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Terrorist, Freedom Fighter, or Something in Between?
Students identify that history can characterize actions differently from how they were perceived when initially undertaken. Then they identify that terrorist groups exist within a political, cultural, and historical context, and students...
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A Tree is a Friend
Fifth graders discover the value of trees in our society. For this ecosystem instructional activity, 5th graders read the book, A Tree is Nice, and discuss with classmates how trees are essential to our existence due to creating...
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Deal or No Deal
Young scholars play a game in order to memorize any set of facts. In this memorization lesson, students play an adaptation of the game Deal or No Deal to help them review and memorize factual information. Young scholars also work on math...
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Dichotomous Keys
Students utilize dichotomous keys to identify trees in their schools. In this ecological identification lesson plan, students practice creating dichotomous keys based on simple subjects such as hair color or sex of a person....
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Kids Need Natural Resources
Third graders define renewable and non-renewable resources and give multiple examples of each type of resource. In this environmental science lesson, 3rd graders sort picture cards into two categories, renewable and non-renewable...
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The Many Uses of Trees
Young scholars list all the ways humans use trees and tree by products. In this lesson students watch a video, discuss the impact trees have on humans, and research common products made from trees. The young scholars use their findings...
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Our Forests Need Fires?
Students consider how forest fires are both damaging and beneficial to forests. In this earth science instructional activity, students are read the book Fire! In Yellowstone by Robert Ekey and watch "Fire Ecology" and "Two Sides of...
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Seed Dispersion of Strawberries and Dandelions
Students investigate how seeds are dispersed on land. In this plant biology lesson plan, students use a dissecting microscope to study strawberry seeds and dandelion seeds, they draw what they see, then create a hypothesis on the...
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Flower Dissection
Students dissect three different flowers and compare and contrast them. In this flowers lesson plan, students learn about the flower anatomy and then dissect their own flowers.
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How Much Energy is Stored in Wood?
In this energy lesson, students create calorimeters out of soda cans and use them to calculate the amount of energy stored in different types of wood.
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Plant Identification: New Jersey vs. Ecuador
Sixth graders discover the different plants that grow in different climates through specimen collections. In this botany lesson, 6th graders examine plants from both New Jersey and Ecuador and discuss what conditions could create...
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Physics of a Slingstone: Slingstones in flight
Students gain a better understanding of the technology used by ancient Chamorros. In this physics lesson students theorize ways to forcefully throw a fist-sized object and discuss the technology behind a slingstone.
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The Declaration of Independence
Fifth graders participate in a discussion about the Declaration of Independence. For this Declaration of Independence lesson, 5th graders write imaginary stories in the voice of a member of the committee at Independence hall....
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Learning European Geography
Sixth graders discover locations and countries in Europe by identifying them on a map. For this European geography lesson, 6th graders read the book The Lost Little Elephant, with their class and discuss the geography referenced in...
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The Role of Philanthropy in an Ever Changing World: Where Did It All Start?
Students trace the origin and history of a nonprofit organization to help them explain the importance of philanthropy.
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Children's Book
A great way to publish students' stories is by having them create a picture book using Pages. This simple lesson plan has them take a short story they have written and create a book with a title page and dedication. After they have...
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A Trip to the Toy Store
First graders recognize and identify the value of a penny, nickel and dime. They spend play money in a simulated toy store and match their coins to the purchase price of a toy of their choice.
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Disasters - Where, When, Why
Fourth graders research natural disasters that have occurred in the US in the 20th Century. They create a computer database of the disasters and write a paragraph with the information.
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Minnesota-China Connections: Writing Prompts
Students write a short essay in response to a writing prompt related to a theme or issue raised within the Minnesota-China Connection Web site.
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The Columbian Exchange
Students examine the process of the Columbian Exchange. In groups, they create a poster showing the good exchanged and the people affected. They note the impacts of the Exchange on the world and present their poster to the class to end...
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Minutemen and Paul Revere's Ride
Fifth graders listen to a discussion on the Minutemen and Bunker Hill and learn about Paul Revere's ride. In this Minutemen lesson plan, 5th graders take a quiz on the information and play a Yankee Doodle game.
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Architecture Makes An Imprint
Fifth graders explore architecture of the world, uses of buildings and discuss architecture as a career. They work in cooperative groups and present their findings to the class. This lesson can be expanded to include a printmaking lesson.
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Weather Maps
Students interpret information on a weather map in order to construct a graph, and discuss how the weather impacts their lives.
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Investigation: Blast Off!
First graders explore physics by participating in a class experiment. In this flight lesson plan, 1st graders create a spinner using construction paper and snap cubes which fly when spun right in class. Students make predictions as to...