Origami is an excellent way to combine Japanese culture, art, and geometric shapes into one engaging instructional activity! Scholars begin by listening to the story Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes and learn the origin of...

Ads here, ads there, ads everywhere—but what do they communicate? Pupils discuss this topic and develop a list of personal values. They then work as creative directors at an advertising firm to create billboards that reflect community...

Students develop an understanding of how African culture impacted modern dance in the United States.

Students investigate Canadian culture by examining mascots of the 2010 Olympics.  In this Canadian history lesson, students read a Vancouver Olympics guide to identify three Canadian mascots and their importance to the First Nations...

Students examine the history of Chinese American artist Xu Bing. In this multicultural lesson, students collaborate in small groups to identify letters in the artist's work, and brainstorm how they would create their own images from...

Speak your mind. Scholars present their claims in groups of three. They use a presentation checklist as each member takes a turn. At the end of the lesson plan, pupils complete an End of Unit 2 Assessment: Presenting a Claim and Findings...

Fourth graders explore, examine and study ceramics, a medium of historical importance to China. They review the advanced technology of the early Chinese civilization and are introduced to the scientific method of inquiry and make...

Present the facts. Scholars create presentations of their research on DDT using their Cascading Consequences chart and a Stakeholders Impacts chart as visuals. They discuss the term stakeholders and create a Stakeholders Impacts chart...

A great idea for showing language arts pupils the universality of themes, even in the real world! Have class members choose an idea-noun (peace, justice, war, love, etc.) at the beginning of the year or semester. They complete weekly...

A geographic perspective helps historians learn about significant eras such as the civil rights movement. Through research and source analysis, learners create a report depicting a significant location of this time. They synthesize their...

Students explain the impact that the media may have in shaping their intellectual and emotional responses to current events. They examine broadcast and Web-based news sites to find subtexts through the use of language, audio, and visual...

In this web quest record sheet worksheet, students keep track of essential information about music websites according to traditions, cultural groups, and musical styles.

Teaching documentary in your class? Inform your instruction with a guide meant to support teachers as they begin with documentary. The resource includes information on what a documentary is as well as documentary modes, elements, and...

Students investigate city management and government by creating a fictional city in groups.  In this civics lesson, students create rules and a mascot for their fictitious city which they create from poster board cubes....

Students research historical events in ancient Greece.  In this ancient Greece lesson, students design a magazine which includes a cover, table of contents, cover story, advertisement and visuals. Students focus on Pericles and his...

Seventh graders explore the current tensions in Asia by completing a graphic organizer.  In this Asian politics lesson, 7th graders examine a Powerpoint slide and news article which gives them the information needed to fill in their...

Middle schoolers deliver oral presentations using appropriate visual aids and PowerPoint. In this oral presentation lesson, students research a topic and deliver a clear oral presentation on their topic. Middle schoolers use PowerPoint...

Students explore the concept of Jan Brett.  In this author study lesson, students are introduced to several Jan Brett books with visuals, listening centers, and video.  Students browse the internet in search of information...

Encourage your young citizens to make a difference. Using Tyson Miller's Dream of a Nation: Inspiring Ideas for a Better America as a starting point, class members watch documentaries, investigate issues, and then write letters to...

Take advantage of Banned Book Week to pique learners' interest and get them reading! Create a classroom display of previously banned books and allow each member of your class to choose one to read. After they have read their book, get...

Students investigate how to communicate about themselves and each other. In this social studies and technology lesson plan, students represent their thoughts regarding themselves and others both on paper and using "Kid Pix".

Fourth graders hone their computer skills through practice with Adobe Photoshop. They choose a famous portrait painting, working on seamless integration of their own face into the picture. They work on the skills of using filters,...

Third graders review the menu bar and define terms of some of the icons the key words and how to add clipart to their paper. They type in their written paragraph using the word processor and add at least one clipart to their written...