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For the Record
Young scholars read a New York Times article in order to examine the importance of cultural artifacts. They create essays from the point of view of one cultural artifact to demonstrate the knowledge they gained by doing research.
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Test-Driving Computers
A new form of standardized testing? Learners evaluate arguments for and against the use of computer-based standardized tests in schools. They express their views through discussion and explore the views of others through the creation and...
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Strong Convictions
How can the rhetorical structure of an editorial help to develop its argument? Use this New York Times editorial to emphasize the importance of structure in a piece of informational text. Adolescent writers then use the editorial as a...
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Lights Out on Broadway
How do you write arguments that articulate the views of opposing sides? Through concentrated research, investigation, and critical analysis, leaners become more knowledgable on the opposing argument. The class fills in a KWL graphic...
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Making the Old New Again
How does a new version of a Shakespearean play change in the adaptation process? Use this New York Times' Learning Network lesson to consider texts that have been produced in different media. Middle schoolers examine the latest...
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Increase Kindness, Defeat Bullying: Lady Gaga's Born This Way Foundation
High-interest content captures your most reluctant readers and class participants. Lady Gaga's Born This Way Foundation, in collaboration with Harvard University, seeks to nurture a culture of kindness and reduce bullying. Excerpts from...
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Validating Votes
Explore the discrepancies in Florida's vote counting process in 2000 and 2002 with this New York Times reading instructional activity. Middle schoolers study the viewpoints presented in informational text, paying attention to how...
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Party Like It's 1992 or '84 or '76 or '68!
Learners explore, analyze and study how political party platforms have changed over time. They create a party platform time line by researching Republican and Democratic Party stances on various issues during the last few decades.
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A Gift for Mama
Students read a novel about savings and complete activities to define short and long term saving goals. In this income and savings activity, students read A Gift for Mama and answer discussion questions for it. Students define the terms...
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Time's Up
How was your year? Create an individual timeline that document learners' personal history from the previous year. After reading an article about celebrating New Year's in Japan, pairs interview each other to gather information about...
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News or Propaganda?
What is considered news vs. propaganda? Learners will discuss objectivity and press responsibility while exploring these two concepts. They work in small groups to explore the article in-depth, guided by reading comprehension and...
Maine Content Literacy Project
Exploring Text with the iMovie Application
Get your class going on one of the final assessments for a unit on short stories by introducing iMovie and its main features. In this tenth lesson in a series of fourteen, pupils take some time to explore iMovie before conducting an...
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Making Memories
Students write reflective essays discussing some of their most poignant holiday memories. They illustrate their writing with original artwork and photographs to contribute to a class-designed holiday memory book.
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Sign Language
Students consider what defines their local town or community and create a welcome sign for their town after learning about a special sign that welcomes visitors to Las Vegas.
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Alphabet Soup
Students study language. In this unique alphabets lesson, students read the article by Michael Everson "For the World's A B C's, He Makes 1's and 0's." They discuss the importance of alphabets and work in small groups to create a poster...
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The Sounds of Science
Students assess the relationship between music and science by learning how various musical instruments work. They create a poster, presenting the research conducted in class that focuses on a specific musical instrument.
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The Sundance Kids
Students discuss independent filmmaking industry, focusing on the 2000 Sundance Film Festival. As a class, students develop a storyboard for their own independent film, then write movie reviews from the point of view of a film critic on...
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Signs of Withdrawal?
Students research Lebanon's recent history, from the 1975 civil war to the protest of occupying Syrian troops in 2005, and create a visual timeline for classroom display.
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So Much To Do, So Little Time
Young scholars explore how people dividde their time among different tasks and the effect that computer technology has had on this practice. Students write their experiences with multitaskinging. They explore how multitasking has...
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Outlining
Pupils read and evaluate a piece of expository writing. They participate in a class discussion of the outlining process and individually outline a piece of expository writing. Finally, the students create an outline for the purpose of...
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Power House
Students reflect, speculate, identify, research, and create a blueprint for renewable energy sources.
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Links to the Missing
Students investigate the information required to identified missing persons, then create a personal 'database' of information on themselves and their community.
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Testing the Test
Students examine the validity of standarized tests. They explore the emotions felt during a test and ways to prepare for a test. Students interview teachers about testing. Students create a student guide to testing.
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Great Leap Forward
Students explore Web sites dedicated to Leap Day and leap years, create a checklist for reviewing Web sites, and write reviews of Leap Day and leap year Web sites.