Students research facts about illegal dumping sites and write an editorial exposing the effects of the site from their point of view and persuades readers to take action. Students brainstorm ideas that could be included in the editorial,...

Students view a PBS Nature program about big-wave surfing and participate in a class discussion about their experiences with surfing, body boarding, or body surfing. Students create a drawing based on a reading and post their art around...

Students brainstorm various forms of protest, examine the context for President George W. Bush's visit to Britain, and research protests throughout history. Students use the information gathered to create informative posters and diary...

Fourth graders construct a miniature robot using recyclable materials. They write a descriptive explanation from the robot's point of view explaining how it aid in protecting the environment.

Students assess how point of view can change a story. In this content area reading instructional activity, students read about the Battle of the Little Bighorn from three different sources. Students answer questions based upon their...

In this online interactive literature instructional activity, students respond to 11 short answer and essay questions about D.H. Lawrence's Sons and Lovers. Students may check some of their answers online.

Fifth graders read from their textbook a story about the pioneer settlement of the Western Frontier. They review the pioneer standpoint, but also discuss how the Homestead Act of 1862 affected Native Americans. They write another story...

Students study newspaper articles and rewrite events from literature into news stories about kindness. For this news article lesson, students read sentences from newspaper articles and identify the purpose of the article. Students...

Sixth graders simulate an election-year debate between opposing political parties. In this persuasive-speech lesson plan, 6th graders will work in teams to prepare for and participate in a debate between opposing parties. The lesson plan...

Fifth graders work together to make simple menus more interesting by adding descriptive words. This plan works well with the Six Traits of Writing as it covers the trait of word choice. This is a really fun way for students to practice...

Young scholars discuss elements of fairy tales, examine selected piece of Robert Harris' art, and compose fairy tales based on what they see and imagine. Students then view homes in Harris' artwork collection, create home in which they...

For this recognizing opinions worksheet, students write sentences giving opinions, asking for opinions, agreeing, and disagreeing. Students write fifteen sentences.

Students understand the stereotypes and realities of older people. In this philanthropic lesson, students in groups read and report on the positive images of older people in children's books. Students address the needs and wants of older...

Students analyze and appreciate various types of poetry. In this poetry unit, students read classic and contemporary works to discover ways in which poetry expresses strong feelings. Students identify key vocabulary used to analyze...

Students work in groups to identify a topic or issue that they feel passionate about and produce a short PSA for the topic. In this PSA lesson, students select an issue or social problem to research. Students create a video or a...

Students analyze the recent boom in women's sports, focusing on the Women's World Cup Soccer tournament to examine various people's views about women athletes. They write a newspaper article summarizing what they learned in their...

Students read and write newspaper articles. For this newspaper article writing lesson, students collect and share current news articles, examine how they are written, then choose an event from the 20th century and write their own news...

Discover the family histories that make the classroom with a family tree activity. Scholars locate information about their family, construct a family tree, and work together to tally where family members are born.  

Students discuss how people are influenced by their cultures and backgrounds, make artwork that documents creative process, write character sketch of Colonel Massey from different points of view, examine issue from different perspectives...

Students identify the concerns of people caught in desperate times during the Great Depression. They make connections between The Grapes of Wrath and historical images from the Great Depression. Students make connections between the...

Fourth graders assume the roles of characters in familiar fairy tales and participate in a panel discussion using a talk show format.

In this literature worksheet, students respond to 8 short answer and essay questions about Ibsen's A Doll's House. Students may also link to an online interactive quiz on the novel at the bottom of the page.

In this literature worksheet, students respond to 10 short answer and essay questions about Ibsen's Hedda Gabler. Students may also link to an online interactive quiz on the novel at the bottom of the page.

Students weigh rights of students and others to free speech versus the responsibilities that come with those rights.