What do families around the world have in common? Explore this theme through the popular animated film My Neighbor Totoro by Hayao Miyazaki. Over the course of two days, pupils view the film, pausing to discuss their own families and the...

Students are shown the importance of planning events in the context for having a class party. The counselor comes to the class to take a survey of how many students are interested to have a party. The teacher can use this lesson to help...

Students become familiar with the movement of various animals.  In this animal movement instructional activity, students relate their knowledge of animal movements to the music they are moving to.

Students identify the various uses of water. In this water conservation lesson, students read the book, The Drop In My Drink: The Story of Water On Our Planet and write down their favorite uses of water. Students illustrate how they can...

Young scholars explore marketing techniques. In this media awareness lesson, students watch instructor-selected advertising and identify the marketing techniques used in each of them. Young scholars then create advertisements for products.

Learners perform square dancing steps. In this square dancing instructional activity, students view a video to learn the basic steps.  Learners discuss the history of the dance and perform with partners. 

Young scholars explore the attributes of fables. In this literature instructional activity, students read several fables and identify the moral instructional activity, characterization, and figurative language in each. Young scholars...

Students discover how straight lines and curves function in both art and the science of conservation tillage by building model "hills" and experimenting on them.

Third graders practice creative writing by making a book.  In this book publishing lesson plan, 3rd graders investigate the steps needed to publish anything by researching the Internet.  Students collaborate on a list of 5...

Students create a character map of the main characters in The Tale of Despereaux. After reading the text, students create a character chart based on information they gleaned from the story. They use this information to write a letter...

Sixth graders study the Olmec civilization. They develop a map of Mexico and a map of the area of the Olmec civilization. They research Olmec art, religion, and architecture. They construct Olmec symbols including giant heads, altars,...

Young scholars study and perform Aesop's fables. For this Aesop's fables lesson, students read and/or listen to a number of the famous fables. They make masks based on the characters and perform a fable using the masks. They write about...

Students discuss dance elements and create a dance map. They choose a dance theme and incorporate movement into their dance maps and choreography. They also experiment with different types of music.

Students learn about the life of Helen Keller. In this cultural and disability awareness instructional activity, students read a biography about Helen Keller and discuss the differences in her life and theirs. Students discuss which...

Students analyze the elements of poetry and jazz. In this critical thinking skills lesson, students take a closer look at the rhyme, rhythm, alliteration, form, free verse, lyricism, and imagery that exist is jazz as well as poetry. 

Students create a body portraits to depict their favorite things. In this self-expression lesson, students use drawings, paintings, and magazine clippings to fill in their life-size body portraits with pictures representing their...

Sixth graders explore Lewis and Clark's expeditions. In this Lewis and Clark lesson, 6th graders view the routes they took and discuss how the territory has changed. Students make a timeline of their journey. Students research online for...

Fourth graders, after exploring and researching the state of Indiana, create a travel guide about the state of Indiana including its capital, major rivers, governors and two famous people from the state. They utilize a variety of art...

Young scholars create and perform original band compositions using their own band instruments. This two day lesson requires student compositions to be done at home. Students evaluate performances using a checklist for composing...

Young scholars create "cowboy ballads" in this interactive, multi-day instructional activity. The cowboy is researched using various sources and class discussions. Students evaluate individual work at the end of the instructional...

Middle schoolers examine the variety of elements for a written play and create a playbill. They read about and define literary elements on a worksheet, and participate in a dramatic reading. Each student then creates and publishes a...

Students discuss as a class the many different careers and their positive and negative attributes. They create a tri-fold flyer which highlights positive aspects of the career in an artistic and visually interesting way. They highlight...

Students create a three-five minute presentation that visually illustrates major aspects of the their lives. Using Movie Works software as a base, they integrate video, photography, artwork, graphic elements, and sound to produce the...

Do pupils know that the Vietnam War spanned a period of 30 years? A war that long is bound to leave devastating effects. Help young historians develop a comprehensive understanding of the war through multiple units on the subject that...