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Chinese New Year: Lai-See Envelopes Lesson Plan
Students are introduced to the purpose behind the Chinese New Year celebration.  As a class, they examine different traditions focusing on the Lai-See envelopes.  After watching a PowerPoint presentation, they make their own envelopes...
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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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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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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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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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Routing Explorers
Students read excerpts from an explorer's journal and then become investigators and navigators themselves. Students answer questions about the difficulties and time it took for the explorers to travel from Washington to New Orleans and...
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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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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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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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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....
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Examining The Scores
Learners investigate test scores taken to obtain academic strengths and weaknesses. They practice looking at the scores in order to interpret the results. Students use time for class discussion and planning study strategies to target...
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Introduce Vocabulary: Moonbear’s Bargain
Learners explore language arts by reading a book in class. In this story vocabulary lesson plan, students read the book Moonbear's Bargain and identify the use of specific vocabulary words. Learners define the selected vocabulary words...
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Introduce Vocabulary: The Surprise Garden
Students explore English by reading children stories in class. In this tier two vocabulary activity, students read the book The Surprise Garden and identify the settings, plot and characters. Students define a list of vocabulary words...
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Immigration Debate
Students investigate the law recently passed in Arizona, "Support our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act."  In this history instructional activity, students watch a video on immigration then work in small groups to prepare a...
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The Battle for Congress: Midterm Elections 2010
Students research midterm elections. In this United States Congress lesson, students use the Internet to explore the issues, candidates, platforms and stakes of the midterm elections of 2010. This extensive lesson makes use of...
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Plant Systems
Second graders learn about plant systems and how plants grow and function. In this plant lesson plan, 2nd graders collect data based on roots, leaves, terrariums, plant uses, and locations of certain kinds of plants. They fill out...
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Bringing Forestry into the Classroom
Here are ways to incorporate science, math, and language arts while learning more about the forests that sustain us.
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Nature Oriented Kindness Projects
Young scholars complete various nature activities where they work together to create a butterfly garden, plant flowers, learn about nature survival, and more. In this nature lesson plan, students work together in groups and display...
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How Plants Help Us Breathe
Third graders discuss how humans breathe and how plants help us to stay alive.  In groups, they identify and label the different parts of plants and describe their functions.  They compare and contrast the ways plants and animals breathe...
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Where Does It Come from?
Students read articles about various agricultural products and create a map using the statistics in the article.  In this agricultural statistics lesson, students look at the geography of the country and which products come from the...