If your class is reading the historical fiction novel, Out of the Dust, then you are in luck. Here are a few slides that will help you provide historical context for the book, as well as define main characters, setting, symbolism, and...

Build an interest and appreciation for architecture in your young learners with this fun 10-lesson art unit. Engaging children in using their five senses, the class first observes the environment around them, paying...

Did you know that modern Chinese literature “grew from the psychoanalytical theory of Sigmund Freud”? Designed for a world literature class, seniors are introduced to “One Evening in the Rainy Season,” Shi Zhecun’s stream of...

Introduce young readers to historical fiction with Karen Hesse's novel, Out of the Dust. They'll view photos taken during the Dust Bowl years, meet the author, and even hear an excerpt from the book. A plot summary and three book talks...

Pair the famous poems "I Hear America Singing," by Walt Whitman, and "I, Too, Sing America," by Langston Hughes, with a more recent poem by Elizabeth Alexander called "Praise Song for the Day" to demonstrate a theme and introduce your...

Middle schoolers examine deaf culture and the role that American Sign Language plays in forging a sense of community.

Students discover that the sense of smell helps us to enjoy life and explore unsafe conditions. They smell Christmas by making gingerbread ornaments.

High schoolers examine how Stephen Crane treats the process by which a youth matures in his novel the Red Badge of Courage. They study how he exemplifies manly virtues associated with soldiers in war and examine the three endings that...

Students provide examples of Crane's treatment of the "manly virtues" associated with war using support from the text of The Red Badge of Courage. They describe the three published endings of The Red Badge of Courage and the difference...

Students react to the current financial crisis. In this community building lesson, students are given the opportunity to voice their thoughts and feelings on the current financial crisis in the safety of a classroom meeting.

Students learn about the life of Helen Keller. In this cultural and disability awareness lesson, students read a biography about Helen Keller and discuss the differences in her life and theirs. Students discuss which sense they would...

Students examine the effect of music on society. While listening to music, they identify the beat, rhythm and write down their reaction to it. Listening to longer selections, they assign a color to the music and share it with the...

In this historical activity, students examine a full color picture of a Victorian street scene. Students imagine they are there and record details on a chart about what they see, hear and smell.

Third graders read Barbara D. Booth's, "Mandy" while noting each time they read a sensory detail. They read about the young girl in the story who is hard of hearing and determine how her other senses are heightened. Also, they determine...

Students are encouraged to have a sense of tolerance, including racial differnces, in order to enjoy the richness and diversity of life. They are shown readiness to look beyond surface impressions. Students appreciate that other's...

Students discover the culture, society, geography, and history of Asia through games, food, art, and literature in this multi-day lesson about China and Japan. An exciting lesson for upper-elementary or lower-middle school classrooms.

Learners investigate the state of Wisconsin and use sound to experience the concept differently. They listen to Native American songs of a tribe in the state. Also they listen to the frogs that live there in the classroom or out in the...

In this reading instructional activity, students respond to the book Happy Birthday, Martin Luther King by completing an activity at home with a parent. Students cut out 3 pictures of scenes depicted in the book. A parent reads a...

In this Ramadan worksheet, students retell a time that their family and friends celebrated a special occasion together in their own words. Students are encouraged to include their five senses in their descriptions.

Students explore the use of derogatory language and labeling others. For this discrimination lesson students research word origins, how different terms came to be used in a negative sense and what it would be like to have a negative...

Students study Abe Lincoln and make a log cabin out of pretzel sticks and chocolate frosting.

Students predict the things that they may see, smell, or hear in their neighborhood. They take part in a neighborhood walk, creating a rough map of their neighborhood as they go. Upon return to the classroom, students create a final map...

Students examine Native American heritage. They explore a museum of Native American culture and explore their food, dress, and customs. They also explore the Native Americans role in the first Thanksgiving.

Students explore the geography, culture, and philosophy of Asia using all five senses and information about China and Japan. This lesson is detailed and may take several days of in-class activities to complete.