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Shred a Scarecrow
Students investigate scarecrows. In this farming lesson, students learn why scarecrows are important and construct their own scarecrow from art materials.
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Outsourcing City Hall
Pupils examine how some city halls around the country are using private companies to run them. After watching a video, they write a reaction paper to some part of it. They write an article for their school newspaper discussing whether...
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Checking Out Community Preparedness
Students research storm preparedness in their community. They interview city officials to determine the current emergency plans, warning systems, etc. Students write an analysis of the situation.
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self-Portrait
Students create self-portraits. They examine thier faces and create a self-portrait using pencils and colored markers. Students examine various examples of self-portraits painted by famous artists. They use a mirror to examine what they...
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Singing at the Vatican
Students read article by The Plain Dealer columnist Sam Fulwood III, told largely from one student's viewpoint, and write reaction paper on topic: "What will I remember the rest of my life?"
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Itchy Ritchy
Itchy Ritchy can help your learners remember the /i/ sound! First teach young learners the fun tongue twister illustrating the target sound, and have them identify the target sound in other words. Use the reading Tim and the Top to...
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Making Connection, Using Metaphor
Chief Seatle's "Letter to President Pierce, 1855" provides the text for a skills exercise that asks readers to consider how writers use metaphors to contribute to the meaning and impact of a work. Participants then apply what they have...
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"Tis The Season" Bulletin Board
Students explore a variety of objects which represent the various seasons as a preparation for writing about their birthday and the season in which it is located.
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Youth Obesity: Schools Fight Back
Kids fight obesity by comparing the USDA food intake suggestions to what they personally consume throughout the day. They watch a video, read texts, and explore related vocabulary which they use as they compose an oral presentation.
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Youth Obesity: Schools Fight Back
Explore nutrition and healthy eating habits with a study on youth obesity. Learners watch a PBS documentary on the obesity epidemic which discusses government programs aimed at healthier choices, as well as more localized efforts. Kids...
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Music
Third graders sing the Shaker tune "Simple Gifts" while identifying eighth, quarter, and half notes. They listen to Aaron Copland's Appalachian Spring and recall other ballet music.
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Time Capsule
First graders collect data in the fall and again in the spring. they use the data from both seasons to compare and contrast changes over time. They put the data from the fall into a box or "time capsule." The teacher encourages students...
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Ed Paschke
Learners examine and discuss the artistic style and techniques of the artist Ed Paschke. They analyze various works of art by Ed Paschke, then choose an icon from art history and alter a photocopy of it using scissors and collage materials.
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Hanging Scrolls
Students explore prospective content for art, then select and use appropriate
subjects, symbols, and ideas to make art meaningful in this instructional activity suited for upper-elementary and middle level classrooms.
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Write to Read
Students discover how to write to improve their reading skills. In groups, they take pictures of a variety of school events and compile them into a PowerPoint presentation. To end the lesson, they add a narration to the slides and share...
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Romare Bearden
Students examine and discuss a collage by the artist Romare Bearden. They analyze the impact of jazz on art, listen to jazz, and create an original collage.
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Editing Emily's Way: An Exercise in Diction and Its Implications
Students examine the poetry of Emily Dickinson and the diction in her poetry. In this poetry analysis lesson, students read Dickinson poetry and analyze the diction in the poems. Students journal about the poetry and rewrite their own...
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A Moment When My Life Changed
Young scholars recognize symbols in a work of art, analyze composition of picture by Hollis Sigler, and plan and execute compositions that successfully tell stories, primarily with symbols.
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Haiku
Students work collaboratively to create a class Haiku and illustrate the poem individually in this elementary school lesson. The lesson includes five possible enrichment activities.
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Past, Present, and Future
Students explore school history by documenting daily life. In this time capsule lesson, students discuss the impact a fire had on their school during the previous year and identify ways to preserve information about their school by...
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Japanese Festivals and Celebrations
Learners investigate the importnce of celebrations anf festivals in Japanese culture and then create a story based upon an image from the instructional activity. Resource links are provided for images of events.
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Narrow Road to the Interior
Students investigate the life and work of the Japanese poet, Matsuo Basho as the Japanese poetic forms are studied. Nature, symbolism, and history are probed as the lesson is developed.
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Four Seasons From Laguna Pueblo
Students study seeds and spring planting. They plant corn, chili, watermelon seeds in a local field and then invite a farmer to come to discuss the preparation, caring and planting of seeds in a field.
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What Physical Activities Do Sneakers and His Friends Do?
Young scholars investigate fun physical activities that can be done year round. In this physical education lesson, students read the story Big News! Straight From the Heart, and list the activities written about in the story....