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Gazebos and Other Worlds
Design a simple structure such as the gazebo. Work with your class to identify the six faces of a cube pattern and name other uses of patterns in industry. They draft, cut out, and assemble a cube pattern. They draw out and assemble two...
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Latino Literature: Poetry
Under construction, this lesson focuses on Canto Familia, a collection of poetry about Gary Soto's experiences growing up in California's Imperial Valley. Representative of the experiences of many Latinos, the poems also address themes...
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Pizza for Everyone
Pizza is the inspiration for the cross-curricular lesson plan detailed here. Start out with a poem about pizza and move into a discussion about balanced eating. To close the language arts portion of the lesson plan, ask your pupils to...
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"Disco Sucks!"
Learners examine why disco and other forms of music were not widely accepted.
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Tolerance in Times of Trial
Young scholars view the treatment of people of Japanese and German descent during World War II. They explore the problems in assigning blame to populations during times of war. They identify modern examples of discrimination and...
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Arts of the Gilded Age
Young scholars study the art forms of the Gilded Age. In this integrated arts lesson plan, students research the art, music, dance, and drama of the historical era and then create their own personal projects that exemplify the time period.
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Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt
Students read and understand the book Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt. In this language lesson, students understand the Ebonics and colloquialisms of the book. Students discuss the events and vocabulary used. Students explain their...
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Folk Music
Students explore Folk Music in Iowa. For this folk music lesson, students discuss different types of folk music and how it relates to life in Iowa. They take the tune of a song and write their own lyrics to describe their life.
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Biography: 15 Years and Counting
Students witness the evolution of an episode of Biography from inception to final airing. They follow the procedure used for research, editing and producing the final project.
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Swing Your Partner! It's A Virtual Square Dance
Learners explore the Wessels Living History Farm website and research how to do a square dance. They read a story, listen to an explanation of barn dances, and participate in various square dances.
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Cruzin' to the Arctic
Students, in groups, study life in the Arctic Region and connect their own life experiences to the experiences of students in the Arctic.
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Those Amazing Animals
Middle schoolers understand the roles of animals in entertainment and sports. In this animal welfare lesson, students recognize that some animals are used humanely and others are used cruelly. Middle schoolers classify different animals...
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"The Father of Lavish Advertising": P.T. Barnum
Students examine the life and work of P.T. Barnum. They discover his advertising techniques and business practices. They examine his use of people with disabilities for amusement.
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Sporting Fever
Pupils view a video about the values that are represented by sports teams. They write a paper about the connection between sports and social values. They share their responses with the class.
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Social Studies: War and the Media
Pupils examine the impact of the media on various wars, especially the Iraq and Vietnam wars. By examining cartoons and popular music as primary sources, they suggest motivations for the conflicts and propose reasons for public dissent....
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What's the Cost?
Students consider what things cost 150 years ago and what those costs would be in today's money. They compare costs and services between the 1850s and today to find out if things are cheaper or more expensive today, in inflation-adjusted...
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What is Manga?
Students research graphic novels. In this manga lesson plan, students work in small groups as the read graphic novels in literature circle format.
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Dale Carnegie: Man of Influence
Young scholars study about Dale Carnegie, who taught millions how to achieve self-confidence and interpersonal social skills.
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Pizza Portions
Students explore mathematics by participating in a pizza pie activity. In this nutrition lesson plan, students identify the caloric intake in a piece of pizza and estimate the average number of slices eaten by a person. Students utilize...
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Exploring & Creating Mythology
Students read and compare mythological stories from ancient cultures from around the world. In small groups they read a myth and present the storyline and themes to the class, and write an original mythological story of their own...
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Road Trip!
Learners plan a road trip, choosing destinations to visit and determining how much the trip cost. They create a journal that illustrates how they got from one place to another, and includes an expense sheet for each stretch.
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On the Road
Students investigate the history of the automobile in the United States. They complete a Webquest, explore the PBS website, answer discussion questions, and locate and discuss newspaper articles about cars and travel.
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Holidays & Festivals Around The World-Kwanzaa
Students use technology to conduct research. They use technology to convey principles and information. They demonstrate proficiency in the use of computer based technology.
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Disco - Voices of a New Generation
Students analyze lyrics of selected Disco songs for content, theme and vocabulary. They write an extended response citing specific lyrics in response to three general themes.