Lesson Plan
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High Contrast Photographs

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars take and develop pictures using patterns of light.
Lesson Plan
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Getting the Word Out: From Gutenberg's Press to Zines

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers examine the effects of Gutenberg's printing press on the world. Using this information, they create their own Zines or internet magazines about a social issue of their choice. They share their magazine with the class for...
Lesson Plan
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Big Book Project

For Teachers 5th - 6th
The "Big Book Project" provides special-needs learners with the opportunity to develop, write, and publish "Big Books" for Kindergarten-Grade 3 classrooms. Students also go to classrooms and read the book they wrote to the younger students.
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Hand Quilting

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students are introduced the techniques of hand quilting. After viewing a demonstration, they practice the same skills in which to successfully create a quilt. They share their creation with the class and offer constructive criticism on...
Lesson Plan
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Seeing/Reading Photographs Lesson Plan: An Interactive History Discussion

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Students analyze and read historic photographs. In this historic photographs lesson, students explore history and writing by looking at photographs. Students discuss the photographs and produce a written record of the historical photograph.
Lesson Plan
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Music Creations

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students practice playing notes on the G and C scales in different rhythms. They complete worksheets and discuss the answers. They finish a short notation project as well.
Lesson Plan
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Garden-Inspired Quilts

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Young scholars create one-of-a-kind quilts inspired by gardens. Finished quilt size is 75" square. Inspiration and design process is the focus of creating these quilts. Lesson focuses mainly on design rather than completion of the quilt.
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Architecture Photo Assignment

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars are introduced to new vocabulary associated with architecture. In groups, they analyze the architecture of their own home and their neighborhoods and take pictures of what they find. They share their photographs with the...
Worksheet
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Make a Giftbox Pattern

For Students K - 2nd
In this gift box pattern learning exercise, students cut out the ten gift box images at the bottom of the page. Then, they determine which gift box comes next in each of the 5 gift box patterns on the learning exercise.
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Portraits

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students experiment with color harmonies using a black and white photograph. They include elements of shadow and add collage pieces and tempera paint to complement the photograph.
Activity
Teaching Tolerance

Journalism for Justice

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Roll the presses! Or at least have your class members participate in the time-honored tradition of the student press by creating their own newspapers or journalist pieces on a social problem. After conducting research and collaborating...
Lesson Plan
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Holiday Wreath Ornament

For Teachers Pre-K - 5th
Students make a holiday wreath ornament. In this holiday wreath ornament lesson plan, students follow directions to make a holiday ornament using glue and cereal. They glue a picture of themselves in the center and add a bow.
Lesson Plan
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Class Field Guide to the Sloughs

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students explore how to use field guides to identify wildlife.  In this nature lesson students construct their own plant field guide. 
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Film Study: Albert Maysles and Direct Cinema

For Teachers All
Students Discuss the contributions of Albert Maysles to documentary filmmaking and learn how to correctly operate video recording and editing equipment to create a short film.
Lesson Plan
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The Chemistry of Ceramics

For Teachers 3rd - 10th
Students compare the characteristics of a fired porcelain sculpture to the clay used to create it. They discuss the physical and chemical changes that occur in the clay as it is heated and then create their own clay sculpture. This...
Lesson Plan
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The Chemistry of Ceramics

For Teachers K - 12th
Students make ceramic sculptures to understand how clay works. In this sculpture lesson, students learn about porcelain sculptures to understand how heat can turn clay into a hard ceramic surface. They then experiment with clay to make...
Lesson Plan
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Discovering Mexico through Murals

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students describe the Mexican culture and relate it to their own culture. They investigate the Mexican culture through internet research, textbooks, and class discussions. Students create a mural of their school culture. They interview...
Lesson Plan
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Migrant Workers Through the Lens of Dorothea Lange

For Teachers 8th - 11th
Students explore the lives of migrant workers during the Great Depression. In this Great Depression lesson, students examine photographs and song lyrics to gain an understanding of the conditions for people living in the era. Students...
Lesson Plan
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Land Use and Lawmaking in California

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students investigate the laws of using land.  In this California Government lesson, students examine the many uses of land in California and find an environmental issue they care about.  Students write a letter to a politician...
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Environmental Impact

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students analyze a 20th century photograph of a Los Angeles landscape and examine the population expansion of L.A. They discuss the principles of design, complete a worksheet, and write a research paper on overpopulation in Los Angeles.
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America in Film and Fiction

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students begin the lesson by reading a book on film study. After watching the movie "Citizen Kane", they work together to identify the issues concerning the United States before World War II. As a class, they discuss how the ideas and...
Lesson Plan
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"Zoophyla"

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders gain an understanding of organims based on charateristics. They study about Kingdom Animalia and use technology to present knowledge of phyla. Finally, they create a new animal species of their own. When others present,...
Lesson Plan
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A Country Twice Divided

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers study biography from the 19th century. They read "The Red Badge of Courage." Students research a topic from the list provided in the lesson and write a 5-7 page paper. They study lyrics and melodies of the confederacy and...
Lesson Plan
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Rainforest Plants and Animals -- Where Are They?

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students identify the plant and animals in the rainforest. Using the internet, they research how these plants and animals adapt to survive in this type of environment. In groups, they critique artwork and discuss how they were depicted.