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Go For the Gold!
Students are introduced to the history of Greece and the Olympic Games and then research the history and sports in order to write a research paper. They make connections between the 2004 Olympics and the past Olympic Games and interpret...
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Hey Kid, Want To Buy A Bridge?
Students study the building of the Brooklyn Bridge and the inventions of Thomas Alva Edison. They design an infomercial to sell a product or a service for an invention. They create an invention that improves the world and write an...
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Towing Cars -- Legally and Not So Legally
Students discuss the issue of having cars towed in a small community when they should not be. After watching a local news story on the issue, they work together to conduct three full days of research. They write an article to be...
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Attitudes Toward Emancipation
Students read the Emancipation Proclamation and investigate steps that led to its signing. They read and discuss period news articles from both sides of the argument and create portfolios of documentation supporting both sides.
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Summarization Superstars
How do you read when you know you're going to be summarizing a text? Summarize a nonfiction text with your upper elementary schoolers. Your pupils independently read a nonfiction article and write a summary paragraph using the six-step...
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Classroom Fun with Flat Stanley
Complete a series of activities based on the Flat Stanley books in this literature study lesson. Introduce the book with a discussion of supernatural qualities, then young scholarscan create character webs, write news articles, build...
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Words in the News: Switzerland's Secret Weaon
Students are asked questions about the World Cup and Switzerland. They practice using new vocabulary words. They read an article about marketing campaigns for the event and answer questions.
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Words in the News: EU Telecoms
Students, in groups, brainstorm different ways to communicate. They practice using new vocabulary. They read an article about communication in Europe and answer questions.
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Words in the News: Bangkok - A City on the Move
Students brainstorm on what they know about Bangkok. They practice using new vocabulary words. They read an article about the World Cup in Bangkok and answer questions to end the lesson plan.
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The Flint Sitdown Strike
Learners research the events of the 1936-37 sitdown in Flint, Michigan, using internet resources. Students write a news story based on the information gathered.
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Dear Wife & Children Every One
Students explore the struggle that Kansans had over the slavery issue. They read a letter from John Brown to his family, and write a newspaper article about the Battle of Osawatomie from John Brown's perspective.
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Picking Up the Pieces and Putting them Back Together
Students examine how a breaking news story is constructed, first by predicting what facts and details must appear in what order, and then by assembling the story from cut-up pieces. They practice writing their own 'breaking news' lead...
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Shifting Wins
Students analyze how the outcome of the 2002 midterm elections changed the balance of power in the government. They write a news analysis and evaluation of how the nation be governed in the future.
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Thoughts to the President
Students write a persuassive paragraph to the President stating their opinion on a topic. To do this, they start the message with a topic sentence such as "War is _____." The blank should contain a word or phrase expressing the student's...
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It's a Wrap
In this problem-solving, action-oriented activity, middle schoolers explore the impact that wrapping paper has on our landfills. Students brainstorm ideas to address the problem and also write an article to educate adults and peers about...
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Bionic Trees
Students examine the debate about using trees to clean up the environment by reading and discussing a news article. They research the various contexts for which scientists may want to genetically alter trees and assess the validity of...
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The Right to Know
Students discuss their knowledge of the position of National Security Advisor. They read and discuss a newspaper article about national security and intelligence as it relates to terrorism and the public's right to know.
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Designing Scavengers
High schoolers write a headline that captures the most important aspects of the People's Design Award. In this design lesson, students are introduced to The People's Design Award and collaborate to create a headline for a newspaper...
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Discover the science of archaeology
Students research archaeology. For this archaeology lesson, students conduct research about archaeology and one ancient culture. Students write a magazine article about an archaeological dig.
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What was life like for the Civil War Soldier?
Students view various primary sources and complete a worksheet about the sources. They choose at least three sources: a print, a letter and a newspaper article and record relevant information. They write a journal response about life as...
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Greetings from Maya Angelou
Learners investigate the life and works of Maya Angelou. They complete a Webquest, read poems, listen to a reading by Maya Angelou, answer discussion questions, and write a poem, short story, or essay based on a newspaper article.
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The New York Draft
Students investigate the draft that originated in New York during the time of the Civil War. They examine the primary resource of a newspaper article from the time in order to gather information. The students check the grammar of the...
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Words in the News: Scientists Find Giant Squid
Pupils discuss a headline of an article. In groups, they match the new vocabulary words with their definitions. They read an article about a giant squid and answer questions.
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Words in the News: England Wins The Ashes
Students discuss what they know about the game of cricket. In groups, they match new vocabulary words with their definitions. They read an article about England winning the Ashes and answer questions.