Beacon Learning Center
Power Words
Using words can create a power struggle! Using antonyms and synonyms can create a Power Words game! Check out this lesson that teachers your class the difference between the two and how to use a thesaurus.
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Using Key Words to Unlock Math Word Problems
Students act as math coaches to solve word problems. In this math word problems lesson, students brainstorm key words in math operations, create flash cards to review relationships between words and operations, coach each other in the...
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Looking at Lewis and Clark
Fifth graders review information on Lewis and Clark by using a variety of resources. With partners, they travel between stations researching different information based on the expedition. They check each others work and share it with the...
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Eating Right with a Little Help From the VT
Students explore the food pyramid. In this nutrition lesson, students identify the 5 food groups and sort foods according to the group in which they belong. Students use the Visual Thesaurus to complete a food groups worksheet and...
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Acronym Names
Students create an acronym out of their name. They use a thesaurus and the computer to create it. They also add pictures to make it more creative.
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Developing a Study Strategy
Pupils take notes on how to use a thesaurus using the VSPP strategy. In this notetaking lesson, students listen to a lecture on how to use a thesaurus. Pupils write down the main ideas of a lecture and jot these ideas down on...
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Mind Your Pints and Quarts: Making Sense of Liquid Measurement
Elementary and middle schoolers identify different units of liquid measurement. They use the online Visual Thesaurus to learn about the relationships between units of liquid measurement.
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When You Reeeaaallly Want to Say Something
Kids paraphrase an entry from The Elements of Style, and then revise a sentence. They use the Visual Thesaurus and find synonyms for the phrase very pretty, brainstorm a list of intensifiers (as alternatives to really and very),...
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Rooting One's Way To Meaning
Students use a thesaurus on the internet to explore the meanings of Greek and Latin roots. They find definitions of given words, draw a concept map for root words, and write four synonyms for each word. Students discover how Latin and...
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Choose Your Words Wisely
Improve word choice! Writers use dictionaries and thesauruses to aid them in choosing exciting words to incorporate in their writing. They rewrite sentences and practice identifying words that can be replaced using a better word....
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Writing A Business Letter Who, What, and Where Are They
Seventh graders word process business letters using proper tab settings, spell checking, grammar and punctuation. They use the Internet to search for names and addresses.
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Let's Make A Dill
Young scholars perform an "autopsy" on a dill pickle to determine its' cause of death. After finding "clues" inside the "body," students organize facts and use their imagination to write an epitaph. As an alternative, young scholars...
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On-Line Homework Help: An Ethical Dilemma
High schoolers use a visual thesaurus and Vocabgrabber to interpret a news article. In this vocabulary building and comprehension lesson, students analyze quotes from the article. High schoolers use the visual thesaurus and Vocabgrabber...
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Parts of Speech: Active Verbs
Students use White Fang to help them study active verbs. In this grammar lesson plan, students define active verbs and find examples in the the novel White Fang. Students then use ProQuest to research a place they'd like to visit....
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A Twist On Teaching Affixes
Engaging your class in prefix and suffix instruction with these helpful ideas.
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The Changing Me
Third graders study the human body. In this health activity, 3rd graders discuss that everyone's body is growing, measure body parts using a tape measure, and color the body worksheet.
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A Heritage Study: Using Information Resources to Research Family History and Traditions
Learners research their family history through ethnographical study. They locate information through a variety of sources, interview people, write a report and present an oral presentation to the class.
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Reference Resources: Being a Good Detective
Students explore a variety of reference resources while seeking information. atlases, almanacs, dictionaries, encyclopedias, thesauri, and online search engines as well as library card catalogs are utilized in this lesson.
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Word Choice in Writing
Sixth graders discover word choices to use when writing a conversation. They explore synonyms for "said." Students examine a thesaurus. They create a writing piece using the writing process. Students edit and revise their work.
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Happiness is A Warm Puppy
Students investigate dog breeds and write a short story from a dog's perspective. In this dog research and writing lesson, students watch the film, "Dog: The Early Years. They apply critical thinking skills to determine which type of dog...
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Word Choice in Writing
Sixth graders explore language arts by writing dialogue. In this vocabulary choice lesson, 6th graders identify synonyms and the importance of using a thesaurus while writing dialogue in their own original work. Students revise and edit...
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Mind Your Pints and Quarts: Making Sense of Liquid Measurement
Students convert among liquid measurement units. In this measurement lesson, students use Visual Thesaurus to gather information about customary units for liquid measure such as cup, pint, and quart, then students practice converting...
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Vocabulary Match for SMARTBoard
Second graders practice vocabulary using the interactive whiteboard. In this vocabulary match instructional activity, 2nd graders review vocabulary words, take turns revealing a word or definition, and then identify the match. Students...
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Sorting Out Homophones in Roald Dahl's
Young scholars explore the concept of homophones. In this homophone lesson, students use a selection from the book Matilda to review homophones. Young scholars use a web to identify homophones.