Being an informed citizen requires distinguishing fact from opinion and understanding persuasion methods. Secondary learners evaluate newspaper editorials. They read opinion pieces, identify the writer's purpose and position on an issue,...

Fourth graders use the Internet to gather and analyze information about competing Iditarod teams during the actual race. They also have the opportunity to share and compare data collected by fellow students.

Third graders sort different types of beans and collect the data. They create a data table, put the information on the data table and then graph their results. They answer follow-up questions.

The New York Times "Education" section posts an extensive lesson plan on vitamin and mineral deficiencies. It involves class discussion, examination of food packaging labels, and the reading of a blog post about Vitamin D. The highlight...

Create an online poster, or Glogster, with your class to promote Ray Bradbury's novel Dandelion Wine. This activity can be done at any time in the novel, although the directions suggest waiting until your readers near the end so...

A simple idea, this exercise will help young learners practice metacognitive and language arts skills. At the end of each day of school, have each member of your class record, in their own words, what they learned that day. Merely...

Learners research issues about their state and community. They work in groups to create a multi-media presentation highlighting the issues.

Students complete a variety of discussion and writing activities that highlight the concepts of time and narrative voice of Benjy by iam Faulkner.

Third graders engage in the study of aerobic and anaerobic activities. They discuss the differences in the type of exercises involved. Students identify the types of activities they enjoy based upon the information given. Then students...

Students research using the Internet, study books, reference sources, newspapers, and magazines for information about successful black business people and write a research paper. They may also interview entrepreneurs in their community...

Reading and comprehending informational text is vital in all subject areas. Upper graders use primary sources and worksheets to better comprehend the historical importance of the Preamble of the US Constitution. Web links, handouts, and...

Emphasize proper usage of vocabulary words with this online activity. Class members read each sentence and use context clues to determine if each word has been used correctly or incorrectly. The resource provides a word list and...

Learners rewrite seven sentences using a metaphor to express the concept presented literally in the originals. One example is provided. What I like here is that the sentences presented fuel thinking about comparisons to support kids'...

Knock, knock. Who's there? To. To who? No! To whom. Knowing when to use who versus whom is just one of the many topics covered on a handout about relative pronouns. Writers discover how to incorporate words such as whose, that, which,...

Get your kids moving as they learn about the history of the United States National Anthem. Scholars examine the War of 1812, Francis Scott Key, and the meaning behind The Star Spangled Banner as they listen to an 18-minute...

Students discuss the importance of comprehension and the use of summarization. Through guided practice, they summarize given paragraphs. Independently, they read an article and highlight information that they believe is very important....

Students discuss the importance of comprehension and the use of summarization. Through guided practice, they follow three rules in finding and highlighting important information, while crossing out information that is not needed. Using...

Seventh graders plot the data for the average monthly precipitation for three cities. They make a graph using a spreadsheet.

Young scholars explore career paths by creating a job scrapbook.  In this employment activity, students discuss what types of skills employers look for in the job market.  Young scholars decide on a career they would like to...

The assassination of Abraham Lincoln was a pivotal moment in American history, but what were the immediate effects throughout the newly unified country? A document-based question focuses on the consequences of the first...

How do you read when you know you're going to be summarizing a text? Summarize a nonfiction text with your upper elementary schoolers. Your pupils independently read a nonfiction article and write a summary paragraph using the six-step...

Students brainstorm a list of things they already know about the history of Fairfax County, Virginia. After reading a primary source document, they discuss the similarities and differences between their prior knowledge and what they...

Examine author's purpose in a persuasive text using this scaffolded plan. You essentially have a verbatim script here, but it can definitely be used as an outline instead. Review questions that readers should ask themselves when...

Students locate information about the life and research of African American botanist George Washington Carver. They identify how Carver's knowledge of botany contributed to improvement of farming practices and introduction of new...