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Author In The Spotlight
Complete an in-depth study of the works or a specific author. Working in pairs, students read at least four works by the same author. After completing the reading, they create an essay comparing and contrasting the works and create an...
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Mmm, Mmm, M&M's
Here is another version of the classic M&M math lesson. For 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 their initial...
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Primary Sources and Protagonists: A Native American Literature Unit
Introduce your middle schoolers to the lives of past Native Americans. First, learners work together to put photographs in a sequence. Then, using their sequence, they create stories to share with the whole class. No matter how old your...
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Early Industrialization
Eighth graders analyze primary source documents emphasizing young people in factory labor (mill workers during 1840-1860). They study hours of labor, ages of laborers, reasons for working, and working conditions. They write a poem or song.
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First Nations vs. Euro-Americans
Students analyze primary and secondary source documents to help them describe the cooperation and conflict that existed among the American Indians and new settlers. Then, students analyze the purpose, challenges, and economic incentives...
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The Roadmap to the Jewish Golden Age of Spain
Learners discover, through analysis of media and of primary source historical documents, how Jews achieved high levels of assimilation and acceptance under Islamic rule during the Golden Age of Spain, from the tenth to the twelfth century.
National Endowment for the Humanities
A Raisin in the Sun: Whose "American Dream"?
How does Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun factor into a discussion of the American dream? High schoolers define the American dream and recognize the historical setting of the play. Additionally, they identify...
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The History of the Holocaust From A Personal Perspective
Students research and identify how Holocaust events affected lives of real people who lived in Europe from 1933 through 1945 and after, and create original artwork, poetry, and essays that reflect understanding of Holocaust, and its...
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Money
Young scholars count money using only coins. In this money instructional activity, students read Bennies Pennies, practice counting the pennies in the story and are then introduces to the different coins, penny, nickel, dime and...
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10 Things I Hate about Shakespeare
Students look at the works of Shakespeare to describe and explain relationships among some of the different texts. The writing of the learners has the intent of increasing comprehension, interpretation, and critical analysis skills.
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Gingerbread Baby
Young scholars explore gingerbread stories. In this poetry lesson plan, students read the folk tale "The Gingerbread Man" as well as Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett and identify rhyming words. Young scholars also make art projects,...
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The Language of the Civil Rights Movement
Tenth graders develop a website documenting poetry integral during the civil rights movement in the United States. Working in pairs, 10th graders research the people and poetry of that was prevalent during the civil rights movement. ...
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Similes, Metaphors, and Personification
Eighth graders explore figurative language, specifically focusing on similes, metaphors and personification. They work on the web to identify poems that demonstrate simile, metaphor, and personification, then analyze how it enhances...
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The Nez Perce and the Dawes Act
Eleventh graders explore westward expansion in the United States. In this US History lesson, 11th graders watch the epic struggle of the Nez Perce. Students evaluate how a variety of Americans viewed Nez Perce through a role play.
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Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt
Second graders complete a scavenger hunt on the World Wide Web in which they locate facts about Thanksgiving using a Power Point presentation. Once they are done answering the questions of the hunt, they take turns typing their answers...
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Jean Fritz's American History Series
Students explore children's literature by reading biographies in class. For this history analysis lesson, students read books written by Jean Fritz about the Revolutionary War and discuss the events that led up to the critical moment....
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Express Yourself!
Fifth graders study different types of poetry, compose a poem and word process it.
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Household Names
Students explore the accomplishments of famous New Yorkers in the 19th century. In small groups, students read biographies and match them with a corresponding primary source document. The group that is most accurate in matching the...
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It's All in the Air
Students examine air quality. They test the air for visible pollutants by observing jars for one week and compare and contrast the data they collect. After comparing and contrasting the data, they graph the results of pollution...
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William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar: Fate versus Free Will
Tenth graders explore Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. After reading specific scenes, they brainstorm and discuss free will. Students observe a clip from the Dr. Phil television show entitled, "Afraid to Age" and make connections from the...
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Introducing...Me
Tenth graders create a tri-fold brochure that includes past assignments from their writing portfolio. They examine these assignments of career choices, learning styles, dreams, and goals. In addition, they construct and then publish a...
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Major Holocaust Themes in Elie Wiesel's Memoir, Night
Young scholars read accounts of children during the Holocaust and read Elie Wiesel's "Night". Using the internet, they share ideas and discuss topics with peers across the nation. They examine the role of the individual in the...
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A Differentiated Way through Think Dots
Students examine reasons that led people to explore, identify "West" as defined following Revolutionary War, explain importance of finding natural resources, develop time line of dates and events leading up to Lewis and Clark Expedition,...
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Temperance Alphabet
Students research the Temperance Movement and create a persuasive project. In this Temperance/Prohibition Movement lesson plan, students research online and discuss the arguments for the movement. Students read a pamphlet and create an...