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Autobiographical Writing
In this unique lesson on autobiographical writing, young scholars compare and contrast three types of writing: narrative, poetry and newspaper. Students prepare to produce a short autobiographical writing based on the framework of one of...
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Beowulf Lesson Plan
Students analyze the text of Beowulf. In this epic poetry lesson, students explore the themes and imagery in the text to evaluate their meaning. Students analyze the Old English language and examine the cultural and historical context of...
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The Titanic
Young scholars use various sources to compare and contrast information about the Titanic. In groups, they create a list of questions and use the internet to find the answers. They write a report with the new information and use their...
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Harlem Renaissance: Pivotal Period in the Development of Afro-American Culture
Young scholars examine the time period of the Harlem Renaissance. In groups, they compare and contrast the type of art before and after the movement along with the state of society at the time. After reading a book on the topic of...
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A Country Twice Divided
Learners study biography from the 19th century. They read "The Red Badge of Courage." Students research a topic from the list provided in the lesson and write a 5-7 page paper. They study lyrics and melodies of the confederacy and...
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Haiku Wrap Up
Students create a haiku about the land formations they've studied. In this haiku lesson, students identify the metaphor and meaning of a given haiku, brainstorm comparisons for a landform photo as a class and choose one to use in a...
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Rudyard Kipling's "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi": Mixing Fact and Fiction
"Rikki-Tikki-Tavi," from The Jungle Book, offers young readers a chance to examine how Rudyard Kipling uses setting and personification to bring to life the brave mongoose who battles cobras to protect his family. Class members...
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What's the opposite of school?
Third graders create a poem in which they compare and contrast opposites.
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Cracking the Mirror of the Past
Young scholars compare and contrast two pieces of artwork in regards to their nastalgic elements. Using the internet, they research local religious institutions in their area and note their function in society. They also compare and...
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Art and National Identity: Analyzing Painting and Literature from the Era of Manifest Destiny
Students begin the lesson by discussing the causes and effects of the movement west. Using primary sources, they develop their own definition for manifest destiny. In groups, they view examples of paintings and read poems on the topic. ...
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Sayings and Phrases
Fourth graders examine two sayings, Haste makes waste and Live and let live, and one phrase, Make ends meet. They compare and contrast these sayings with others in these lessons..
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Geography: Islands and Alcatraz
Students, in groups, create maps of islands including map keys and compass roses. They compare and contrast their island communities with that of the island prison, Alcatraz. Students select from a series of projects, including writing...
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A Day During Colonial Times
Fifth graders participate in read aloud activities of three books about life in Colonial times. They compare their life to that of children of Colonial times using a Venn diagram. They draw a picture and write about what a day in the...
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Geo Jammin'
Middle schoolers compare and contrast related two- and three-dimensional shapes, and complete a Venn diagram illustrating the attributes of each. Using a poem pattern from another lesson, students use data from the diagram to write an...
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Picnics-- Chinese Style
Third graders explore about the Chinese rituals of poetry competition. They compare and contrast Chinese picnics with American picnics. Students create short poems, celebrating their own spring poetry picnic. They discuss words or...
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Connecting Rembrandt and J.R. Tolkien
Students trace continuous thread of art from the 17th to the 20th century. They compare and contrast the painter Rembrandt with the writer Tolkien. They prepare and deliver an individual presentation.
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The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon
Twelfth graders deduce the motivation behind and meaning of certain behaviors, conversations and poetry. Students analyze culture's value system. Students compare and contrast Anglo Saxon court culture, Medieval court culture, Medieval...
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Songs of Protest/Songs of Unity: 1865 to the Present
Students study song-poems from 1865 to the present. They explore the works of Woody Guthrie and the Almanac Singers (including Pete Seeger).
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"He Says, She Says"
Stuents compare and contrast male and female views of love and beauty in classic Chinese and Japanese society through the reading and evaluation of prose and poetry. Chinese and Japanese art is also studied.
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It's All in the Air
Pupils examine air quality. They test the air for visible pollutants by observing jars for one week and compare and contrast the data they collect. After comparing and contrasting the data, they graph the results of pollution collectors...
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Putting It All Together
Students organize their daily observation logs to write a nonfiction piece. They compare and contrast Saturn to other planets or write a summary. They use this piece of writing in future lessons.
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A Elegy
Students examine an elegy for form, tone and subject matter. In this elegy activity, students share impressions from Dylan Thomas's poem and a critic's response to the poem. Students discuss emotions and the refusal to mourn...
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Robert Henri, the Harlem Renaissance and You
Young scholars examine the artwork of Robert Henri. Using his pieces, they compare and contrast it to the works during the Harlem Renaissance. They create a HyperStudio project showing the Ashcan School of Art with music accompanying the...
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Real or Painted Art -- Tromp l'oeil Art Awareness an Activities
Students are introduced to Trompe l'oeil art by a docent. Using that information, they compare and contast it with other forms of art they are familiar with and discuss their opinions with the class. They write a poem about their...