Out of Africa Wildlife Park
A Thematic Learning Guide to Lions
Written as an accompaniment to a field trip to the Out of Africa Wildlife Park in Arizona, this is an interdisciplinary, themed lesson on lions. Even if you cannot take your upper-elementary kids to this attraction, there are a few...
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What Do Maps Show?: Lesson 1 Introduction to Maps
Learners brainstorm a list of the different types of maps they have seen or used. Using the activity sheet, they look through a social studies book to find all the maps and to determine what they are used for. Using a poster, they review...
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Chinese Landscapes
Learners explain some of the topographical features of China's landscape. They view a Chinese landscape and discuss their view of the harmony between man and nature, then create their own karst mountain scene.
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Where Does It Come From?
Students explore where agricultural commodities used in snack foods are grown. They choose a snack food and locate the top five states that produce the food that the snack is made from.
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Exploring and Oregon Commodity
A fun (and delicious!) lesson teaches measurement to your third graders. They work in small groups to first predict, then to measure the weight, circumference, and number of seeds found in a watermelon. Everyone gets to eat watermelon...
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How Does the Earth's Energy Budget Relate to Polar Ice?
Learners use satellite data to see how radiation budget relates to the ice that is present in the North. In this energy lesson students correlate data to see a relationship.
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California Native American Basket Weaving
Fourth graders consider the role that baskets play in the traditional lives of Native Americans in California. Students investigate types of baskets and their various uses and then weave their own baskets.
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Learning About the Kumeyaay Indians
Third graders research the Native American nation of Kumeyaay. Scholars use the internet to research past history. Through email, 3rd graders communicate with a Kumeyaay child to discover life on a present day reservation. They create a...
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Weather and Water in Ghana
Students research the rainy and dry season to investigate Africa's weather. In this African weather lesson, students use the given websites to research the rainy and dry seasons of Ghana in Africa. Students then read stories about life...
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The Real Eve
Learners research about human migration during a specific time period. In this physical science lesson, students watch a video about human evolution. They prepare a presentation on human migration and share it with the class.
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Utah Weather
Fourth graders diagram the weather in Utah through the use of a glyph. For this Utah weather lesson, 4th graders create weather glyphs of different areas in the state. Students answer questions about the weather and then compare their...
Alabama Learning Exchange
The Sun and the Earth
Third graders study and diagram the positions of the Earth and sun during the four seasons. They predict weather for cities in the northern and southern hemispheres.
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Unique Ecosystems
Fourth graders explain how in any particular environment, some kinds of
plants and animals survive well, some survive less well, and some cannot survive at all. They research the ecosystem of which each animal or plant is natively a part.
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Microclimates of Our School
Students read the story "Weslandia" by Paul Fleischman, define the term microclimate, gather and record data in various places on school grounds to establish the presence of difference microclimates, analyze and compare microclimates,...
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New Food Saves Lives, Could End Hunger
Students locate the country of Niger, then read a news article about a new type of food that is being used to fight childhood hunger in Africa. In this current events activity, the teacher introduces the article with map and vocabulary...
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The Cherokee: Trail Where They Cried
Students read the Trail of Tears about the Cherokee Nation removal and write a letter pretending they are the grandparent of a Cherokee child. In this Trail of Tears lesson plan, students understand the changing of boundaries.
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Water, Water Everywhere?
Students discover the relationship between water availability and population growth. They change variables in a computer model using a worksheet to guide their hypotheses and conclusions. In small groups they choose a country undergoing...
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King Cotton
Fifth graders explore the cotton plant. For this cotton lesson, 5th graders research the process of growing cotton. Students explore the economic and cultural differences in the states that grew cotton for trade and industry.
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Describe My City
Students explore the functions of cities by creating a visual image of their own neighborhood. Students diagram, list, and label the major businesses and cultural areas of the neighborhood where they grew up, then write a letter to a...
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Hyperlink Habitats
Students explore an online Hyperlink Habitat to illustrate the interconnectedness of a tropical rainforest ecosystem. They create a map of the Hyperlink Habitat and research a local ecosystem and create their own print or Web version of...
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Afghanistan Today: Civil War and Human Rights
Learners examine the relationship between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War. They analyze the role of religion and cultural identity in shaping governments. They also examine the United States foreign policy.
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Writing a Secret Message
Students study a specific area in which to research. They research their area and find descriptive facts about their geographical area. Students write a secret message about their area. They present their message to the class and the...
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Name That Place: Cultural Place Names in the United States
Middle schoolers examine the origin of the people that settled in the United States. In this United States History lesson, students work in small groups to complete several activities that explore early settlement, such as a worksheet,...
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SC Populations Along Major Interstates
Students examine the population among the interstates in South Carolina. Using the internet, they identify the counties and roads and compare it with their own drawing.