Eleventh graders analyze the social impact media plays in relation to peer pressure. In this peer pressure lesson plan, 11th graders listen to Afroman's "Lets All Get Drunk" and read the lyrics. Students write about the song and view a...

Students explore the lives of famous Americans. In this biography lesson, students read biographies about famous Americans and keep reading journals as they read about setting, main events, and character sketches.

Young scholars view an interactive presentation on the Holocaust using the Holocaust Remebrance Day website. They first brainstorm what they already know about the Holocaust then they work through several sections of the presentation. ...

Students gain an understanding of what pirates are and to prove they really did and do exist. They discuss the different myths the students have about pirates as compared to what the documentary discusses.

Students create a piece of original fiction utilizing flashbacks. Students define and identify the use of flashbacks in the novel Holes. Definitions and examples are recorded in student journals. They use their examples as springboard...

Fifth graders read the novel "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH." They discuss the various characters in the book, and the different types of conflict that take place within the book. They also research owls and rats to make comparisons...

Students create journal reflecting upon a Holocaust themed book, and discuss Holocaust themed book and personal response to it with others using e-mail.

Students investigate pollution at the beach. In this environmental instructional activity, students participate in a beach clean-up and calculate the weight of the debris collected. Students write a reflection in their journal about...

Students write a short paragraph using strong descriptions.  In this using modifiers lesson, students define modifier, adjective, adverb, metaphor, and simile.  Students then write a journal entry in which they write about a...

Students explore how editorials use various devices to convey a message to a reader. They select key news topics from 2002 and write their own editorials.

Sixth graders write a short story about being stranded on a deserted island. After a brief geography review of locations at various latitudes and longitudes, 6th graders draft their story about being stranded. They use sensory and...

Learners conduct research into the lives of pirates and create a personal skit based upon the research as inspiration. The use of imagination is a key component to the type of writing to be done during the class.

First graders explore the concept of multiple viewpoints. For this perspective lesson, 1st graders discuss the differences and similarities found within different cultures. Students then write a narrative about how something they can do...

Pupils practice the techniques and strategies to become more fluent readers through visualization. They read and construct mental images from the reading of a text. The book, "Charlotte's Web," by E.B. White is read in class and then the...

Students complete a diorama and a poster at the conclusion of The Diary of Anne Frank.  In this The Diary of Anne Frank lesson, students create a diorama of the setting and write an essay justifying their choices.  Students...

Students are provided with a three-column chart about a fictional character named Jip: looks, personality, and situation. After chapter 1 and chapter 2, students make notes on the charts and share that information with one other. They...

Students observe pieces of art and look for the principle story the artwork portrays. They compare the techniques artists and authors use to focus on and support these essential stories. They create a piece of art that portrays a given...

Fourth graders construct a miniature robot using recyclable materials. They write a descriptive explanation from the robot's point of view explaining how it aid in protecting the environment.

If you are looking for a way to lead students in a discussion as they read the book Letters from Rifka by Karen Hesse, you will find this resource invaluable. Learners can organize their progress through the book and answer...

Explore film adaptation of literature with this lesson, which focuses on the world of film advertisements. Middle schoolers discuss various films (including The Lord of the Rings) and create advertisements for a pretend film based on a...

Examine the historic election of Pope Benedict XVI and reflect on the challenges he faces as the new leader of the Catholic Church. This New York Times lesson investigates how other world leaders are chosen in different forms of...

Does history really repeat itself? Encourage your middle and high schoolers to answer this age-old question by reading the attached articles on the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 and the Iraq Crisis of 2002. How similar or different are...

Fourth graders investigate the Hatfield and McCoy feud. In this Hatfield and McCoy feud lesson, 4th graders examine factors that caused the feud. Students also locate on a map where the feud took place, make a timeline of the main events...

Examine the genre of historical fiction while reading A Light in the Storm. They extract events in chronological order to make a timeline. Then, they use information in the book important to the characters to create a presentation of an...