Students create snowflake similes, Kwanzaa plaques, menorah banners, and more for the month of December. In this December activities lesson plan, students also analyze characters in How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

Describe the general characteristics of Kwanzaa after reading Seven Candles of Kwanzaa. For this Kwanzaa lesson, learners study the principles of the Kwanzaa holiday and interpret the principles through music and dance. They...

High schoolers assess the significance of a watershed event in the political history of the United States . They identify events and issues associated with the internment of Japanese-Americans as a result of the Japanese attack on Pearl...

Learners read and discuss the Enemy Alien Evacuation Order. They perform research by reading newspaper articles from February 1942 as well as investigating available information on the Internet. Students work in groups to create a...

Is laughter really the best medicine? Middle and high schoolers discuss the truth behind this adage by reading and discussing a New York Times article about Dr. Patch Adams. They participate in a round-table debate in response to...

Teach English language learners about the week-long holiday of Kwanzaa that is celebrated around the world during December. It includes holiday-themed reading comprehension passages, phrase matching, fill-in-the-blanks, and journaling...

Letters have long been prized by historians as primary sources for what they reveal not only about events but also about the emotional responses of the writers to these events. "My Dear Little Boys," a letter written by Leonard Isacks on...

Kwanzaa is the focus of a three-part activity that celebrates the history and traditions of the holiday. Before lighting the Kinara, scholars listen to a read-aloud of Seven Candles of Kwanzaa by Andrea Davis Pinkney. Learners...

What is your body saying that maybe your words aren't? Scholars explore the vast world of the subtle, and not-so-subtle, nonverbal communication cues through group and individual work. Lesson seven in a series of peacebuilding exercises...

Students review the concept of courage and relate it to their daily life. As a class, they are introduced to the events of December 7, 1941 at Pearl Harbor. Using a map, they locate Hawai'i and label the islands. They use the internet to...

Third graders recognize that the larger the denominator of a fraction, the smaller the piece you have.  In this fraction lesson plan, 3rd graders compare fractions and order them from largest to smallest. Students complete an...

Help learners improve their spelling skills by completing a word analysis activity. They complete the instant activity by finding the hidden words inside each given word. There is a menu of skill ideas and various ways suggested to...

Creative projects are a great way to engage your class and can be a fun way to assess mastery! Learners create brochures and postcards that might have been created by and for travelers to ancient Mayan cities. They read and discuss the...

Students work in literary circles to discuss Catherine, Called Birdy.  In this Catherine, Called Birdy lesson, students brainstorm ideas for discussion and observe as the teacher models a good discussion group.  Students record...

Every culture has a set of social skills one must learn to establish and maintain relationships. Some of these skills are particular to a culture and some are universal. Class members practice using appropriate language,...

Students examine photographs of the attack on Pearl Harbor. They discuss the damage that occured on December 7, 1941. They debate whether the attack was a success or not for the Japanese.

In this language arts worksheet, students listen to a podcast about Trafalgar Square in London. They fill in the gaps on a cloze activity. Students match 7 adjectives with their subjects. They answer 8 comprehension questions.

Students investigate the historical and cultural significance of various 'wonders of the world,' both of ancient and modern times, and develop travel posters and guides exploring them.

Seventh graders explore a country in the Eastern hemisphere. They develop a packet that could be used by someone visiting that country during the month of December. Students explore the climate, foods, geography, customs and culture of...

Students examine the holiday of Kwanzaa. In groups, they discuss "The Seven Principles" and the history of the holiday. They explore the objects that are used and what they represent. They end the lesson plan with a discussion of the...

Your birthday can be more than just about presents; it can even teach about absolute value. The class investigates absolute value as the distance from zero on a number line. Plotting birth months and comparing each birth month to July...

Why do people argue?  Use the article "A Holiday Medley, Off Key" to discuss the struggles that interfaith couples face when choosing to celebrate certain holidays. Then, in small groups, encourage learners to write dialogues that...

Young journalists write diary entries from the point of view of a person involved in a historical event. They focus on including facts, clear narration, and accurate description of the individual's feelings. 

The tragic story of Derek Boogard, a hockey star whose sports-related brain injuries eventually lead to his death, is told through a series of videos. There are also articles that can be read. This poignant instructional activity gets...