Pennsylvania Department of Education
Clean Up Time
Learners explore organization by participating in a cleaning activity. In this classroom rules instructional activity, students identify their responsibility to clean up messes they have made and define the consequences should they not...
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My Black Teddy
Students read "Bonnie the Black Bear"and discuss black bear facts. In teams, they research the internet about black bears. They create their own stories about black bears using three facts from the information they've researched.
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Environment: River of Life
Students assess the impact of human activity on the environment. After reading the book, "A River Ran Wild," they role-play and discuss how people changed the river. Students write stories about living along a river from the point of...
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If I Were An Ant - Creative Writing
The teacher reads the story "If I Were An Ant" by Amy Moses. The students then each create a page in a classroom book about what a small object would look like if he/she was an ant. The student writes about their chosen object and then...
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Following a Monster
Learners follow tracks of a monster who has walked through their classroom to see what he has done. They discuss sequencing vocabulary before using computer software students sequence the monster's visit using a concept map. In a word...
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Charlotte's Web Venn Diagram
Young scholars, together as a class, construct a Venn diagram of characteristics they see in two classmates. Then, they independently create another Venn diagram comparing/contrasting two characters from the story Charlotte's Web. They...
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Kissing Coyotes
Fourth graders are read the book "Kissing Coyotes". During the story, they make predictions about what they believe might happen next. After the story, they create their own story using their imagination and draw illustrations.
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Interview for Reflection
Students practice their interviewing skills using the elements of questioning. They write and illustrate a past experience of theirs doing a philanthropic act. They share their stories and illustrations to complete the lesson.
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Ugly Bug/Snuggly Bug
Students demonstrate an understanding of rhyming words by creating buggy pictures and a sentence containing rhyming words. They listen to the story, 'Creepy Beetles,' then engage in an activity where they identify the rhyming words.
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Yes, We Can!
Students examine a situation of striking workers in Los Angeles. They answer questions related to the story. They also interview people involved if time allows.
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The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Second graders watch a video about Eric Carle before listening to his story entitled, The Very Hungry Caterpillar. They notice how the caterpillar eats its way through the days of the week and they examine the life cycle of the...
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The Laughing Leaf
Students demonstrate real-object writing. They discuss a leaf that has human attributes, and using a real leaf write a story about a leaf that tells them a joke, and create an illustration of themselves and their leaf.
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K is for Keystone
Students are introduced to the history of Pennsylvania. After listening to a story, they discuss each letter and sound and practice saying them. As a class, they complete a quilting project in which they discover the coal mines and steel...
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Pocumtucks In Deerfield
Young scholars read a story about the Pocumtucks' religious beliefs. Using the text, they discover their concept of land ownership and how they migrated within their territory in different seasons. They use primary and secondary...
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Africa: What's in a Name?
Students research the Yoruba Tribe and names. In this names lesson, students read the story 'Don't Call Me Names' and discuss how people get their names. Students discuss the importance of names and learn about the Yoruba Tribe. Students...
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I Can Be Happy for Hours Just Doing
Students explore leisure activities. In this leisure activities lesson, students define the topic and write a paper about a leisure activity they love. Students draw a cartoon illustrating the activity and write a poem or short story...
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Easter Picture: Look, Think, Write
Is that the Easter bunny hiding an egg? First graders use the lines provided on an illustrated wroksheet to tell a story about what they see. A reference web site for additional activities is given.
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Aesop's Fables
Students read a fable about a lion and a mouse. They discuss the differences between the two animals. As a class, they discover the lesson of the story. Then they make puppets and reenact the fable.
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The Making of a Leader
High schoolers participate in a class discussion and conduct independent research about the life skills Ralph Bunche developed because of the influences of others, his life experiences, and the obstacles he had to overcome as a youth....
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Migration: Human Travels
Sixth graders discuss and illustrate the word "migration." They write the definition that the class has come up with and will create an illustration that explains the definition of migration. Students list reasons why people might...
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No Title
Fourth graders, after brainstorming a list of things good friends do for each other, apply prereading strategies to the book, "Be A Friend to Trees," and create similes and metaphors utilizing content ideas. They also sketch an...
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How Does Your Garden Grow?
Second graders view an animated picture book at a Web site. The picture book illustrates each step in planting and growing a garden. They design how-to books showing the process. They will draw a picture and write a caption for each step.
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Food and Languages of the World
Students explore and notice how foods from different countries of the world are alike and different. In this food and languages of the world activity, students examine fruit and bread from a variety of countries around the world....
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Greek Amphora
Students analyze the Greek Amphora figure in Greek art and complete related activities. In this Greek art instructional activity, students analyze the Greek vase art and the Antimenes painter style. Students research mythology sections...