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Vocabulary Building - Brainstorming
Students learn new vocabulary words in ways that are fun and enriching. They brainstorm lists of words to be used in sentences, stories, or conversations.
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What Color Is Your Apple?
Third graders spend time identifying the characteristics they have and ones they would like to develop for their own personal growth. As a class, they brainstorm ways they can tell they are growing up or being mature. Individually, they...
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The Vacation Can Be An Education
Fifth graders are given a worksheet in which they choose a location they would like to visit. As a class, they brainstorm a list on what needs to be done before they go on their trip and why it is important to have a plan. To end the...
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Using I-Statements
Fifth graders brainstorm a list of life-changing events. As a class, they practice making I-statements and identify what to avoid when putting them together. To end the lesson, they determine which of their statements can be used in...
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Respecting Differences
Fifth graders brainstorm what a relationship looks like in which both people respect each other. After completing a worksheet, they discuss the importance of respecting other beliefs. To end the lesson, they identify things they can do...
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An Apple A Day
Third graders brainstorm a list of how they can tell if someone feels bad about themselves. As a class, they describe three different apples shown to them. Individually, they cut out shapes of apples and color them to place them on a...
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Communicating with "I Messages", Part 2
Third graders listen to ways they share their feelings with others. After brainstorming situations where "I messages" would be appropriate, pairs of students write messages from the lists they developed. They discuss how their messages...
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A Day in the Park
Fourth graders brainstorm a list of criteria for a quality recreation center. They draft a written proposal the center they plan to design. They write to persuade a land developer to hire their company.
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Critical Literacy in the 21st Century: Sitti's Secrets
Fourth graders write persuasive letters. For this letter writing lesson, 4th graders read Sitti's Secrets by Naomi Shihab Nye and discuss their areas or topics of concern. Students select a person to write a letter to and how they...
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Interviewing for beginners: Getting over the scary part
Are you beginning a unit on interviews/ conducting interviews? This lesson doesn't contain many details, but you might want to check it out if you're hoping to lead your class in interviewing outside sources.
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Personal/Social Development
Middle schoolers use real life situations to use their problem-solving skills. They, in groups, explore why rules are a part of life.
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Look at Philanthropy in Children's Literature
Students listen to stories about different philanthropic acts. They work together in groups to create a list of the needs of their community. They chose a service project which could be completed by their class.
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History in my Town
Fourth graders research a historical period in their hometown and use PowerPoint to present it to the class.
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Countryside Protest in London
Young scholars, in groups, discuss questions about a protest in London, England. They examine the differences between living in the city and the country.
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Panther in the Basement
Middle schoolers produce an ongoing journal in which they relate their personal response to literature. They examine the theme of the rights of the individual versus the whole. They explore conflict in Panther in the Basement.
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Words In The News: Beverly Hills Smoking Ban
Students read news articles about the proposed smoking ban in California restaurants. After discussing the news report, they role-play scenarios about nonsmoking situations. In groups, they brainstorm the pros and cons of smoking bans...
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Equipment Ad
Students create a one-minute advertisement for a piece of sports safety equipment. They define the terms ad, advertisement, and commercial and demonstrate creative-thinking and creative-writing skills.
Special Olympics
SO…What’s the Challenge?
Whose responsibility is it to protect equal rights? Class members engage in a series of activities that create awareness of the prejudice and intolerance persons with disabilities face. They then create a message addressed to their...
University of North Carolina
Application Essays
There's a lot riding on good writing! Often, an application essay is the difference between acceptance and rejection. As part of a series on specific writing assignments and contexts, a handout helps scholars craft the perfect personal...
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News View
Learners read and analyze three different news sources that describe the same event. They compare/contrast the similarities and differences of the news sources, and write an essay describing the main event.
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Character Development Through Reader's Theater
Ninth graders study a piece of literature, adapt it into a script and perform the piece to the class. Students practice reading their scripts. They use Inspiration software to create a multimedia presentation.
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Message in a Bottle
Sixth graders write a short story about being stranded on a deserted island. After a brief geography review of locations at various latitudes and longitudes, 6th graders draft their story about being stranded. They use sensory and...
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KinderArt Drawing for Kids
Students illustrate a creative adventure idea. For this arts and crafts lesson, students design drawings based on where they would like to go for an adventure. Before creating their illustrations, students brainstorm the...
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Designing a Playground!
Students design their own playground equipment. In this design lesson, students take pictures of equipment they like and make a class pictograph of their favorite ones. They investigate the design, research equipment around the world,...