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Measuring Economic Success
Students are introduced to the Gross Domestic Product and what this number tells us about the economy of the United States. In groups, they discuss what constitutes a healthy society and if the GDP is an accurate representation. They...
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A House for Hermit Crab
Engage young marine biologists in a reading of Eric Carle's A House for Hermit Crab with a fun hands-on activity. Given a set of clipart images of the different aquatic animals that appear in the book, children identify each one...
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The Rise of Railroads: Illinois
Railways not only cross the US, but they are also intertwined with the history of America. Using a timeline format, individuals explore the connections between major events in American history—such as the Civil War—and the rise of the...
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Reading Clues
Critically Evaluating Alarming News students use a guided reading strategy to explore news articles about the Washington-area sniper attacks, and conduct a roundtable discussion to investigate public reaction to the case. October 17, 200
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Minding the Media
Pupils reflect on the fairness of rating movies, television, radio, books, magazines, Web sites and other media. They submit their own entries for a media rating guide.
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Crude Awakenings
Students first discover the tensions that have recently caused the price of crude oil to skyrocket. They explore the ways in which oil prices are determined, investigating both free market and oligopoly conditions.
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Investigation: Peg Race
Learners explore competition by participating in a peg race. In this pattern creation instructional activity, students utilize an egg timer and pegs or colored cubes to create patterns quickly while competing with fellow classmates to...
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On-Line Homework Help: An Ethical Dilemma
Young scholars use a visual thesaurus and Vocabgrabber to interpret a news article. In this vocabulary building and comprehension lesson, students analyze quotes from the article. Young scholars use the visual thesaurus and Vocabgrabber...
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Investigation: Distribution
Students explore counting by sharing snacks at a class party. In this number sense lesson, students discuss sharing items equally by counting out equal numbers of an item they intend to give each student in the class. Students...
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Literature
Students develop new vocabulary through listening. They listen to comprehend and to obtain information.
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Revolutionary War: The Battle of Oriskany
Students evaluate the decisions several New Yorkers made about which side to support during the Revolutionary War and analyze the Battle of Oriskany to determine whether the Tories or the Rebels won the battle.
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Extinct Animals Of The Louisiana Purchase
Learners investigate two extinct species of birds that existed during the time of the Louisiana Purchase in Arkansas. They conduct research to describe the characteristics of the bird and look for the causes for its eventual extinction.
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Spanish-American War
Pupils view a video called Battling Beyond the Borders about the Spanish-American War. They discuss the role of newspapers in the war and then analyze political cartoons of the time, writing explanatory sentences about them.
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Communications: To the Rescue!
Students role-play as soldiers rescuing lost mountain climbers. Working in teams, they interpret maps to locate the climbers and use flashlights to send and receive coded messages about the rescue. Their goal is to complete the task in...
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Out of the Dust 2
Students, after reading the novel, Out of the Dust, describe the language used in the novel. They cite examples of words or phrases that are from that time period. Then they are given sentences and must rewrite them in modern-day language.
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Continents and Oceans on the Move
Young scholars create an awareness of the vast percentage of water covering the earth. They relate similarities/differences between topographical maps and other maps of various time periods. Students examine how to use a topographical map.
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Esperanza Rising
Learners explore foreign cultures by reading a story in class. In this Hispanic history lesson plan, students read the story Radio Man by Arthur Dorros and identify the times discrimination is used in the story. Learners discuss labor...
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Planning for the Voyage - Pilgrim Study Unit
Students locate Plymouth, MA, Hudson River, Cape Cod, Holland and England on a map. They identify the reasons the Pilgrims came to the New World and explain how the investors and the colonists would each benefit from a new colony. After...
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Cajun Music: the Voice of the Cajun Family
Students use the Cajuns and their music to engage an interest in and study French. They examine the Cajuns, their customs, work, leisure time, food, and how their music unites them as an ethnic group, with emphasis on the family.
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In Perfect Harmony: Teaching the World to Sing
First graders listen to music as the impetus to learn about the concept of Japanese harmony as it is understood in Japanese culture. They use the New Seeker's song, "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing," to compare America and Japan...
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The Correlation Between Human Population Growth and Dwindling Natural Resources
Eighth graders predict human population growth. In this activity, 8th graders discuss the length of time needed to double the human population, work in groups to chart population growth and predict population growth in the...
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A Raisin in the Sun: Vocabulary Bingo
Students study A Raisin in the Sun. Students study new vocabulary through a game of bingo. Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech "I Have a Dream" as a supplementary text. Students create their own bingo cards.
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Yes, You Can!
Pupils examine the concept of encouragement. In this encouragement and character activity, students participate in an active read aloud of Mary Grace's, Amazing Grace. They draw a picture in their journal of a time that they needed...
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F. Scott Fitzgerald: The Great American Dreamer
Students explore how F. Scott Fitzgerald was one of the most important writers of the twentieth century. In novels such as Tender is the Night, This Side of Paradise, and The Great Gatsby, he captured the mood and manners of his time.