Virginia Department of Education 
Numbers in a Name
What's in a name? Pupils create a data set from the number of letters in the names of classmates. Each group then takes the data and creates a visual representation, such as a histogram, circle graph, stem-and-leaf plot, etc.
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Get your Snow People Here
Students recall information from the story Snowballs to complete a story map. They also compare and contrast two Snow People and cooperatively create an original snow person.
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Japan: perception, images, myths
Learners compare and contrast American and Japanese social and cultural values, attitudes, characteristics, and patterns of behavior. They identify problems that North Americans have in doing business in Japan. They appreciate the...
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Electronic Cultural Exchange Project
Ninth graders study the life of Chinese teens in China's largest and wealthiest city, Shangai. They compare and contrast their life with those of American teens.
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Comparing and Analyzing Literary Works
Students read two short stories by the same author.  For each story, they identify the main structures and style of the author.  They use the text to write a summary about each story and how the author used literary techniques.
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A Cosmic Cafeteria
Students indentify and differentiate between transit and surface food systems. Students measure energy that is released by various foods. Students compare and contrast cooking with solar energy on earth and what they might have learned...
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Moving Day
Students cognitively connect what would be important to a family that was enduring the Depression.  They illustrate what would have been present in someone's home during the late 1920's and early 1930's.  Students provide rationale for...
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The Election Process
Students examine how Electoral College works, compare and contrast candidates or issues, and discuss importance of becoming registered, active voting individuals.
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LBJ-- Escalation in Vietnam and Domestic Programs
Eighth graders investigate the Vietnam War. In this Vietnam War lesson, 8th graders research the escalation of the war during Lyndon Johnson's presidency. Students also explore the domestic programs that Johnson promoted. Students...
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That Was Then - Persuasive Essay
Student explain how geographic and cultural settings influence a person's identity. They compare and contrasting Esmeralda Santiago's Puerto Rican self with her American self by participating in a close reading of the text and writing a...
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Land Use Over Time
Students view aerial photos and topographic maps of their local area. They compare and contrast major land use patterns over time by comparing these images to maps that are at least 50 years old. They analyze them using the four land use...
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Weather or Not
Sixth graders explore weather. In this meteorology lesson, 6th graders create weather instruments and compare and contrast weather data.
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Cinderella Stories: An African Tale
Pupils read and analyze an African version of the Cinderella story. They listen to John Steptoe's story, "Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters," locate Africa on a map, compare and contrast the story with Cinderella, and identify fairytale and...
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Population Dynamics
Students discover how organisms are dependent on one another for survivial.  They also discuss how to conserve natural resources.  They compare and contrast the different types of symbiotic relationships as well.
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European Union Governance
Learners explore the government functions of the European Union and how legislation is passed.  As a class, students define the European Union and their interests in economic, political and social issues.  Using the internet, learners...
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Mapping Puerto Rico
Students use maps to discover where Puerto Rico is located.  In groups, they use the internet to research the vegetation.  They also compare and contrast the relationship between the United States and Puerto Rico's government.