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"Retale" Value: Exploring Plot Similarities in Fiction and Nonfiction Stories
Students explore seven basic story lines and apply these story lines to news articles in the New York Times. They write reports comparing the plot of a news article to novels, plays and movies with which they are familiar.
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Not Just Books
Learners consider uses of a library and explore the collections at the Morgan Library and Museum in New York City, and create proposals for exhibits of various artifacts.
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Another Way of Life
Young scholars read about the 2006 Amish school killings. They explore Amish life, including how loss and tragedy are handled and compare it to how they, themselves, would handle the same situation. They write fictitious dialogues...
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Experimenting with Sound
Students explore physical science by completing a worksheet. In this sound perception lesson, students collaborate in small groups to research sound properties on the Internet and in libraries. Students conduct a listening experiment by...
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The Numbers in Nonfiction
This library media PowerPoint introduces the system of nonfiction call numbers. Each slide includes information on what numbers go with each subject, along with colorful illustrations.
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Let Me Be Your Guide - A Guided Tour of the Dictionary
Fifth graders, in teams, compete arranging vocabulary words into alphabetical order. They complete different worksheet activities to practice locating designated words in a dictionary.
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Model Professionals
Students learn about one scientist's quest to make her field of canopy ecology accessible to a wider audience and to synthesize their knowledge by developing toy figures that could potentially educate children about different scientific...
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Electronic Journals about Latin American Folktales
Students exchange folktales with a key-pal using dialog journal writing. They write out a folktale from their own cultural background and exchange it with students of another. They record their impressions of each other's folktales.
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The Oily "Grail"
Students discover the quest for a balance between oil exploration and a concern for the environment in Alaska. They synthesize their knowledge by debating the current length of the oil-drilling season.
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Lost and Found
Young scholars explore the historical and modern-day significance of archeological artifacts. They research other important archeological discoveries throughout history and write articles based on their research.
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Flying Off the Threatened Species List
Learners research the status of species that have been removed from the Federal Register of endangered and threatened species to help them determine whether or not the American bald eagle should also be removed from the list.
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Vaulting Into Olympic History
Learners explore history of the Olympics. They research and then create an 'Olympics Hall of Fame' for the classroom.
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Is All Fair in War?
Students investigate issues of race in the military by examining current and historic examples.
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Gaining Ground
Pupils explore African-American art by researching, preparing and presenting reports on particular artists. They analyze what they have learned through the lens of modernism.
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Air Conditioning
Students 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 National...
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Speaking of the Speaker
Students deconstruct an obituary and examine the elements and incidents of a person's life that were chosen to memorialize in an obituary. They research a notable American and write and obituary about their life.
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A Monumental Race
Students write about the importance of historical sites and landmarks. They research information about an ancient historical site and create a plan for commemorating this site.
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Peddling Puccini
Students explore the art of the opera. They listen to examples of opera and conduct research to find out more about the opera world. Then they develop advertisements that focus on aspects that might interest young people about opera...