Students practice effective communication skills by giving a speech on emotional health topics researched on the Internet.

Students discuss differences such as skin color, eye color, hair color, emotions, families, etc., to reinforce that it is okay to be different.

Sixth graders develop metacognitive skills while reading Esperanza Rising. In this comprehension strategies lesson, 6th graders read a chapter from the book and discuss questions with a small group. Students share with their peers. 

Dramatic activities promote enjoyment of literature, increase reading comprehension, and help develop oral expression. It is important for children to engage in activities which help to develop their creative potential. Drama allows...

Fifth graders read Dear Mr. Henshaw and identify the character trait of self-respect as exhibited by Leigh throughout the story. They evaluate the author's use of letters to tell the story and discuss how the story would be different if...

Learners express the ideas of a poem. In this poem dramatization lesson, students analyze poems for meaning studying their descriptive words. Learners role play the descriptive language of the poem. Students draw a picture of the...

Students create their own poems to express a deep feeling or transformative experience, then write imaginary letters to people in the article, responding to their poetry and sharing their own creative process.

Learners examine different decades in American history, finding connections between the historical events and the poetry written during these time periods. They write their own poetry based on current world events.

Students reflect on emotions commonly expressed by outsiders. They identify feelings of people who have just arrived in America. They read and analyze a poem about immigration.

Students choose a Times photograph and write a brief essay explaining what they think is happening in the photograph and how it makes them feel. They select and analyze photographs depicting events in the Balkans and create a news photo...

Learners write to influence positive change. For this service learning lesson, students reflect on their service learning experiences as they journal about sharing their time, talent, and treasures. Learners share their journals with...

Learners examine violence on TV. In this data collection lesson, students explore TV violence. Learners watch TV shows and fill out a checklist about the amount of violence. Students organize and analyze the information to make a...

Young scholars read chapter 17 in the story NUMBER THE STARS and think about the author's purpose for writing the book. They are encouraged to share with the class their personal reactions to the story.

Third graders complete a graphic organizer to determine what a good story looks and sounds like. Using various forms and conventions, they determine which style to use for different audiences and purposes. They write their own story and...

Walk young writers through the process of creating an initial writing sample for their portfolio. They determine their purpose, organize their ideas, and then create a draft. The lesson includes worksheets and online resources to...

Students describe their current mood in several complete sentences. They compare their moods with moods set by authors through the tone of their writing. Students read a teacher prepared handout about mood/tone of writing. They write...

Fifth graders study the Civil War. For this US history lesson, 5th graders simulate what life was like during the Civil War by having two groups with one group given more materials than the other group. Students then draw a...

Students practice conversational conventions when expressing their likes and dislikes, with a partner. Individually, they write a paragraph explaing a tiem when they felt acceptance or rejection.

Students develop greater ease with their bodies and their personal environments. They extend body space into its immediate architectural boundaries and draw a simple yet detailed floor plan of a physical space or structure (bedroom,...

Students look into a mirror and draw their own self-portraits. Then they write a descriptive essay, describing the portrait and the features of their face.

Second graders write "how to" sequences for tasks so that another person can follow the sequence to perform the action. They write a "show and teach" once a month for evaluation.

Students examine the impact of the media on various wars, especially the Iraq and Vietnam wars. By examining cartoons and popular music as primary sources, they suggest motivations for the conflicts and propose reasons for public...

Students research some of the men and women who help to raise the environmental consciousness of the American people through their writings and drawings. They write a persuasive piece about an outdoor place which will connect their...

Learners explore emotions represented in artwork.  In this cross curriculum social studies and art lesson, students explain examples of political and social issues expressed in artwork by Dorthea Lang, Diego Rivera, Dan Eldon, as...