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Wild About Wildfires
Students conduct a debate. In this wildfire and controlled burning lesson, students watch the video "Legacy of Fire" and discuss the topic of wildland fires and controlled burns. Half of the class researches the arguments for these...
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The Oregon Trail
Fourth graders discover the significance of the Oregon Trail in Idaho history. In addition, 4th graders conceptualize the Oregon Trail in relation to their own lives. They engage in a wide variety of curricular activities, culminating in...
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Kokeshi Dolls
Students study the Japanese holiday Hina Matsuri and its traditions and celebration. They explore the history, location and cultural significance of Kokeshi dolls.
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Let's Make A Dill
Students perform an "autopsy" on a dill pickle to determine its' cause of death. After finding "clues" inside the "body," students organize facts and use their imagination to write an epitaph. As an alternative, students may view a...
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Performing Well Under Pressure
Students study the physical properties of minerals and illustrate their functions. In this mineral lesson students construct models of some minerals.
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The Pre-Raphaelite Artists
A study of pre-Raphaelite artists can lead to an exploration of art, literature, and history.
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The West "The People": The Lewis and Clark Expedition
Fourth graders become familiar with the conditions facing the members of the Expedition in the early 1800's, as well as the causes and consequences of the Expedition. They describe the conditions of the land in the 1800's and during the...
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Ocean Habitats:
Students investigate the creatures of intertidal zones. They explore the adaptations species make to survive .
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Ecological Decision Making
Students, beginning individually and later in small groups use the decision making model to address the question of reintroducing the wolf into Yellowstone National Park. Each small group elects a spokesperson to report to the class,...
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Right on the Money
Students are introduced to coins and bills in American currency. After watching a video, they practice making the same amount of money out of different combinations of coins and bills. Using the internet, they discover how much each...
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Cluing into Symbols Robert Frost
Students use the Internet and video to discover how find evidence in poetry in order to discover the theme(s) of the poems. They are able to define poetic devices like simile, metaphor and repetition. Students identify themes in...
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Eliminating Wordiness: Exercise 1
In this writing exercise, students are given a series of sentences and asked to rewrite them to eliminate wordy phrases and clauses, repetition and passive voice.
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Airing Our concerns: I Can See Clearly Now
Middle schoolers research specific answers to questions about air pollution. For this air pollution lesson, students share information to fully understand the causes of air pollution. Middle schoolers role play individuals from different...
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Warming by Freezing
Ninth graders discover the reasoning behind spraying water on fruit and seedlings in preparation for hard freezes. In this conceptual physics instructional activity, 9th graders conduct an experiment to measure the heat released when...
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Reading-Author's Purpose
Students review what author's purpose is by understanding that authors either persuade, inform, describe, or entertain with their story. In this language arts instructional activity, students bring in junk mail and in small groups...
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Timely Technologies
Second graders explain how society influences the type of technology developed. In this science lesson, 2nd graders research about a topic they chose from the given list. They develop a creative presentation about it such as a play,...
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Isamu Noguchi/Stone Sculpture
Learners examine the art and history of Japan and use it to help them conceptualize and create a work of art that reveals something about their own culture. They examine, interpret and analyze Noguchi's work and reveal information...
Facing History and Ourselves
Emmett Till: Confronting the Murder
The 1955 murder of Emmett Till is often regarded as the catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement of the 20th century. Learn more about the brutal crime—and, as many believe, the miscarriage of justice—that began a national conversation...
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Portraits Visual and Written: Louisa May Alcott and Samuel Clemens
Students discover the life and work of an American author, either Samuel Clemens or Louisa May Alcott. In this study of visual and written portraits lesson, students take a look at the authors through four different sources: a portrait,...
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Disappearing Water
Students explore the water cycle. In this earth science instructional activity, students observe and measure water in a closed container and in an open container. Students record their observations and compare their sets of data to draw...
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Alien Invasions!
Students use video and Internet components, to gain an understanding of non-native invasive plants and animals and the ecological and monetary problems they cause.
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The Birds and the Beaks
Students explore the adaptations that birds have. In this adaptations instructional activity students view a video and create a concept map of birds and their adaptive traits.
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Ice Cream Chemical and Physical Changes
Fourth graders identify characteristics of a simple physical and chemical change. They describe objects by the properties of the materials from which they are made and that these properties can be used separate. Students describe the...
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Elements And Atoms
High schoolers investigate the concept of elements and atoms. They conduct research using a variety of resources and use the information in order to create a class presentation. The lesson includes specific dialogue and steps for the...