A brief introductory presentation illustrates many images from Gary Paulsen's Hatchet. From berries to black bears, young readers take a quick trip through Alaska during a class reading unit.

Franklin learns about the world by making observations, and so do we! A short reading assignment prompts fourth graders to answer comprehension questions about a curious boy and what he notices.

Speaking your mind and standing up for yourself is the message of Laurie Halse Anderson's novel Speak. Readers review key details about characters, setting, and plot points with a crossword puzzle all about Speak.

Fall for a series. Learners determine how to find out how far a skydiver falls in the first 20 seconds. The Algebra II lesson introduces the idea of adding up the terms of an arithmetic sequence. Pupils learn how to use Sigma notation to...

In a time of fake news, media manipulation, and Internet trolls, a resource equips learners with the tools they need to recognize and combat resources that are designed to appeal to our cognitive biases. Introduce learners to five...

How are short stories from South Africa connected to issues of civil rights in the United States? A unit plan uses South African short stories to discuss issues such as apartheid, colonization, and civil rights. Questions and activities...

Ken Burn's epic documentary miniseries The Civil War, broadcast in 1990, was the most-watched PBS program ever. A question sheet helps viewers keep track of events in the first episode of the documentary.

Scholars approach a problem trying to plan a meal for a class party. They learn about the restrictions and must decide what information they need to plan the meal. The first lesson in a 13-part unit on Our Hungry Planet encourages...

Who decides someone is not a real person? Scholars investigate the Dred Scott v. Sandford court case which deals directly with slavery and citizenship. After viewing a short video clip, classmates work in pairs to assess and discuss the...

A three-minute exercise warms-up scholars' writing abilities in order to follow a writing process that ends in an essay. The essay's topic is a barrier and the values used to break it. Four steps include choosing a topic,...

Marbury v. Madison is arguably the most important landmark case in the history of the Supreme Court. A fact-filled lesson provides background information about the case and two others related to the concept of judicial review. Scholars...

A two-part assessment challenges scholars to gather information from reading then write an opinion piece. In part one, learners read, take notes, and answer text-related questions. In part two, participants use their new-found knowledge...

Challenge scholars to plan a vacation with a $5,000 budget. Learners review costs of transportation, meals, and entertainment while considering the number of people and destination. Worksheets provide information and...

Maximizing resources is essential to productivity. Class members complete an activity to show how math can help in the process. Using a piece of construction paper, learners construct a box with the maximum volume. Ultimately, they...

Examine the power of technology while modeling with polynomial functions. Using the website wolfram alpha, learners develop a polynomial function to model the shape of a riverbed. Ultimately, they determine the flow rate through the river.

How many of the pupils at your school think selling soda would be a good idea? Show learners how to develop a study to answer questions like these! The lesson explores the meaning of a population versus a sample and how to interpret the...

Students practice silent sustained reading as a method for reading comprehension. Using a checklist, students are assessed on their ability to read a selection without having to read it aloud. They answer in-text questions provided by...

Students explore how to read silently to help them read fluently. They discuss why it is important to read silently. Students read "Jane and Babe" as the teacher models how to read quietly and then silently. They write a story describing...

Learners share weather and community information with other students across the continents. In groups, learners collect details, pictures, and drawings about their community, its weather patterns, and school. They predict if groundhog...

Students practice reading with fluency and accuracy, as well as remembering what they have read in order to interpret the meaning of the text. They read a story several times to become fluent reading faster each time read. Finally,...

Students research a topic relevant to the late 20th century. They create a project while following the conditions explained in the rubric.

Seventh graders interpret data. In this activity on types of graphs, 7th graders construct, interpret, and analyze different graphs. This activity includes worksheets and resources.

Fifth graders read paragraphs that they've written from a Mountains to Climb self-reflection worksheet.