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Famous People of the Gold Rush
Fourth graders research a famous person from the Gold Rush era. Using the Internet, they take notes from creditable websites and write their rough drafts of their paper. They use peer editing to check for spelling and grammar errors. ...
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Narrative Prompt
Second graders are introduced to the style of a narrative writing. After being read a story, they use a graphic organizer to plan their writing. With a partner, they share their ideas and decide on one topic to write about. To end the...
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Shoes: Practical vs. Fashionable
Learners compare and contrast the difference between practical applications of apparel and the use of fashion as a status symbol, with a focus on shoes. Working in groups, they complete a Venn diagram comparing practical fashion to...
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Diaries and Memoirs
Seventh graders analyze how personal diaries and memoirs record actual events. In this World History lesson, 7th graders compare and contrast diaries and memoirs from the Holocaust. Students write as a way to explore one's...
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What’s in a Name? Understanding Malcolm X
Students study the life of Malcolm X. In this autobiography instructional activity, students read The Autobiography of Malcolm X, investigate and evaluate the time period of his life, and write an essay based on their reflections...
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Lesson Plan for Waiting to Waltz: A Childhood by Cynthia Rylant
Sixth graders examine the elements of writing poetry. In this creative writing lesson plan, 6th graders discuss a book of poetry in the setting of Appalachia. Students incorporate childhood experiences into the development of visual and...
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Mr. and Mrs. Cress Head
Students explore Earth science by completing a plant art project. In this botany lesson, students utilize tights and soil to create a furry, grassy puppet style animal from cress seeds. Students cut off the excess cress after several...
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Introducing the Essay: Twain, Douglass, and American Non-Fiction
Students analyze American essayists Mark Twain and Frederick Douglass in an introduction to American literary non-fiction writing. In this essay history lesson, students identify methods for writing essays. Students read and analyze...
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Critic's Choice
Third graders read three to five genres and choose one as a favorite. They write an essay persuading the class to read the genre. This lesson serves as a nice introduction to different styles of literature.
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Hop To It!
Students explore the aspects of a frog's anatomy that allow it to be such a good jumper and jump and record the length of each jump to determine which style of jumping allows them to jump the farthest.
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Declaration of Independence
Young scholars analyze a copy of the Declaration of Independence to discover how it was adopted, approved, and signed. The tone and style of the document are analyzed for intention through an exploration its the language and vocabulary.
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Passage to Freedom: The Sugihara Story
Sixth graders engage in the reading of a non-fiction text in order to acquire character traits as displayed in the text.The story builds reading fluency through the teacher modeling correct style and speed.
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Greetings!
Learners investigate the ways in which people greet each other. They read a book about greetings, participate in a role-playing game about greetings, interview family members about greeting styles and report their observations to the class.
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Harriet The Spy
Fourth graders investigate the style of diary writing as its own genre of literature. They read Harriet The Spy in order to have a text for this literature study. Students use the skill of prediction to preview the story, and then...
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In the Eye of the Beholder
Pupils view, examine and analyze the artwork of Howard Finster along with other various visionary artists. They create and design an original piece of artwork and personalize creative spaces in the spirit of Finster's Paradise Gardens.
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Comparing or Contrasting Two Books
Students compare two pieces of literature. In this literary comparisons lesson, students read 2 books that they personally select and then compare and contrast the literary elements of each in a comparative essay.
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Lesson Plan: U.S. Government
Students examine reasons for studying government. In this U.S. government lesson, students brainstorm the reasons for rules. Students draft their own class constitution in the style of the U.S. Constitution.
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Touch-Drawings
Students explore an object without seeing it then draw what s/he felt. In this touch-drawings activity, students partner and place objects in a paper bag so the other person cannot see it. Then students use their hands and...
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Granary Door Dogon, Mali
Young scholars explore a creation myth. In this visual arts lesson, students discuss the Dogon creation myth and the design and make refrigerator magnets in the style of Dogan granary doors. The design of the magnets should include...
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Learning to Analyze Characters
Students discover writing strategies authors use to enhance characters. In this character writing activity, students are read the Knuffle Bunny books by Mo Willems and analyze the story, characters and settings as they listen....
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Adinkra Printed Textiles
Students examine printed textiles that commemorate events, people, and objectives. In this Adinkra printed textile lesson, students explore Africa as they discover the patterns and techniques for creating Adinkra symbols on textile....
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Draw Like an Egyptian
Students discover the cultural history of Egypt by illustrating Egyptian figures. In this art history lesson, students analyze the Egyptian styles of figure drawings and emulate that by creating their own illustrations using an...
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Reviewing the Romance
In this reviewing the romance worksheet, students research the secrets of writing a romance. Kids read at least 20 modern romance novels. Students identify the structure around the story, looking at plot and characters and style of writing.
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Quaking
Students read the story Quaking by Kathryn Erskine about a girl who moves in with people who clash with her style. In this holocaust lesson plan, students also answer discussion questions.