National First Ladies' Library
Who Invented Crayons?
Pupils use a specified website to study the history of Crayola crayons. In groups, they discover who invented the colors, their cost, and who thought of the name. Young scholars create a timeline of Crayola colors and choose one project...
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Teaching With the Power of Objects
Students define value of an object. In this value lesson plan, students identify reasons for collecting objects, compile a personal inventory of items they find valuable, and then define why those items are valuable to them. In step two...
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Building Bridges: Living in a Diverse Society
Students participate in various activities that help them build esteem, and explore racism. In this multicultural lesson plan, Students increase their awareness of, and appreciation for, cultural differences and similarities. This...
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History Close to Home: Creating Your Own Special Museum
Students create their own museum exhibit. In this museum creation lesson plan, students research their local history so they can decide on a theme for their exhibit and what objects they will use in order to design a museum exhibit. A...
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India: Where Remarkable Differences Are Ordinary
Students research India and Indian culture. In this Indian research lesson plan, students research and report on the lives of Indian children. The report will be in the form of a mock interview between a journalist and an Indian child....
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Learning from Letters and Other Mail
Students explore the history of our mail system. In this postal lesson plan, students evaluate mail as a means of communication, create a mail system in their classroom where they can send and receive mail. Once the students receive...
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Transportation Through Time
Students write a short story illustrating the past and imaging the future in transportation. In this transportation lesson plan, students explore artifacts that have to do with transportation in the past in Chicago.
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KWANZAA
Students study about Kwanzaa, an African-American celebration established in 1966 by Dr. Maulana, and also participate in some traditional activities.
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Mr. Goldman's Good Idea
Shopping carts are a modern convenience that many people take for granted. Make sure your pupils do not fall into that category by completing the activities in this plan. There are ideas included for language arts, social studies, math,...
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Back to School with Paper Quilts and Partnerships
Make a commitment to collaboration, and build classroom community by integrating art and classroom objectives to create a paper quilt.
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Message in a Bottle
Young scholars acquire a pen pal in a foreign country and write letters at least twice a month throughout the year to exchange with them. At the end of the year, they write an essay that compares one important difference and one...
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Spacecraft Launched on Mission to Pluto
Young scholars read a news article about a space mission being launched to the planet Pluto. They study the necessary vocabulary and complete an anticipation guide of questions which they revisit after they read the article.
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Sharing in the Classroom
Students explore the concept of sharing. In this character education lesson, students role play methods of sharing in the classroom and create a guidebook for sharing in the classroom.
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Cultivating Caring - Filling Buckets of Caring Carrots
Students practice compassion. In this character education lesson, student read Have You Filled a Bucket Today? by Carol McCloud. Students discuss the book as well as ways to demonstrate they care for one another. Students fill buckets...
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Buoyant Behavior
Combine science and literature with this instructional activity on buoyancy. Read There's an Ant in Anthony by Bernard Most to examine words containing the letters a, n, and t. Then introduce your class to the word "buoyant."...
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Spirit of Enquiry
The lesson includes guided questions to help students to think about their own behavior and purpose in life. They do this through a quiet time of reflection that can include the writing of ideas. Then students act out a play to...
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Masks from Around the World
Students examine the history of masks, and create their own mask as a culminating activity. They view and discuss a PowerPoint presentation about the history of masks, complete a class KWL chart, create their own mask, and write a...
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Animal Shelters - Sharing Our Knowledge
Young scholars arrange a service project for a local animal shelter. For this animal shelter lesson, students collect items to be given to a local shelter. They learn how to estimate the monetary value of the donated items. They can do...
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Patriots v. Loyalists
Students consider how colonial citizens chose sides in the American Revolution. In this Revolutionary War lesson, students role play Loyalists, Patriots, and undecideds in a classroom simulation. Students research their positions so that...
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'Twas the Night Before Christmas
Students research and compare Santa Claus. They discuss background information and then perform the poem, "Twas the Night Before Christmas".
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True or False? A Quiz About Four December Celebrations
Students take a quiz on brief histories of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Las Posadas. They, in groups, research four December celebrations and then test their comprehension.
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Rhythmic Travel Around the World
Students explore and play rhythm sticks while listening to songs from around the world. They locate the countries of origin on a map, and tap their rhythm sticks to the beat of the music.
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Designing Medieval Shields
Students design and create a medieval shield. They read and discuss the history and color schemes of how shield symbols are chosen, design and construct an original medieval shield, and write a paragraph explaining the design and symbols...
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Ft. Vancouver Fur Trade: a Skin for a Skin
Learners examine political presence of Hudson's Bay Company, explore economic impact of European demand for beaver pelts and the fur trapping trade, and practice counting in Chinook Jargon.