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One Step at a Time
Students investigate the customs and habits of other cultures by reading letters from a Peace Corps Volunteer. In this global customs lesson, students discuss how analyzing a culture is similar to analyzing art, no two people see things...
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The Hot Dog Stand
Students run a computer simulation. They collect data as they work and use the data to create an annual report for their business. Several different simulations could be used for this project. It is desirable for students to do this...
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Internet Research Assistant
Students are required to become Internet Research Assistants to a staff member or someone in the community and take that person on as a client. They develop a letter informing potential clients that they are available to do research for...
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Historical Locations of The Civil Rights Movement
A geographic perspective helps historians learn about significant eras such as the civil rights movement. Through research and source analysis, learners create a report depicting a significant location of this time. They synthesize their...
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Those Baffling Bibliographies!
Are you working on a research and citation unit? Have your young writers listen to a lecture on how to cite research sources correctly and how to distinguish new information that requires citing. They compile a list of works cited from...
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Presidents: Bibliography
Give credit where credit is due! After listening to a lecture/demo about why creating a bibliography is important, what should be included in a bibliography, and how to craft a bibliography, class members draft one for their own research.
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Using Context
Teams practice decoding and using context strategies to determine the meanings of unfamiliar words. After verifying the meanings of words through the use of dictionaries, the Internet, thesauruses, and other sources, learners write the...
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Study Skills Workshop
Ninth graders discuss personal habits that are effective and ineffective. They complete a Personal Study Skills and Habits Review Survey. They participate in class discussion and offer insights to their study skill habits. They review...
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History Personified
In 1856 Congressman Preston Brooks of South Carolina beat Senator Charles Sumner of Massachusetts over the head with a cane. This event, which highlighted the acrimonious debate over the expansion of slavery, is the focus of a paper...
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Graphing on the Computer
Students create a bar graph on the computer using given information from the teacher. They create a bar graph using their own information chart (they need to create one on separate paper first). They utilize Microsoft Excel for this...
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Go West With Lewis and Clark! Scavenger Hunt
In this Lewis and Clark scavenger hunt worksheet, students participate in an Internet scavenger hunt to answer five questions regarding the Lewis and Clark expedition.
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Trees Are More Than Wood
In the science and art worksheet, students think about and draw the shape of a tree. They explain if all trees look the same before accessing a web site to read about the shapes of trees. They write down three things that affect how a...
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MLA Documentation Exercises
Has your school adopted the MLA style for documentation? If so, use this worksheet to assess whether or not your class members know the rules. Young researchers complete of series of documentation exercises using the MLA format. They...
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100 Questions
Gather around to play a game! Middle and high schoolers answer questions (provided here) using various reference materials. Bring encyclopedias and other reference materials to class, as each group has limited Internet access! An answer...
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Research Skills: Information Retrieval and Evaluation
Focus on research skills, specifically identifying key words and concepts on a specific topic and evaluating information for relevance and authority. This is part of a multi-step lesson on Ancient Rome; however, it is useful for any...
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Civil War Photographs: What Do You See?
A study of an image from The Library of Congress collection Civil War Photographs 1861-1865 launches an investigation of the connection between the Civil War and American industrialization. After analyzing “Petersburg, Va. The...
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Documenting Sources: An Introduction to Incorporating and Documenting Outside Sources in Your Writing
Text heavy, the 16 slides in this presentation provide specific examples to introduce researchers to documenting outside sources in expository writing. A follow-up activity or worksheet would provide an opportunity for guided practice.
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Reporting on the 1920s
Use this roaring 1920s history lesson plan to have young writers research primary and secondary sources. They use their research to examine the events or famous public figures of the time period. Next, they imagine they're in the 1920s...
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Practice Makes It Better
Use the Internet to expand the audience for portfolio writings and motivate young writers to edit their work. Have your class members select a piece of writing from their portfolios to be polished and published on the World Wide Web....
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Ways Twitter Makes You a Better Writer
Practice being concise. Exercise your vocabulary. Improve your editing skills. The contention in this lesson is that by imposing a 140 character limit, the Twitter format actually helps improve writing skills. And of course class tweets...
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Reading Blog Log
Bring technology to your novel unit with this instructional activity, which prompts readers to analyze a book they are reading in a Socratic discussion with their classmates. They create a live blog online in which they can give their...
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Getting the Word Out
Discuss and generate blogs in this technology lesson. Middle and high schoolers explore examples of blogs and create their own blogs. Use this lesson throughout the year to reinforce concepts from your language arts class (or any class)....
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Keyboarding: Formatting a Report Using MLA Style
Keyboarding is one of the most basic skills needed to master modern technology, and it's also one of the most important. The class uses Century 21 Keyboarding and Information Processing to guide their hands in typing a report in the...
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Research and Documentation
Did you just assign a research project to your high school class? Begin the research process with this presentation. Give your class ideas about where to find information, how to evaluate sources, and how to properly cite them. The...