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Across Five Aprils/Civil War
Eighth graders study the Civil War novel, Across Five Aprils, by Irene Hunt. They review vocabulary and literary elements and write a "Brother Against Brother" essay about coming face to face with a brother in one of the battles of the...
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Famous Peacemakers - Creating a Declaration of Peace
Young scholars create written reports about a famous peacemaker. In this peacemaker lesson plan, students use books and the internet to research someone who is famous for creating peace in the world and write a report on it.
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Cecilia's Year
Students read the novel "Cecilia's Year". They answer questions to test for reading comprehension. They also relate the story to their own life.
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Using Words to Work Things Out
Students listen as teacher reads Words Are Not For Hurting, and answer questions about the content. Students discuss how to prevent arguments and work disagreements out with words. Students watch a puppet show that promotes discussion as...
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Mystery and Mayhem
Students use literature to examine the violence and loss of innocence during the 1960s. In this U.S. history lesson, students read Robert McCammon's Boy's Life to investigate the social unrest, violence and loss of innocence in the...
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The Sand Creek Massacre
Fifth graders study the events that occurred during the Sand Creek Massacre and write about them in their journals. They make comparisons between the events at Sand Creek and modern day human rights events.
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Storytelling
Students compose a story and tell it to the class. In this storytelling instructional activity, students work in small groups to create an illustrated story. Students are given a checklist of elements to include in the...
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Out of the Dust
Seventh graders read a book of poems called "Out of the Dust". In groups, they research the Dust Bowl and how it affected people living through the Great Depression. Using the text, they identify the theme and key turning points and...
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The Geographic Doctor Seuss
Students define the term region using semantic mapping, listen to the Dr. Seuss story Yertle the Turtle, and discuss the conflict over borders in the story. They draw a map divided into regions.
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Life Cycle of a Butterfly/ Moth
Learners explore the life cycle of butterflies, illustrate the life cycle of the butterfly, and compare the researched facts to stories written by Eric Carle about caterpillars and butterflies.
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A Bug's Journey
Students examine the artwork of John Baldessari that was inspired by a 16th century drawing of a beetle. They analyze a drawing of a beetle, discuss the insect's characteristics, and write a story from the perspective of a bug. Also,...
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Queen Anne's War and Its Impact on Deerfield
Learners researchhow Queen Ann's War of Europe affect Native Americans in New England. After reading excerpts from History of Deerfiel by George Sheldon and Nuthatch's Dilemma, a story about a Pocumtuck woman, students are prepared to...
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Being in the Noh: An Introduction to Japanese Noh Plays
Students analyze the conventions used in Noh plays and write an introduction to a Noh play of their own. In this Noh play lesson, students identify the conventions of the Noh form and analyze the realizations the main character achieves....
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The Land and the Water
Third graders read "The Land and the Water," a fictional short story and an article about John F. Kennedy, Jr. and compare and contrast fictional tragedy to a non-fiction tragedy. They fill out a Venn diagram and write an essay using...
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"The Fog Horn" by Ray Bradbury
Students read Ray Bradbury's "The Fog Horn" and complete reading and vocabulary activities. In this reading and vocabulary lesson plan, students review the vocabulary for the story and take turns reading the story. Students discuss the...
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"On the Sidewalk Bleeding" by Evan Hunter
Students read Evan Hunter's "On the Sidewalk Bleeding" and complete reading and vocabulary skill activities. In this reading comprehension lesson, students review the vocabulary for the text and read the story. Students discuss the...
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Create An Ending
Students create a new ending for a familiar story that stand alone with a clear beginning, middle and end. As a class, students review a familiar text focusing on plot and character development. In small groups, students work...
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Philadelphia Museum of Art
Students study paintings and use their knowledge of story elements to analyze the art. In this art analysis instructional activity, students review a novel for its elements. Students study the image At the Moulin Rouge: The Dance and...
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"Love Must Not Be Forgotten" by Zhang Jie
Students read and analyze a story set during the Cultural Revolution in China. They answer discussion questions, discuss political and cultural revolutions, complete a reading survey, produce graphic organizers, and complete a Cultural...
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Thank You Ma'am Langston Hughes Process of Discovering Theme
Middle schoolers identify the elements of the plot and identify and express this story?????™s theme.
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Lesson 1: Culture and Resource Use
Students research an aspect of Wabanaki culture that has persisted in Maine throughout the years. They write a conversation between a Wabanaki person and an English person that shows the different cultures and negotiates a solution to a...
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Themes in Literature - Langston Hughes "Thank You Ma'm"
Eighth graders study Langston Hughes, "Thank You Ma'am" to discover the elements of plot, character motives and reactions. They express the effects of trust and kindness by writing a reflective personal narrative. They illustrate the...
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Exploring Science Fiction
Twelfth graders read a variety of science fiction short stories. Using the text, they identify the components that make it science fiction and a well written piece of literature. They record their observations and share them with the...
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Stay in the Mix for Valentine's Day
Students understand the origins of Valentine's Day. In this injustices activity, students read a story and recognize the injustices done on Valentine's Day. Students write about grade appropriate topics regarding injustices.