Seventh graders examine life at the Jamestown settlement. In this colonial America lesson, 7th graders visit the noted Web site to analyze artifacts from the settlement. Based on their findings, students write descriptive pieces about...

Third graders design a machine for clear-cutting an area of forest.  In this agricultural technology instructional activity, 3rd graders are read selections from American Tall Tales by Mary Pope Osbourn, discuss how trees are...

Fifth graders explore both the causes of and the actual events of the Civil War. They write essays and descriptive paragraphs and explore a variety of websites. They create a series of skits highlighting the key points of the Civil War era.

Students use a "spider web" graphic organizer to record information about different types of masks they are familiar with. They write a paragraph about masks. Students read about Native American cultures and compare/contrast the...

Student work in design teams to research robots, create a drawing of a robot they want to make, build a prototype of their robot, present their prototype and research, and write a descriptive paragraph about their creation.

Students examine theatrical lighting instruments to see how light is controlled, and write a paragraph telling of their discoveries.

Students create tornado proof buildings.  In this weather lesson, students review tornadoes, discuss creation of tornado proof buildings, and learn about the Fujita Scale of Tornado Intensity.  Students research tornado proof...

Students determine length, width, perimeter, and surface area, and work with two-dimensional representations of three-dimension objects to design and write descriptions of their dream bedrooms.

Students explore American tall tales. In this tall tale activity, students discover the six characteristics that are included in tall tales. Students survey their class to find each student's favorite tall tale character and organize the...

Pupils identify various housing options, focusing on rental vs. purchase and short vs. long term. With a partner, students discuss their housing situation. Once their discussion is complete, pupils write a brief paragraph weighing the...

Young scholars use a stick figure to help them learn to write with details. In this details lesson, students brainstorm details to add to the stick figure 'Plain Polly.' Young scholars then draw stick figures for their own writing and...

First graders use a thinking map to organize a paragraph. They write and edit their paragraph about popcorn and type the final copy on the computer.

Third graders generate a list of adjectives about a Reese's Cup using their sense of sight, touch, and taste. Then they write a descriptive paragraph about the Reese's Cup.

Students practice research and writing skills. They pick an animal to resarch from the template chioces and write a paragraph about the animal. In addition, a digital camera is used to insert student pictures onto the slides.

In this paragraph revision learning exercise, students rewrite a boring paragraph, adding details and descriptions in order to bring the paragraph alive. Students may use their imagination to provide details, and they may revise and...

Third graders enjoy a train ride with The Little Engine That Could and discover how to create a five-paragraph essay train. This clever lesson has students use each boxcar of the train as a template for a paragraph.

Pupils review paragraph development, use of adjectives and grammar requirements. They incorporate various details in a written paragraph describing a visual image used as a writing prompt.

In this writing conclusions activity, students practice writing and evaluating paragraphs written at the end of an experiment. They are given a hypothesis and a results sentence and they write a conclusion.

Learners write a four paragraph persuasive paper on Of Mice and Men. In this Of Mice and Men lesson, students take a position on whether or not George should have killed Lennie. Learners are given a paragraph-by-paragraph guide to assist...

Learners write a four paragraph essay that tells about two things in society that Ray Bradbury criticizes in the book, Fahrenheit 451. In this social criticism instructional activity, students develop a thesis based on their reading of...

Students write a composition comparing and contrasting two portraits. In this comparing and contrasting activity, students will observe two portraits and compare them through their writing. They then will write a letter to the artists...

Students write persuasive letters based on "The Tell Tale Heart." They brainstorm topic sentences, main ideas, and details. They analyze the character and determine if he is innocent or guilty. They create a map listing their reasons to...

Pupils write a story. In this historical fiction lesson, students research how Thanksgiving began. Pupils write a fictional story where they are a main character of this time period.

Young scholars write a research paper on hurricanes. In this weather instructional activity, students use a science text book to write down facts about hurricanes on note cards and then outline their essay. Young scholars use the outline...