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A Christmas Memory
Students think about and remember a special Christmas they had with their family when they were younger. They write an essay using vivid descriptions that appeal to the senses.
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Pair-Share: Constructing Paragraph Order
Young scholars write with controlled and/or subtle organization. They identify the main idea and explicit details. Students analyze paragraph and essay structure. They utilize context clues to identify organization.
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Defining Character Traits
Students read and analyze an extended definition in preparation for writing an extended definition of a CHARACTER TRAIT. They use analogy as a definition strategy to tailor writing to a particular audience. Finally, students SHARE...
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Language Arts: Who Am I?
Twelfth graders write self-identity essays of three to five paragraphs in length. They include topic sentences, transition words, and concluding paragraphs in their essays, They read their essays to classmates.
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Geologic History of A Large Igneous Province
Students explore the significance and geologic history of the Kerguelen Plateau Large Igneous Province, as revealed by Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Legs 120 and 183. They examine all the source material and write an essay addressing the...
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Peer Pressure
Eleventh graders analyze the social impact media plays in relation to peer pressure. In this peer pressure lesson, 11th graders listen to Afroman's "Lets All Get Drunk" and read the lyrics. Students write about the song and view a party...
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Novel Analysis
Students read the novel, Lord of the Flies, then write an essay analyzing the novel. They analyze, in small groups, characters, plot, setting, style, symbolism, theme, critical responses, and historical influences
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Kolam: A Living Art of South Asia
Young scholars will read the short story "Meenakshi's Magic Hands" by Santhini Govindan and view a slide show of photo images interspersed with the text to learn of the art form of Kolam. Students read and reflect upon a nonfiction...
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The Incident of September 11th
Sixth graders identify and write in their journals in order to activate prior knowledge on the events that surround September 11th. Students, with a partner, read various essays, articles and personal experiences of September 11....
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Iowa - Here We Come
Students practice their geography skills. In this geography activity, students plan a trip in their state that includes calculating mileage, time, and other costs. Students also submit a written trip itinerary.
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Rubric Rating
Students develop a rubric or scoring guide to assess newpaper articles. They rate the story and write the reasons for the rating. An Essay Scoring Guide is attached for reference.
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Recap and Activities (Reveloutionary War Era)
Eighth graders discuss the importance of the Second Continental Congress. They compare and contrast present-day athletic mascots and their roots in the Revolutionary War. After discussing Loyalists and Patriots, 8th graders write...
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Showtime! Profit or Non
Students perform a production. In this job activity, students perform the production they created about jobs in the profit and nonprofit sectors. Students write an essay describing the advantages and disadvantages of working in these...
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Past and Present Turkey
Students compare and contrast modern-day Turkey with historical Ottoman culture. In this world civilization lesson, students create concept maps that allow them to compare the cultures, discuss leadership qualities, and create travel...
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Go For The Gold!
Third graders read fiction and nonfiction works for comprehension. Using the internet, 3rd graders participate in a WebQuest. They compare and contrast the Olympics in ancient Greece to the modern day Olympics. Afterwards, students...
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Whatever Happened to Virginia Dare?
Students determine what happened to the lost colony of Roanoke. In this colonial America instructional activity, students complete a classroom activity about Virginia Dare and write essays that address the legends of the lost colony.
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A Song By Any Other Name Would Be a Poem
Students examine the poetic elements of a piece of music. They discuss favorite songs, select a song, and write a persuasive essay identifying the poetic qualities of the song lyrics.
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Manifest Destiny and the Power of Perspective
Pupils examine the concept of Manifest Destiny and the United States. They analyze the Mexican War from the perspective of the Mexicans and the Indians. They write an essay about these different perspectives.
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Atomic structure - Historical background
Learners use the Internet to research the development of the discovery of the atom. They create an essay, PowerPoint presentation and a story line on the subject.
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Who's Got Page 10?
Students participate in an activity that is aimed at increasing their organizational skills. They reorganize magazines that have been taken apart and scrambled.
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Organizing Paragraphs
Students brainstorm transition words, and utilize word list to order paragraphs and multi-paragraph essays.
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Heroes
Tenth graders participate in research and class discussion before attempting to write a traditional five paragraph essay. They use the examples of 16 other hero stories to consider. Students use examples and descriptive details to...
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Portraits of Power: American Presidents
Ninth graders explore the presidency of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. In this US History instructional activity, 9th graders examine the life of Abraham Lincoln. students write an essay describing the presidency and...
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How Prophet-able Are You? Ancient Advocates for Change
Students read and analyze classical literature of the ancient Hebrew prophets dealing with societal injustices. They identify present-day prophets, and write an essay about how the common good would be affected if people listened to the...