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Screening the Silver Screen
Students write New York Times Movie Guide Reviews using descriptive and persuasive language.
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The Lorax Explorations
Learners read and debate the purpose of Dr. Seuss' The Lorax, analyze its story elements, and write their own The Lorax II.
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Advertising Books
Learners experience a variety of ways to share their favorite books with their classmates. They write and present commercials to "sell" their favorite books to the class and participate in a community of readers who regularly discuss and...
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Cheetah Challenges
High schoolers research the problems that cheetahs are facing in the wild. In this biology lesson plan, students discuss how animal rehabilitation works. They write blogs about it and comment on everyone's post.
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Penguins: Sensitive Indicators
Students examine how penguins are affected by climate change. In this climate change instructional activity students research the impact of climate change then create a poster to call awareness to it.
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Geometry Library
Fifth graders write and illustrate books to make a class library of math term books. They utilize vocabulary associated with geometry to make their books. For example, one character may be, Mr. A Cute.
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U-G-L-Y? I've Got a Great Alibi
Students create a survey to explore people's perception of beauty. In this biology lesson, students explain how an animal's appearance helps it survive. They analyze survey results and present findings in class.
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A New Look at Romeo and Juliet
Students explore life and language development in the Elizabethan Age. For this English lesson students complete web-quests and other activities surrounding Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.
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Cleopatra
Students investigate the significance of notable women in history. In this ancient civilizations lesson, students debate the importance of Cleopatra and other notable women after they conduct research about the women.
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Not So Sweet
Students explore farming, slavery and cacoa farming. In this agricultural science lesson, students fill out KWL charts, create PowerPoints and do internet research. Students write letters to chocolate companies requesting them not...
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Amazonian Travel Brochure
Students create a brochure. In this Amazon research lesson, students research a tourist attraction in the Amazon and develop a travel brochure.
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What Was South Carolina's Role in the Spanish American War?
Seventh graders investigate the role of South Carolina in the Spanish American War. In this imperialism instructional activity, 7th graders analyze primary documents and photographs, in collaborative groups, to determine how the state...
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Author's Purpose
Readers identify the author's purpose. First, they read a passage and utilize details from the piece to determine the author's purpose. Then they will explain how they arrived at their conclusion. Links to materials are provided.
NPR
This Isn't Right: Women Reform Leaders
The 20th century saw many new possibilities open up to women in America, thanks to many well-known female historical figures — and some women who are not as famous but who are equally accomplished. Learn about the women who contributed...
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Free To Speak And Free To Post?
Students research online and in books city statutes regarding posting signs on utility poles, interview appropriate officials about ordinances and how completely it is enforced, explore what has happened elsewhere when citizens decided...
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Mmm, Mmm, M&M's
Here is another version of the classic M&M math instructional activity. In this one, upper graders utilize the ClarisWorks Spreadsheet program in order to document the data they come up with from their bags of M&M's. After making...
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Zero Tolerance and Toy Guns
Seventh graders write a short reaction to the "Zero Tolerance" policy in regards to students and play guns. They read several news articles about the problems associated with the zero tolerance and students with play guns. They write a...
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The death penalty; What is your view?
Students write a persuasive essay about the death penalty. Students respond to students at St. Ignatius Catholic High School in Cleveland protesting the death of Adremy Dennis. Students research both sides of the debate, before writing...
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Author's Purpose
Sixth graders brainstorm the reasons authors write, and they list their responses on the board. Students discuss each purpose they have listed.Students work independently to read the selection "Tarantulas and Typhoid" by...
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Akron: This City Reads
Students write their thoughts about the value of reading and of Akron launching a city wide reading campaign. Students also research literacy in their own community, finding out how it compares to Akron's statistics where it has been...
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Finding the dress code balance
Students write a persuasive essay, expressing their opinions of how the school dress code should be changed. Students investigate their own school's dress code, developing their own opinions of whether the dress code should be more or...
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Campaign Signs and Pranksters
Students interview a selected candidate and find out his or her views on important issues and what he/she hopes to convey to voters. They write and design campaign flyers. Students create final mock-ups of the materials.
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'Song of the South' a racist tune?
Students read the information about the movie "Song of the South" and watch some of the clips. They write their reaction to the proposal to re-release the movie. Students consider whether it would matter if the studio adds an...
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Destressing: Don't Sweat the Small Stuff
Students interview peers, teachers, counselors, parents and local health providers to see how they identify "good" stress and suggest teens cope, write news feature about stress, complete with extra boxes, such as list of signs to spots,...