Harvard University
The Nouns of Geometry
Socratic questioning to teach Euclidean geometry? "The Nouns of Geometry," followed by "The Verbs of Geometry," and the misfit, "A Beginner's Story - The Equilateral Triangle" are designed to encourage learners to explore various topics...
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The Short Answer
Learners examine the discovery of the Flores man. In this anthropology lesson, students discover details about the Flores man and the work of anthropologists. Learners are challenged to create their own stories that explain Flores man.
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Getting A Story
Pupils encounter the do's and dont's to journalism writing. Students unearth the facts of a story by watching an animated clip. Pupils grasp the deeper understanding of the facts of a story and how to write it correctly.
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Guided Reading with Two Sweet Peas
Second graders read the book, Two Sweet Peas. Working in guided reading groups, they discuss moving, making friends, and the differences between poems and stories. They read the book silently and discuss the importance of being kind and...
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Life Story of an Artifact
Pupils write about an artifact that they are studying. In this artifacts lesson plan, students analyze details of the artifact and answer short answer questions about it.
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Blooming Up: Teaching the Art of Questioning
Students, through demonstration and example, write and answer questions at different levels of Bloom's taxonomy.
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Dracula: Directed Reading Thinking Activity (DRTA)
“There are often dangers from snow and wolves and night.” Bram Stoker’s “Dracula’s Guest,” which may or may not have been the first chapter of the original Dracula manuscript, is the focus of a Directed Reading Thinking Activity (DRTA).
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Sounding Out CVCE Words
First graders explore vowels and consonants by participating in a flash card activity. In this phonetics lesson, 1st graders discuss the difference between short and long vowels and identify them within a story told to them by their...
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Reading Comprehension: The New Pool
In this reading comprehension worksheet, 2nd graders read a short selection entitled, "The New Pool." They answer 5 multiple choice questions, 2 short answer questions, complete a fill in the blank paragraph, and place 5 sentences in the...
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I'm Still Scared: The War Years
Students read the story I'm Still Scared: The War Years, complete discussion questions, and activities about the book. In this war book lesson plan, students keep journals, write about being frightened, have a war veteran visit their...
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Power of Symbols in West African Art
Young scholars examine and analyze symbols used in the Asante community of Ghana and look at the history of power struggles in West Africa. They discover how to express meaning and power as they create their own symbols and short...
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Dramatizing Your Story
Learners write a script, planning and recording improvisations based on personal experience and heritage, imagination, literature and history.
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What A Pair! A Cross Grade Writing Activity
What a pair! Older pupils interview younger ones and use what they learn to write a short, illustrated storybook that features the youngster as the main character. The youngster responds with a thank-you note in which they identify their...
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Mystery Lessons
Learn about mysteries with your readers. They will investigate plot, basic elements of mystery, famous characters, and become familiar with genre vocabulary. Bring in props and mystery books to begin and then have learners create story...
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The Workshop
Kids take a critical look at each other's work in order to understand the editing process while providing constructive suggestions. This handout really sets learners up to successfully offer constructive critique to their peers. Helpful...
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Soda to be Absent from Schools
Should schools serve soda to learners? Learners read an artlcle that argues against the sale of soda in schools and engage in a class discussion. They then complete a short assessment to check for comprehension and reflect on the...
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The Mural of the Story
Students write a description of what they believe is on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. After reading an article, they discuss the restoration of the mural on its ceiling. They brainstorm a list of important buildings and write a...
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Timmy's Christmas Presents
Students build their reading comprehension skills. In this short story lesson, students read "Timmy's Christmas Presents" and respond to short answer questions regarding the story.
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Learning About Honesty
Students read a short story about honesty, a character skill. They then answer comprehension questions and discuss the story with their classmates as well as study about the consequences of not telling the truth.
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The Joke is on You
Learners discuss catacombs, casks, and Amontillado. The class reads the first two pages of the short story, The Cask of Amontillado, and discuss the situation of the story and the mental state of the narrator. Then they predict what...
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Language Arts: Word Recognition and Mental Images
Young scholars read short stories containing Dolch sight words and describe the scenes and answer comprehension questions. After relating the stories to their own experiences or observations, they draw pictures illustrating a scene from...
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Matter and Energy
Middle schoolers participate in a small group read aloud of the short story, "Cerium" by Primo Levi. They answer several questions about the story and then relate the reading to a lecture on Kinetic theory. After the lecture they apply...
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Justice for All
A reading of Roald Dahl’s Lamb to the Slaughter opens a discussion of justice and fairness. Using a Venn diagram and an Idea Wheel graphic organizer, class members consider the similarities and differences in these two terms. They then...
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What Kind of Vessel Are You?
This is a strange question; but what kind of vessel would you be and why? After examining images of a large Inca jug, the class sets to writing a creative narrative that answers that very interesting question. They start by researching...