Polk Bros Foundation
I Can Infer the Meaning of a Word in Context
Work on developing strategies for determining the meaning of unknown words and phrases with a quick context clues exercise. Class members choose two words from their reading and write down what they think they mean and why. See the...
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The Civil War - Reading on the Internet
Students fill out a KWL worksheet and answer short answer questions about the Civil War. In this Civil War lesson plans, students find the answers to their questions by researching the Internet.
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Reading Trees: Understanding Dendrochronology
Students examine tree-ring dating and discuss the lack of water the settlers in Jamestown faced. They create paper tree rings, simulate rain patterns, and describe the history of construction paper tree sequences.
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Library Media Center Orientation
Sixth graders demonstrate the ability to follow the library media center floor plan and use directional symbols and guides. They also use after-reading strategies to increase understanding and learning from content area texts.
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Miss Nelson is Missing/Miss Nelson is Back
Young scholars use simple strategies to determine the meaning of a story and to increase their vocabulary. Students understand the use of multiple meaning words, synonyms, and antonyms. Young scholars determine the main idea and identify...
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Punctuating Dialogue
Sixth graders use narrative strategies (e.g., dialogue and action) to develop characters, plot and setting and maintain a consistent point of view. They create and accurately punctuate dialogue necessary to help the plot progress,...
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Independent - To Be Or Not To Be
Students examine national symbols of freedom and speech strategies. They study the constitution, forefathers, and the Declaration of Independence.
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Language Arts: Digital Commercials
Students create commercials using a digital camera. After brainstorming their ideas, they spend three days writing their commercials. Students practice and edit their commercials and then present them for review.
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Physical Geography- Climate
Sixth graders explore different climates. In this compare and contrast instructional activity, 6th graders look at the differences in climates of America and Europe. Students use KWL charts and graphic organizers to record information...
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How government Works
Students read to understand the process of lawmaking. In this lawmaking activity, students define vocabulary and create an organizer showing the law making process. Students role play the various people involved in the...
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Teaching and Learning Through Objects
Students identify and interpret the function, usefulness or utitlity, form, beauty or aesthetics, and meaning, context or story, of objects and how they learn new skills and make things that they learn traditionally, by observation and...
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Twisting Versions of Little Red Riding Hood
Students read orally two versions of Little Red Riding Hood (Classic and Cajun) They compare and contrast the two Little Red Riding Hood versions. Students create a concept map to demonstrate the comparisons/contrasts. They could also...
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Be A Perfect Person in Just Three Days
Students read a chapter in a book. In this reading comprehension lesson, students share their predictions of chapter 6 of the book Be A Perfect Person in Just Three Days, learn new vocabulary words, read chapter 6 and complete a...
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Poetry and Visualization
Young scholars use visualization techniques when reading poetry. In this visualization and poetry lesson, students work in groups to present a tableau that depicts a word from the poem as classmates guess the word. Young...
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Word Maps Teaching Ideas
In this literacy worksheet, students are given a graphic organizer to complete or are presented it as part of the lesson developed from using this sheet.
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Making Connections: I Know Why Caged Birds Sing
Students discuss equality and fairness by reading a Maya Angelo poem. In this U.S. history lesson, students read the poem I Know Why Caged Birds Sing, and discuss how the era it was written in affected the words. Students...
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Landmarks of the Underground Railroad
Students explore Civil Rights by reading several books in class. For this Underground Railroad lesson, students discuss The Story of Henry Box Brown and identify the location and functionality of the Underground Railroad. Students answer...
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Snow Similies
Students listen to poems to explain how poets use words to paint pictures. They use hands-on materials to practice using similies and figurative language to write a poem about snow.
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About the Census
Students interpret a variety of informational texts to gain understanding of basic concepts about how census data are used. In this census lesson, students read maps, complete worksheets, and work in small groups to become aware of...
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Build the Tallest Building
Students examine the design and construction of skyscrapers. They use the internet to research information about different types of skyscrapers. They create their own building and defend it to the class.
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Catch those Butterfly Facts!
Discuss the importance of comprehension and the use of summarization with your class. Through guided practice, they follow three steps in finding and highlighting important information, deleting information that is not needed and...
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Using "Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears" to Teach Cause and Effect
Students discuss cause and effect relationships and the chain reaction involved before listening to the story "Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears". Students create flow charts to show the chain reactions of causes and effects in the...
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Foreign Language Initial Reading
Learners match sentences and phrases to pictures in a target language. They identify the proper written form of familiar spoken phrases. Students practice labeling objects and pictures with the proper greeting, color, number or object...
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Critical Reading, Imaginative Writing and the Montage
Learners discuss the difference between primary and secondary sources and consider how an exhibit is researched. They design and create a montage that reflects themselves in a social and historical context.