Lesson Plan
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Using Timelines

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students explore how to create a simple timeline and make one of their life.
Lesson Plan
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Busy Fingers

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students describe their favorite hobbies and pastimes and investigate those of others. They survey the range of hobbies and share them with a partner school abroad. They make a poster or website about hobbies and pastimes.
Lesson Plan
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Where Have All the Endangered Gone?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore animals that are endangered. They choose an endangered animal that they would like to keep from becoming extinct. Students create a persuasive presentation to persuade someone to understand why they feel keeping their...
Unit Plan
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Second Graders Create Their Own Social Studies Book

For Teachers 2nd
Students develop their own social studies textbook. Students gain knowledge of American immigration and Ellis Island. Students discover the process of becoming a naturalized citizen and what it means to be a citizen
Lesson Plan
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Naming Traditions

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students get to know each other better and research their family and community history. After students research their own and their parents' names, they notice names in literature, history, and other studies and know more about these names.
Lesson Plan
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From Corn To Tortillas

For Teachers K
Students investigate the food known as the tortilla. They research the growth cycle of the corn plant and how tortillas are made from it. The importance of the tortilla according to the Hispanic culture is explained to the students. The...
Unit Plan
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A Tour Through China

For Teachers 2nd
Students explore the culture, development, inventions, and geography of China in the seven lessons of this unit. The teachings of Confucius are examined and the celebrations for the Chinese New Year are inspected.
Lesson Plan
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Bridges- Design a Bridge

For Teachers 5th - 6th
In this bridge design worksheet, students answer 5 general questions about bridges. Students follow the directions to construct 4 types of bridges with paper and test them for strength.
Lesson Plan
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Energy Detectives

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students explore where energy comes from and identify the different kinds of energy.  In this energy lesson students search their classroom for energy connections and record the way that they use energy. 
Lesson Plan
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Finding Ourselves: The Search for American Identity

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers examine American identity through race, ethnicity, class, gender, regionalism, political values, and beliefs focusing on the Depression era.
Lesson Plan
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Places We Live

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students compare/contrast rural and urban communities, and view and discuss the images on the Illinois quarter. They discuss Abraham Lincoln's life, complete a chart and a Venn diagram comparing urban and rural settings, and create a...
Lesson Plan
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Masks and More Masks

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Young scholars study different cultures through their masking traditions. They experiment with a variety of mask making media. They explore the elements of 3-D to encourage creativity.
Lesson Plan
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The Alphabet is Historic

For Teachers K - 9th
Students describe how the Phoenicians, Greeks and Romans passed down the alphabet through the generations. They compare and contrast the letters from early alphabets to the one of today and discuss how they are different. Using a map,...
Lesson Plan
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Salt Marsh in a Pan

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students create a model of a salt marsh to discover the impact of pollution and human activities on water-based habitats including bays and the ocean. They recognize the relationship between natural and developed areas. Students impact...
Lesson Plan
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America's Rain Forests Can It Be Real?

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students examine the attributes of unusual plants and animals before determining how they are adapted to specific habitat. They complete an associated worksheet. They make posters with information that they find during research sessions.
Lesson Plan
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Schoolhouses

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders research life in a one- room schoolhouse. They plan and carry out a mock day in a one-room schoolhouse. They make slates on a prior day by painting small boards with chalkboard paint.
Lesson Plan
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Alfred Hitchcock and David O. Selznick

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers compare/contrast the Hollywood film industry of the 30s and 40s with Hollywood today. They watch a video on David O. Selznick and Alfred Hitchcock, conduct Internet research, and create a poster to present their findings.
Lesson Plan
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Technology Blackout Day

For Teachers K - 2nd
Learners describe the impact of modern technology inventions on daily life. They create a graph of the class's favorite item of technology and draw a picture of their favorite piece of modern technology.
Lesson Plan
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Rationalizing Race in US History

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students consider the classification of people. In this race studies instructional activity, students examine the concept of race as it relates to U.S. history and trends. Students research racial discrimination and prejudice in order to...
Lesson Plan
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Bodaciously Beautiful Butterflies Take Flight

For Teachers K - 2nd
Young scholars complete study on butterflies using real caterpillars, keep individual daily journals of observations, and complete timeline for their caterpillar/butterfly.
Lesson Plan
Time Warp Trio

The Caveman Catastrophe

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Young archaeologists study the development of human history, and work in groups to create a timeline that traces the development of humans. Additionally, the groups utilize a very clever graphic organizer embedded in the plan in order to...
Lesson Plan
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Waste Watchers

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students recognize the importance of saving energy to save natural resources. In this saving energy lesson, students complete a worksheet to find types of electricity meters in their homes. Students use meter readings to calculate energy...
Lesson Plan
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Parades

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Third and fourth graders examine the history of parades and investigate guidelines and items needed for a parade. They listen to a speaker discuss how to organize a parade. In small groups, learners organize various items for the event...
Lesson Plan
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Wappo Indians of Napa County

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders describe the American Indian nation in their local region long ago and in the recent past in terms of national identities, religious beliefs, customs, and various folklore traditions. They synthesize their findings into a...