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The Secret School
Fourth graders complete an activity with the book The Secret School by AVI. In this literacy instructional activity, 4th graders finish the story and write a Haiku poem describing their favorite part of the story.
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Out of the Dust
Students create a poem that expresses the physical and emotional turmoil of living through the Dust Bowl. In this Out of the Dust lesson, students research facts about the time period and discuss the cause-effect patterns associated...
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What Do Magnets Do?
Second graders discover the physical properties of magnets. In this physics lesson, 2nd graders investigate the differences between natural and man made magnets and the uses of each. Students complete 4 separate RAFT assignments based...
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Seashell Painting
Let nature inspire your budding artists. They paint seascapes on actual seashells. First, they observe the seaside, then they paint what they see (image or in person) on the inside of a white shell.
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A Selection of Mexican Art
Seventh graders participate in a supplemental lesson designed for McDougal Littell's Text "The Language of Literature". They view Mexican artwork by Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera and complete an art viewing guide. Afterwards, they write a...
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Chivalry and Courtly Love
Eleventh graders examine chivalry and courtly love. In this Arthurian legend lesson, 11th graders explore the legend and how chivalry, honor, and courtly love have been internalized into today's culture. Students author and perform plays...
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Sweet Magnolia Book Questions
For this literature unit worksheet, students read the book Sweet Magnolia and answer seven short answer questions based upon the text.
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The Teller of the Tale, Part 3
Students practice use of volume, stress, pacing, enunciation, eye contact, and gestures needed to meet the needs of the audience when presenting their own tales based on Chaucer. They receive teacher and student feedback and prepare to...
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The Electric Hearth
Learners examine popular media. In this media awareness lesson, students keep logs of their interactions with media and then write an essay regarding the data.
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Reading Lessons for Alaska State Standards - Reading Rate and Fluency
Sixth graders read a given passage silently. The student then reads the same passage orally to a partner. The partner records the number of words pronounced incorrectly. The student then sets goals to increase oral reading speed and...
EngageNY
Writing Interview Questions
And now for the star witness! Scholars take a look at a model newspaper article and discuss the importance of eyewitness accounts. In groups of three, they take turns underlining text from eyewitnesses. They then regroup to talk about...
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Understanding Character
Readers practice character analysis by reviewing Gary Soto's short story "La Bamba" with the whole class (anything you've read together will work). They design t-shirts that feature traits and story elements to reveal the nature of a...
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Writing Places American Communities
Students interview a member of the community and write a piece of poetry using the voice of the interviewee.
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Molly's Pilgrim
Third graders explore the multi-ethnic nature of America's citizens and examine the symbolism of the Statue of Liberty. In this Molly's Pilgrim lesson, 3rd graders discuss the poem "The New Colossus," examine vocabulary words in the...
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The Jury's Still Out
Students examine the trials and executions of Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti. In groups, they use the internet to research the impact of the executions in the shape of political cartoons and writings. They discuss an article to...
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Sense of Place: No River Too Wide-Bridges
Fifth graders discover the history of their hometown Des Moines River. In this U.S. Geography lesson students speak with Iowans that tell stories of the settlers and early villages near the Des Moines River. Students document their...
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Following in Their Footsteps
Students explore the concept of philanthropy. In this service learning lesson, students reflect upon the lesson of tikkun olam as they read "First They Came for the Jews." Students plan and execute a tikkun olam project of their choosing...
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Meet One Picky Bird
Students complete a research project In this endangered species lesson, students use the "Think, Puzzle, Explore" method to learn about endangered species. Students research and write a report on the red-cockaded woodpecker.
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Following in Their Footsteps (Private-Religious)
Students serve in their community. In this community action lesson, students read "First They Came for the Jews" and discuss what happened when people didn't take ethical action. Students discuss the actions they could take to help in...
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Pop-Up Pop Art, Tunnel book
Students study iconic symbols Keith Haring would make in his artwork. They invent a background for the images, and draw the characters. Students create a Tunnel Book and a Pop-Up Book based on their drawings.
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The Very Hungry Caterpillar - Teaching Shapes
Students identify two- and three-dimensional figures and associate them with real-world objects. In this geometry lesson, students are read The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle and complete several activities including a chart of...
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Making Inferences and Drawing Conclusions
Second graders make several inferences based on the reading of Shel Silverstein poems. They write their own poetry and complete an assessment in which they differentiate between sentences that are stated or inferred.
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Over the Rainbow with Isaac Newton
Second graders study rainbows and do an interdisciplinary assignment that includes poetry and a science experiment.
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Don Quixote
Young scholars examine the use of metaphors in literature. In this literary devices lesson, students read poems that feature extended metaphors and compare them to the metaphors used in Don Quixote. Young scholars then try their hand at...