Learners view different commercials and ad campaigns that present opposing notions of "truth." Students use these commercials to evaluate what makes an effective public service announcement (PSA) or advertisement, then choose a national...

Evaluate the use of vocabulary in written paragraphs to make the determination of its appropriateness for a particular audience. As a class, seventh graders develop a fictional team and write three paragraphs to different audiences based...

Map maker, map maker, make me a map! Your class can sing this tune as they work to create their own regional maps by taping paper to the wall, projecting an overhead transparency image, and tracing. Where this lesson plan intends for the...

Students investigate the concept of adding and subtracting polynomials. They put terms in the correct order in order to solve them vertically. They simplify first with combining like terms and then conducting the calculations. The...

Why is it important to know an author's purpose? After reviewing the three main purposes of writing, seventh graders write a persuasive letter to convince why summer school is better than taking the summer off. They can then join in a...

Fourth graders experiment with electricity and magnetism and build an electromagnetic motor. In this electromagnetism lesson plan, 4th graders use household objects to show electrostatics and magnets and compasses to show magnetism. They...

Practice your speaking skills! Using a chosen visual aid, pupils present a previously written essay to the class. During the oral presentation, the listeners identify and write down the author's purpose and a question for the author. At...

A lesson on photo analysis, compare and contrast, and an art project are here for the taking. Fourth graders analyze photographs of gas stations from now and from the past, focusing on how the cars and building designs are a form of art....

Students investigate many of the factors that affect water quality. They take measurements and water samples at a local stream and evaluate the health of their community's watershed. They write a report detailing their findings.

Pupils explore the information depicted on topographic maps. They construct a 3-D topographic map of a local area. They go on a field trip to the depicted area and compare the 'real world' with their models.

Students explain the meaning of and recognize the map outlines of a peninsula, an isthmus, and a cape.

This series of lessons contains sensitive material. Please review to ensure that the content is suitable for your class. It begins by discussing what microbes are. Scholars are then asked to review a few online resources and answer...

Using Walt Whitman's Song of Myself and Hart Crane's The Bridge as models, class groups first craft their own epic poems for 1900 and, using primary sources, create a multi-media presentation that captures the sights and...

Students describe theories on how the first humans came to America and show the evidence that supports it.  In this investigative lesson students study given material and prepare written or oral reports in their groups. 

Students consider words that reflect their knowledge and opinions about Israel, Palestinian Authority and the Gaza Strip. They develop annotated timelines about the history of the region in the 20th century and create collages that...

Students analyze the relevance of newly-uncovered, revealing C.I.A. document from the 1950's to people today. They explore the details and impact of a secret history of the C.I.A. in Iran by reading and discussing "How a Plot Convulsed...

Students explore, examine and study about the role of religion in presidential campaigns and elections by reading and discussing the article, "God" 08: Whose, and How Much, Will Voters Accept?" They research a variety of presidents...

In this math instructional activity, students solve three digit addition problems. Some of the addition problems require regrouping. The problems are set up to solve vertically.

Young scholars examine and debunk historical myths, using the American Revolution as a starting point. They create and play a game of "American History: Fact or Fiction?"

Students use a New York Times article about the first free election in Indonesia in over four decades as a tool for learning about the government and politics, economy, religion, international relations, and people of Indonesia in the...

Students review their prior knowledge about Haiti. They examine violence in Haiti by reading and discussing "HAITIAN FORCES BATTLING UPRISING REPORT RETAKING 3 TOWNS." In groups, students research specific time periods of Haitian history...

Students investigate the determination of the boundaries of various countries. They work in small groups to research a country's political history and past boundary issues and territorial disputes.

Young scholars read Gandhi Says She 'Must Humbly Decline' to be India's Premier from The New York Times and discuss Sonia Ghandi's electoral victory and her response. Students then break into groups and research the past 50 years of...

Young scholars examine the importance of folklore in Ireland and how that folklore reflects Irish culture. They first interpret various Irish folk tales, focusing on what about Irish culture can be better understood from these stories.