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The Fifty States
Students design a multimedia report on one or more of the fifty states.
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I Hear the Locomotives: The Impact of the Transcontinental Railroad
Students examine the effects the Transcontinental Railroad had on the regions through which it passed. They analyze and discuss maps, view and describe online images, and use photos and documents to develop a cause-and-effect ladder.
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Water in Africa
Students discover the horrible situation of water shortages that many people face by completing Peace Corps activities. In this global health lesson, students analyze and discuss photographs of people in Africa struggling to find water....
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Design Challenge: Cup in the Cupboard
Students design device that will place a cup into a cupboard for a physically challenged person. They study the engineering design and how structure relates to function.
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Contra Dance
Contra dance was brought to America by French Soldiers after the Revolutionary War. Contra dancing is done in lines, but with partners facing each other. Some moves one partner is moving forward while the other moves backwards. Some...
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Family Tree Community Project
Fifth graders answer questions such as: Where does my family come from? What was it like for my ancestors to grow up as America developed? What differences in society were present then? What was similar to today? students conduct...
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Sing! Sing a Song!
Students investigate climate change. They read and listen to an environmental song or a song about change or taking action. Students write, sing, and record their own song about climate change.
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Three Canadian Cities
Students, after brainstorming all the words they can associate with the word Canada, investigate and study about three Canadian cities and then write about a city in their country. They complete a worksheet on unfamiliar vocabulary words...
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Historical Witness Social Messaging Beginning Level Activity
Students explore women in history. In this instructional activity about nineteenth century women, students analyze paintings looking at women and their clothing, expressions, body language, and the setting and color. Students understand...
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About Life: The Photographs of Dorothea Lange
Students use art to analyze a period in history. For this lesson about the effect of art on history, students study many different pieces of photography by Dorothea Lange. Students will observe photographs from certain time periods and...
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Escape Planning
Students make a fire escape plan. For this fire safety lesson, students share what they would do if there was a fire in their home. They discuss the importance of a home fire escape plan. They draw an escape plan diagram and review fire...
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Understanding Taxes
Young scholars engage in a variety of lesson plans published by the IRS. They participate in lessons involving how taxes apply and why taxes exist. They view Power Point presentations, complete worksheets, and participate in activities...
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What's in the shoebox?
Students participate in a game to build self esteem, self awareness and listening skills. For this citizenship lesson, students search for representations of their favorite things in the classroom, hide them in a shoe box and lets the...
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South Dakota Quarter Lesson Plans
Students research the history of the South Dakota quarter. Students study the rich history to South Dakota. Students share reasons why the South Dakota quarter was made the way it was made.
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Words In The News--Chissano Wins Prize For Good African Leadership
Learners read, discuss and derive vocabulary words from current events. After discussing the rigors of competition and personal experiences, students read about a prize for good African leadership. In groups, they research other...
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Understanding Fair Trade: Fair Trade Mural
Students discuss murals painted by Diego Rivera and other political muralists and work in a small group to create a mural showing the benefit of Fair Trade relationships to chocolate farmers. Students decide what they want to...
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No Place Like Homelessness
Students complete a unit of activities that help them understand homelessness, its causes, and ways to better the situation. In this homelessness lesson, students complete five activities that help them to define homelessness and its...
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A Day In The Life: The Story of a Child Worker in Agriculture."
Young scholars watch a Flash presentation on students working in agriculture in this lesson which is part of a unit. They compare and contrast the experience to their own. Unit links are on this lesson page.
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Prediction Using On-Line Stories!
Fifth graders analyze the elements of an online story. In this online story lesson, 5th graders analyze the title, pictures, and other information for an online story. Students predict what the text is about and complete a prediction chart.
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Migration and Refugees
Students explore issues relating to refugees. Using the internet, they gather facts about refugees. Students discuss the range of situations which turn citizens of one country into refugees of another.
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Fair Dinkum!
Students define fairenss, justice and equity as they are known to them. In groups, they role-play varoius scenerios and discuss their reactions to it. As a class, they share experiences in which they were treated unfairly and what could...
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Role Playing Throwing and Catching
Students are divided into groups of 4-5 and given a role playing scenario card. They are given 8-10 minutes to come up with a skit which demonstrates their understanding of the skill.
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Schoolyard Geology
Discover that maps show information about an area and that they have common features like scales and legends. View an aerial map of your school and find features on the map such as the playground, roads, and trees. Trace the outline of...
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Using Old Maps as Tools to Explore Our World
Students explore historical maps. In this primary source analysis lesson plan, students uncover the meanings in selected historical maps as they use them to enhance lessons on historical events. Samples for classroom use are provided in...