face

For Teachers 4th - Higher Ed
Students produce a creative expression of an article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. They may also create posters to serve as reminders for creating a human rights environment or community.
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You're a Grand Ol' Flag

For Teachers K - 2nd
Young scholars explore American flag and its symbols, and create an original flag that represents what they see in their own lives.
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Getting to Know You

For Teachers Pre-K
Students participate in tactile and visual exploration. In this tactile and visual exploration lesson, students listen to John Archambault's, Grandmother's Garden, and sing the song, "Friends Are Like Flowers." They participate in ice...
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Treasure Chest

For Teachers 4th - 6th
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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Give Me Liberty

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders investigate the lives and societal contributions of Patrick Henry and Sojourner Truth. They complete a series of lessons that compare and contrast the biographies, historical context and work of these two revolutionaries.
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Hooray For Heroes

For Teachers K - 1st
Students identify and interpret what heroes are by researching various American heroes of the past. Students select several school heroes and interview them, as well as their own personal hero and write a story about them. Students...
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Learning about Maps and Colors

For Teachers 1st
First graders discuss "Harold and the Purple Crayon" and his drawings. In this neighborhood geography lesson, 1st graders learn to detect and classify places on a map including their home. Students recognize their address as a specific...
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Using Words to Work Things Out

For Teachers K
Students recognize a problem and how to resolve it. In this lesson, students listen to The Hating Book and discuss the events of the story. Students answer comprehension questions and relate to their own experiences. Students role play...
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The Treaty Trail: US Indian Treaty Councils in the Northwest

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students research and examine primary sources concerning the Washington Territory. In this Native American removal lesson, students view portrait images created by Gustav Sohon. Students then read several biographies that correspond to...
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Winter Expressions

For Teachers Pre-K - 8th
Students write a winter "shape poem," draw the outline of an object that complements the poem and copy the poem inside the outline in a pattern.