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Thanksgiving Lessons and Activities
Thanksgiving lessons and activities can lead to writing, art, and research projects.
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United We Stand
Students recreate and simulate the secession of the South during the Civil War by having their class secede from the school. They write an essay comparing and contrasting the similarities and differences of everyday life before and after...
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Teaching Kindness across the Curriculum: Kindness for a Day, a Week, a Month, a Year
Students investigate the concept of character kindness in literature. In this human character lesson plan, students read about kindness and write about their understanding of it.
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Peace Doves
Students explore ways to obtain world peace. In this character education lesson, students read the book Peace Begins With Me and brainstorm a list of ways students can create a more peaceful world. Students use included dove patterns to...
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No is No, Si is Yes
Third graders match the body part words in Spanish to a picture. They receive a picture of a human with lines coming from its feet, hands, and arms. Students use a word bank, to write the Spanish word that corresponds to the picture. ...
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A Sea-nic Perspective
Students brainstorm topics related to the health of our world's oceans. They create presentations about specific issues affecting oceans for display in a classroom exhibit. They write letters of invitation to guests to view the exhibit.
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CREATE A NEW RHYME
Third graders develop basic narratives. They retell a focused story and create a basic publication using available resources (e.g., pictures, colors, computer, copier). They experiment with different forms of creative writing (e.g.,...
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Science Fiction Literature
Students identify the elements of science fiction literature. They write and illustrate a science fiction story using real and exaggerated science. In addition, they read their stories aloud in small groups.
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Personification Poems
Personification poems can get students writing and thinking poetically.
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Literature: Isabel Allende
Students watch and respond to a Bill Moyers Now video on the Chilean author, Isabel Allende. They brainstorm a list of recent events that might inspire writers and choose one to write about in poetic, diary, or short story form.
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SEQUENCING A STORY WITH PICTURES: TEXT AND TALK
Third graders create a graphic organizer. They draw illustrations that show the beginning, middle and end of a trip they took to visit a friend or a relative. They write age-appropriate text to accompany each drawing. They tell...
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The Mural of the Story
Students write a description of what they believe is on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. After reading an article, they discuss the restoration of the mural on its ceiling. They brainstorm a list of important buildings and write a...
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Let's Get Critical!
Young scholars write a letter to a classmate recommending a favorite book and brainstorm ways in which a person would encourage others to read a book, focusing on specific elements of novels.
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Alzheimer's: A Societal Crisis
Students discuss ways in which diseases affect individuals, families, and society, and view and answer questions about segments from The Forgetting related to the impact of Alzheimer's disease on society and families. They brainstorm...
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Heading West
Students study the concept of the westward expansion. In this exploration of the western U.S. lesson, students participate in different activities that explain economic hardships, jobs, and land opportunities. Students describe...
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Scenario Challenge: Farenheit 451
Students choose books to preserve for future generations. Students are given a scenario in which they are allowed to save only five books for future generations. Students write a persuasive letter in which they try to...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Family Voices In As I Lay Dying
Learners analyze William Faulkner's 'As I Lay Dying' and his use of multiple voices. In this William Faulkner lesson plan, students analyze Faulkner's use of multiple voices in narration. Learners examine the Bundren family through the...
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The Buckshot Stops Here
Students study the incident between Vice President Dick Cheney and his friend while hunting. They brainstorm and research different scandals throughout History and complete a homework assignment.
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Conflicting Views
Students complete a Venn diagram comparing the United States and Afghanistan. They research the history of the Taliban and how they relate to the United States and its foreign policy. They write a paper on possible solutions.
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Making 'Friends'
Students read "Fans Gear Up to Say Goodbye to 'Friends'" from The New York Times and discuss the elements of the sitcom 'Friends' that made it such a success. After brainstorming reasons for 'Friends' popularity, students work in groups...
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Electing a president
Students create a list of characteristics of a president and reach consensus about the most important qualities. In this electing a President lesson, students work in groups to choose the most important traits of a president and...
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Bestiarity and Gargoyles
Students complete an art project. For this gargoyles lesson, students learn about gargoyles and other medieval architecture features and discuss their purposes. Students create their own monsters using an etching technique. This lesson...
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Tobacco
Young scholars write paragraphs about the message of an advertisement ad they see in magazines and their intended audience. In this advertisements lesson plan, students look at tobacco, clothing, hair products, and more.
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Investigating Bean Pods and How They Grow
Third graders observe and create a record of seed growth over time. After planting a seed, 3rd graders record their observations of the seed's growth over a three week period. Upon conclusion of the experiment, they write a paragraph...