Lesson Plan
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Geography: Islands and Alcatraz

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
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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Writing Persuasive Paragraphs

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders discover a fun-filled way to write persuasive paragraphs. After reading stories about mice and weasels, they choose which animal to be their topic. Students use a web outline to organize their opinion, four supporting...
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Unsettling Plans

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students consider words that reflect their knowledge and opinions about Israel, Palestinian Authority and the Gaza Strip. They develop annotated timelines about the history of the region in the 20th century and create collages that...
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Indian Removal to the Great American Desert

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders examine American policies to relocate Native Americans. For this Native American history lesson, 7th graders determine why Native Americans were relocated and investigate their response to the policies as they analyze...
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White Collar Crime

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students discuss difference between crimes of deceit versus crimes of violence, define white-collar crime, and examine far reach of white collar crime laws. Students then analyze what differences exist between rationales for punishing...
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Opposing Views on the Vietnam War

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners consider opinions regarding the Vietnam War. For this Vietnam lesson, students compare Nixon and Johnson's policies about the war. Learners also research the anti-war movements as well as the sentiments of the those how...
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Exploration of Mars

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers explore the three-phase strategy used by NASA for scientific exploration. In this space science lesson, students research past missions to Mars. They share their discoveries and create a timeline as a class.
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Rosa Parks Autobiography

For Teachers 8th - 11th
Students write the story of Rosa Parks from the perspective of someone who was sitting on the bus that day.  In this Rosa Parks/biography lesson, students read the story of Rosa Parks and discuss it in small groups.  After...
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Extraterrestrials

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students discuss the possibility of intelligent life in space. In this space science lesson, students decipher a radio message electronically transmitted in space. They create their own extraterrestrial welcome greeting.
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Characteristics of Africa

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students describe basic land features and characteristics that make up the continent of Africa, describe the people of Africa, where they live, and how they live and get a sense of what it is like to live in Africa.
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The Battle Over Reconstruction: The Aftermath of Reconstruction

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the Reconstruction Era. In this American history lesson, students explore the condition of the United States following the Civil War as they read statistical data. Students analyze the Reconstruction policies to...
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Persuasive Writing: Creating Book Reviews

For Teachers 4th - 6th
By reading and analyzing examples of persuasive text, students can get a better idea of how to form their own essays.
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Technology Newsletter

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Learners discuss impact and value of modern technological inventions on society, contemplate world without technology, skim magazines and newspapers for advertisements highlighting modern technologies, and work with partner to create...
Lesson Plan
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American Media: Addicted to Scandal?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine media coverage of George W. Bush's refusal to answer questions regarding past illegal drug usage in the 1999 campaign. They consider the role of rumor, scandal, audience and relevance in political media coverage.
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Don't Flick Your Bic!

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers research the ban on lighters and how it is being enforced and interview community members who smoke, especially travelers who have or might be stopped for carrying lighters. Students then write an opinion piece about the...
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Stepping in: Good Samaritan or Fool?

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Students write an opinion piece, including facts of this situation and any other statistics about helping others during a fight. Students offer suggestions about how to break up a fight, or when not to try (based on what national experts...
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Persuasive Writing

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders study persuasive writing. They analzye an editorial for introductory,body, and concluding sentences. They develop arguments for and against various topics in small groups.
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Near v. Minnesota

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Pupils discuss what free press means and what it would be like without this right. They read the summary from the Near v. Minnesota case. In groups, they analyze a problem and report to the class.
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Dr. Heidegger's Experiment

For Teachers 11th
Examine the idea of perpetual youth and immortality while you read Nathaniel Hawthorne's Dr. Heidegger's Experiment. Some links work to direct your learners to information about the Fountain of Youth. Using this information, scholars...
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Genetic Engineering: Friend or Foe?

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Young scholars brainstorm and discuss ways genes can be altered, transferred and cloned. They will complete a subject sampler, opinion paper and prepare to debate their opinion on genetic engineering.
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Snapshot Snippets

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders list facts they have learned about the Alamo from their analysis of the Alamo images from The Real Alamo portion of this lesson plan. They then list 20 facts about the Alamo building, symbols, and Texas history.
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Problem Solution Writing

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students, after brainstorming possible problem solving activities, choose from one of the many and write what the problem is and a solution to solve it.
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The Figure of Paul Revere. Romanticizing Colonial American History

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students compare paintings to make conclusions about American History in the Revolutionary War time period. Students share opinions concerning visual art. Other artwork can be used to entice inquiry as needed.
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Around the World At 30o North Latitude

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Reinforce the use of an atlas and reference materials with writers. They discover how geographic location can make living easier or harder. They draw an assigned journey on a map, categorize survival needs, and prioritize options during...