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I'm Thankful For...
First graders engage in a lesson plan that demonstrates the character trait of thankfulness. The teacher enthusiastically shares something to be thankful for with the class. Then they spend the time to draw an idea of something to be...
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Policy Debate / Community Meeting on Climate Change
Learners investigate how natural hazards can present personal and societal challenges as well as the cost involved. They assess the risk analysis considerations with global warming and their impacts on an ecosystem. An estimate of the...
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I Want to Believe: Astrologers and Sceptics in King Lear
Young scholars examine two conflicting writings on solar eclipse that occurred on Black Monday and discuss them in the context of Shakespeare's King Lear. In this Shakespeare lesson, students discuss astrology and read the speeches made...
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The Tale of the Feral - Care and Multiplication of Feral Cats
Students differentiate between a feral cat and a domesticated cat. In this cat lesson plan, students use the scientific method, calculate averages, solve story problems, and learn how a caretaker can help a feral colony live safely.
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Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes
Sixth graders discuss how people, society, and technology change over time through a unit of integrated lessons. In these changes in society lessons, 6th graders discuss the answers to many questions about how changes effect the...
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Causation-Exploration and World Trade
Learners investigate spice trade. In this world history lesson, students identify various spices in jars and their places of origin. Learners listen to a lecture on how spices came to countries in Europe. Students complete a source...
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Teachers See the Truth but Wait: Teaching Short Stories with Literature Circles
Students use literature circles to analyze four short stories from the Realms of Gold, Volume 3. In this literature circle lesson, students are assigned a role in the literature circle to improve their critical thinking skills for...
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Safe Passwords
Students brainstorm synonyms for security. In this Computer Skills lesson, students compare the home security to password security. Students read an article and review strategies for creating strong passwords. Students apply their...
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"I Banish You": Using Visual and Auditory Imagery to Connect with Speech
Students analyze a monologue by Coriolanus in Shakespeare's play of the same name. In this literature lesson plan, students discuss and define betrayal and the events surrounding Coriolanus' banishment from Rome.
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Hero Or Zero?
Students investigate science and technology by reading a children's book. In this reading comprehension lesson, students read the story Archibald Frisby and discuss the ways we use science and technology in everyday life....
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Out of the Dust
Learners create a poem that expresses the physical and emotional turmoil of living through the Dust Bowl. In this Out of the Dust lesson, students research facts about the time period and discuss the cause-effect patterns...
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Literature Soundtracks
Student choose ten songs to create a soundtrack for a novel read in class or as outside reading. In the liner notes, instead of lyrics Pupils writes a rationale of why or how the song relates to the novel in terms of setting, conflict,...
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Personally Poetic
Students create an Acrostic poem using notes from biography journals. In this poetry and journal lesson, students read a biography of their choice and take notes in their journals. Students review an acrostic poetry website and use...
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Trust Circles
Students compare communities to which they belong. In this social studies and language arts lesson, students discuss trust and use a Venn diagram to compare two communities to which they belong.
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My Town
Students research the history of their local community. They focus on interviewing skills and primary source analysis. They present the research information using a variety of creative techniques.
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Collaborative Book Club Groups
Middle schoolers participate in book club forums where they write descriptive, evaluation, analysis, synthesis, or inference essays. They take on the role of a character in their bok and publish a web page.
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Apples Personified
Students write a creative writing piece by personifying apples. In this creative writing instructional activity, students view a PowerPoint about the writing process and brainstorm about apples. Students write a rough draft about their...
Shakespeare Uncovered
War and Leadership in Shakespeare’s Henry V
“Compared to war all other forms of human endeavor shrink to insignificance.” “War is not healthy for children and other living things.” These two views of war, embodied in George Patton’s statement and Lorraine Schneider‘s famous 1966...
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Tension Between Conflict and Compromise
Learners prepare for and participate in a debate and mock trial regarding laws broken during the Boston Tea Party. Several primary documents and a homework chart are included.
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Crane, London, and Literary Naturalism
High schoolers read London's "To Build a Fire" and Crane's "The Open Boat" and compare and contrast the authors' style as they explore the genre known as American literary naturalism.
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Bringing Surrealism into the Digital Realm
High schoolers write a three page article on two famous surrealist artist of their times. Then, they compare and contrast their similarities and document in the article website references used on footnotes. Students also use...
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Puzzle Mystery
Young scholars solve the mystery of which painting they are reproducing by sketching. They determine the mood and imagery in artwork.
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Photographs as Documents
High schoolers analyze photographs of Maine's history. They discuss the character of Maine and read a photograph. They analyze photos in pairs and complete an analysis sheet for each one. They evaluate their photos and rank them for...
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Bless Me, Ultima: Dialogue Journals
Tenth graders read Chapter 1 of the novel "Bless Me, Ultima" and respond to the text. They answer and ask questions and record their impressions of different aspects of the book in a dialogue journal format with a partner. Students...