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A Visit to Hogwarts
Students collaborate in groups to read excerpts or entire selections from two Harry Potter books, use educational software to create concept maps detailing similarities and differences between first two Harry Potter books, and analyze...
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Mapping Your Identity: A Back-To-School Ice Breaker
Identify the unique personal attributes of your class members. Begin by viewing the Visual Thesaurus and discussing displayed attributes associated with famous American leaders. Using these identity maps as models, pupils generate nouns...
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Clues to a Character through Text
Readers will read a text and fill out a character map based on the characters in that text. They will explore different qualities of each character for their map. this can be modified to support younger learners. They will learn about...
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International Relations
Students compare and contrast Neo-realism vs. Realism and Neo-liberalism vs. Liberalism using computers, the internet, Inspiration educational software, and concept maps. This lesson includes a short lesson description and video clip.
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International Relations: Concept Mapping With Inspiration
Students create concept maps comparing and contrasting Neo-realism vs. Realism and Neo-liberalism vs. Liberalism using the Inspiration educational software. This lesson is intended for a high school level social studies class and...
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Building a School Model: An Academic Challenge
First and second graders explore aspects of design. They discuss and design the ideal classroom building complete with window and door placement. Additionally, students observe and note features found in neighboring classrooms as...
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Endangered Animals Books
Middle schoolers research endangered species and create and publish books to present their findings. Designed to use Inspiration software, this resource could be adapted if you don't have access to the program. Contains handy website...
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Multimedia Book Reports
Students read a chapter book of 100-200 pages in length. They create a story map and multimedia book report. Pupils review the elements of a story map such as: characters, setting, problem, important events, solution, etc.) Students...
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Community Building
Seventh graders discover the similarities and differences between cities, towns, and rural communities. Using a Neighborhood map Machine, they create a Venn diagram and map of their own community. Students build a 3-D representation of...
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If I Had Been at Ellis Island
Students examine what it was like to enter the U.S. as an immigrant. They conduct Internet research, develop a concept map, list the ways children occupied their time while at Ellis Island, and create a diorama.
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Geography and Culture in South Carolina
Young scholars explore South Carolina. In this cultural heritage instructional activity, students investigate the topography of South Carolina using maps. Young scholars are engaged in identifying the different regions of the state and...
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Simple Cycles
Students use Inspiration to map cyclical events. They recognize links between separate events and structural patterns. They explore the Internet Connection section to browse additional resources on teaching about cycles used in...
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Most Wanted Villians
Students review the characteristics of various characters in fairytales. As a class, they review the story details and create a concept map using a software program. They create their own wanted poster of the villians in the fairytale to...
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Classify Rocks
Students classify different types of rocks. For this earth science lesson, students test different rock samples and construct a chart to record observations. They create a concept map that answers essential questions.
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Why Not Visit My Country?
Students research a country using the Travel Languages Web site. Using MS Publisher, they create a travel flyer about the country. Using Inspiration, they develop a concept map of what they learned about their country.
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Word Association Poetry with Visual Thesaurus (or Not)
Young poets get inspiration and guidance for making word association poems with the Visual Thesaurus. Your class could complete this project with nothing more than a pencil and paper as well. A nice one-off for a substitute during your...
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The Coin and the Fable: Alaska quarter reverse
An Alaskan quarter and a book of fables is what you'll need to start this lesson. Learners will use the image of the bear and the salmon found on the reverse side of the Alaskan quarter as inspiration. They will compose a fable about the...
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Inspired Science
Middle schoolers explore the process of invention from an inventor's conception and as a factor of history. They are shown how inventions evolve and how inventions influence the world around them Students chart the inception and affects...
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Understanding Stage Design: Using Visual Elements to Provide Information to an Audience
Students study about theatrical design by developing environments for improvised and scripted scenes. They develop focused ideas for an environment using visual elements.
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Biomimicry, Nature: Architecture of the Future
Students explore the relationship between nature and architecture. In this cross curriculum history, culture, and architecture instructional activity, students observe and discuss structures visible in nature. Students view websites in...
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Dancing with Dionysus
Sixth graders research Ancient Greek culture by acting in a play for the festival of Dionysus. In this Greek culture instructional activity, 6th graders study an ancient Greek map and the Sarcophagus Dionysus from the Walters Art Museum...
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Pioneer Homes
Learners compare and contrast Native American dwellings with pioneer homes. They identify the progression of these homes and locate examples on a frontier map.
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Trading Traditions: Based on the American Samoa Quarter Reverse
Young scholars investigate U.S. Currency by researching American Samoa. In this monetary unit lesson plan, students define the reverse and obverse of a coin while completing a currency related worksheet. Young scholars...
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Sky Quest
Learners identify constellations in the evening sky. In this Sky Quest instructional activity, students create their own star patterns using a star map worksheet. Learners explain how different celestial bodies in space are viewed...