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Effects of Urban Growth
Learners explore population growth in the United States and the impact it has had on society. First, they brainstorm the reasons for population growth and the results of these increases. Then, they design surveys, record results, and...
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City, County, Community
Learners explore issues and situations that make for a city and its local environments. In this local government instructional activity, students design maps, define issues and create brochures that illustrate their understandings of...
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Secrets of Lost Empires II -- Medieval Siege
Students design a working working model of a trebuchet and demonstrate the power of a Class 1 lever. They test their models by throwing grapes the greatest distance and raising and lowering bricks.
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Looking at French Decorative Arts: Symbols in Marquetry
Students study symbols on a French cabinet. In this architectural design lesson, students examine the symbolism of the door panel on the "Cabinet on Stand." Students create their own unique design based on a symbol from another country.
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Create, Design, and Invent with Plastic
Young scholars explore creative ways to reuse materials. In this ecology/art lesson, students create artwork using trash. Young scholars view examples of folk art from around the world that used waste products as a main component.
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Critical Reading, Imaginative Writing and the Montage
Students 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.
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Molly's Pilgrim
Learners read Molly's Pilgrim and discuss what the word pilgrim means and what they think they look like. In this pilgrim lesson, students design a clothespin doll to represent a pilgrim.
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Design Motifs and Eggs
Students create an Easter egg that displays at least one secondary color, one primary color, and one motif of design.
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A Design for a Fireplace
Students examine a relief sculpture. In this sculpting lesson, students analyze the sculpture "Sketch for a Fireplace Overmantel" by Francesco Franzoni. Students create a three-dimensional sketch for an overmantel using the styles of...
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Hand Vase: Ceramics
Ceramics can be a wonderful medium. The class creates fun and funky hand shapes vases inspired by Aboriginal art forms. This would be a great project to do just before Mother's Day.
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Proportionality Using Labyrinths and Mazes
Conduct research on the Internet about labyrinths and mazes to learn about proportions and ratios. Inquisitive minds design their own maze, one maze is chosen and proportionately enlarged to 20 feet by 30 feet. This is a fun challenge...
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Criminal or Hero
Young scholars investigate slavery in America circa the American Revolution. They will examine point- of view and perspective as they research a variety of informational resources. While this is designed to be used with the PBS video...
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Wrap It Up for Chanukah!
Prepare gifts for the eight nights of Hanukkah with a fun and artistic lesson. Learners use various materials to make an array of unique gifts, including splatter paintings, decorated flowerpots, and stained glass designed with crayons.
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The Legendary Raptors
How are raptors and airplanes alike? Combine science and language arts in this fun and interactive project. Young scientists research the animal in order to design their own aircraft, and compete in a contest for farthest, fastest, and...
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Fusing Furniture and Asian Art
Students design furniture. In this visual arts lesson, students examine French, Chinese, and Asian art pieces. Students compare the lacquer art and apply the motifs to their lacquer panels and furniture pieces.
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Dream Bed
Students design and write descriptions of imaginary beds. For this interior design lesson, students use various art materials such as paint, fabric, boxes, and string to create a model of a bed. Students use descriptive words to write a...
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The Search for Shangri-La
What is your idea of paradise? Middle and high schoolers share their visions of paradise on earth in this lesson, in which they view a video segment about Shangri-La. Your high schoolers can discuss and then write about their ideas in a...
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Symmetrical Masks
Fifth graders examine symmetrical and asymmetrical balance while making a mask using a variety of colored pencil and marker techniques. They use the process of revision and design as they complete their masks.
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Food Pyramid Abacus
Students investigate the Food Pyramid by constructing a creative project known as a Food Pyramid Abacus. They correlate the color beads withe each food group and the number of recommended servings from each. The abacus is a learning tool...
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Creating New Forms of Life
Although not particularly educational, here is a creative group activity in which high school biologists will use their imaginations to create a new life form combining characteristics from existing life forms. Each group must come up...
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Fun with the Food Pyramid
Middle schoolers explore the five food groups and design a graphic organizer to organize the data researched. A one day food diary kept by students assists them in self-monitoring and self-evaluation of their eating habits.
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The Photoelectric Effect
After some online instruction, chemistry aces use their creative abilities to produce a poster describing the photoelectric effect and one type of imaging technology that uses electromagnetic radiation. This simple, straightforward...
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Designing Families
Students design a tee shirt that depicts some aspect of their family history.
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The Causes and Course of the First World War
Use this twelve-day lesson plan to teach about the causes and courses of WWI. Each day scholars attend lectures, complete creative activities, and hold round table discussions on what they've learned. Web links and resources are...