Third graders assimilate the use of the 5 W's (Who, What, Where, When, Why) when solving problems that are presented in literature and in real life situations. They use common fairy tales to solve problems that might arise at home or...

In an age of fake news, alternative facts, and Internet trolls it is essential that 21st Century learners develop the skills they need to authenticate the facts in viral news. Here is a great way to begin with a resource that...

Discover Modernism through the eyes of artists. Over the course of six well-thought-out lessons, learners examine works by Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse while completing a range of collaborative and hands-on activities. A great resource!

There's more to newspaper articles than meets the eye. Scholars learn the different features of a newspaper article, including headline, byline, subheadings, etc. Pupils circle the features in an article as the teacher discusses their...

Students in a preschool classroom discuss potentially fearful current events in a way they can understand. They write or draw about a current event, discussing the 5 W's of news reporting.

Let's take the big W. Scholars analyze the model newspaper article Sandy wreaks havoc across Northeast; at least 11 dead and look to answer who, what, when, where, and why. They work in groups of three to complete a Five W’s web...

Practice making predictions by looking at the cover of a book. You can use The Hungry Thing, as suggested here, or any other book you may be reading in class. Use the predictions to talk about good reading strategies. A chart is...

After working in groups to analyze primary sources related to a historical hoax, learners will discuss how people managed to be fooled and work to identify one of the biggest April Fools jokes in history.

As part of a study of the First Amendment, young historians research instances when individuals or groups used the First Amendment to change the United State's laws or policies. Teams are each assigned a different case study. With the...

A scavenger hunt introduces class groups to the different sections of newspapers and the different types of articles found in each section.

This Groundhog's Day, challenge scholars to predict, estimate, tally, and graph in a weather-themed instructional activity in which class members play the role of the groundhog to forecast the weather come February second. 

Students explore the five senses. In this health lesson, students read the book Brave Little Monster and identify the five senses from the book. Students draw an illustration from the book as a follow-up activity.

Students study the United States Constitution and create a year-long cumulative activity for social studies. In this social studies lesson, students complete activities throughout the year to learn the 5Ws for the United States...

Here is a fantastic primary source analysis activity regarding Frederick Douglass' speech delivered at the unveiling of the Freedmen's Monument in 1876. The follow-up discussion questions and activities highlight Douglass' discussion of...

Support young scholars' oral language development with the use of four early childhood activities. To reinforce proficiency, pupils read with an adult, play a game of telephone with their peers, put on a play with puppets or stuffed...

Sixth graders read and discuss the book, The Diary of A Young Girl, by Anne Frank, analyzing the autobiographical writing style of journal writing. They write their personal thoughts, feelings, and experiences of their own daily...

Students experience The Fish Counting Rhyme. For this counting lesson, students practice counting while listening to The Fish Counting Rhyme.

After a demonstration by the teacher of how to combine sentences, groups read a story loaded with short, choppy sentences and work together to combine sentences to create a more interesting tale. They record their version on a...

Students describe and assess circumstances surrounding a major historical event from the ancient world by using Internet (and other) resources to research its location, people, and repercussions, & write a newsletter that summarizes...

Students make paper bag puppets. They use the puppets as a story teller and reader. Students use the puppets to ask questions during and after reading. They assemble their own puppet. Students use the puppets to introduce new themes,...

Students explore the news media. For this social studies lesson, students discuss what the definition of news is. Students write a newspaper article about positive activity that students at their school are involved in.

Students are asked: Is our life's purpose over when it's over? What happens to our bodies? They analyze the flow of energy through living systems. Students compare the metabolism of autotrophs with that of heterotrophs. They create a...

Students research and examine importance of evaluating source and validity of information found on a web site.

Students explore becoming entrepreneurs. In this career exploration lesson, students work in small groups to begin a new business that they will "build" from scratch as they learn what it takes to create a successful business by using...