Polk County Public Schools
The French and Indian War
Sharpen those pencils and get to writing with a series of document-based questions about the French and Indian War. High schoolers focus on maps, letters, and other primary documents from the 18th century before answering writing prompts...
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Science Mystery: The Vinland Map
Students research proof regarding the authenticity of the Vinland map. In this geography lesson, students hold a debate based on their research findings. They discuss which side won and write a short essay about their opinion on the issue.
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Summertime Travel
Third graders write about a summer event they participated in. In this paragraph writing instructional activity, the teacher models how to write about a place they have visited. Students then write their own paragraphs. Students...
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Compass Rose Directions
Second graders use cardinal and intermediate directions to locate places on maps and places in the classroom, school, and community. They draw a setting map of "Little Red Riding Hood." Students give five steps of cardinal or...
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Using Non-Text Features
Second graders examine graphs and charts from their local newspaper. As a class, they discuss what the data means and how it relates to the article. In groups, they are shown two sets of graphs or charts and they practice explaining...
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Create a Story May
First graders review the terms characters, setting and events in stories. They are shown how to access the Kidspiration Map, and how to add pictures in the correct spaces on the map. Students insert pictures in the map of the story...
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Arthur's Tooth
Students practice their reading comprehension by reading a story in their class. For this story map lesson, students read the Marc Brown book Arthur's Tooth and discuss the story, characters and setting. Students create a story map based...
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Fun with Summarizing
Young scholars practice summarization by creating a story map. After reading Freckle Juice, students working in groups, create a story map of the main events of the story. Groups use their story maps to summarize a chapter of the story...
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Colonialism in Africa
Pupils examine Africa from a regional perspective. They appreciate the historic and geographic relationships that unite and divide the regions of Africa. Students create a comprehensive document outlining problems in the assigned region....
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Treasure Hunt
Pupils find lost "treasure" using a treasure map after being shown a map that you have created where terms and symbols are discussed. The class is divided into small groups where they locate your treasure and then read a section from...
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World Map and Globe - Lesson 1 Introduction to the Globe
Students explore the earth with maps and globes. For this map lesson, students use maps and globes to locate oceans and continents.
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Introduction to the Globe
Students investigate how to use a globe. In this map skills lesson, students define what a globe is and locate the various continents on the globe. Students are also asked to locate the four oceans on the globe.
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Claiming Land
Students examine several European maps with conflicting representations of the same geographic region. They uncover why different European nations produced different maps. In addition, they determine the role maps played in helping...
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World Map and Globe-Equator, North Pole, and South Pole
Students identify the Equator, North Pole, and South Pole on a map. In this geography lesson, students use a world map and circle the North and South Pole. Students locate the Equator on a globe and use a map marker to highlight it.
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Map Making
Learners examine a variety of strategies to identify the structure of a story. They listen to the book Where the Wild Things Are and, as a class, complete a story element chart. Students independently read a passage from Charlotte's...
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Community Explorations
Students identify the strengths and weakness in their community. They take a community walk and take pictures of people interacting with the environment and the "green spaces" in their community. They then write a persuasive essay...
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Stacy Bodin's "Digesting a Story" Unit
Second graders create a story and role-play the story using edible items to create a final story-video project. In this edible story lesson, 2nd graders write their own stories using literary format and elements. Students then create a...
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You Are Uniquely You; Reflecting and Sharing
Students write a letter as a culminating activity to a service project. In this reflection project, students draw something that occurred during the project and attach words to their drawings. Students pair share to edit their work.
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Inventing and Presenting Unit 3: Persuasive Speaking and Invention Promotion
Students write a proposal for a speech. Students prepare appropriate visuals for use in the proposed speech. Students produce one or more graphs that summarize the results from the experimentation. Students deliver an effective speech in...
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Cause and Effect Worksheet
In this cause and effect worksheet, students list the causes of the effect of a large group of lights, then write the effect, and 3-4 detailed sentences about what they observed. Students complete 2 pages.
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Fictional Narrative Writing in Mathematics
Fifth graders discuss variety of fictional writing genres and connect each to familiar story that has been read, use creative and analytical skills to develop original piece of fictional writing that incorporates math skill, and share...
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Backyard Map- Measuring with Centimeters
In this backyard map centimeter measurement worksheet, 1st graders cut out a centimeter ruler from the bottom of the page. They use the ruler to measure the path between objects which are pictures in the backyard map at the top of the...
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Mapping Out Summarization
Students summarize a selected piece of text using a a six step process. After reviewing the correct way to read silently, students read a selected piece of nonfiction text. They write a summary paragraph using the six step process...
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Mental Mapping Hangman
Students participate in mental mapping hangman activity. They choose the name of a country from a hat, draw that country on the board including at least one physical feature produced by nature or humans while not using any speech while...