Young scholars explore the environment by reading a story in class. In this water formation lesson, students define environmental terms such as rivers, streams, gulf, oceans and lakes. Young scholars read the story A River Ran Wild and...

In this cloze activity worksheet, students use their reading comprehension skills to fill in the 16 blanks in a 1-page reading selection about rivers. A word bank in provided.

After reading primary and secondary source materials about the life of Henry Bibb, individuals identify a core democratic value Bibb demonstrated and give examples drawn from their readings.

By digitally organizing research, your class leaves a legacy for future learners on the life and times of Mark Twain. Before reading The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, scholars conduct group research projects on one of six (listed)...

Students investigate water ways by conducting an experiment with classmates.  In this natural resources lesson, students define a watershed and identify where large ones are located within the United States.  Students utilize...

Students create a camp for the future. In this simulation activity, students will research various energy sources, and create a proposal for the "city council" to recommend what energy sources should be used for a summer camp in the year...

A New Order in Europe calls for a new lesson plan! This third plan in a series of four sequential lessons encourages high schoolers to read primary sources about the development of the New Order and follow up their knowledge with a...

Sharpen those pencils and get to writing with a series of document-based questions about the French and Indian War. High schoolers focus on maps, letters, and other primary documents from the 18th century before answering writing prompts...

What sunk the Sultana? Scholars become investigators to uncover the facts behind the 1865 sinking just after the end of the Civil War. Through group work, videos, and primary documents, they research and analyze why 1,800 men died....

Set in Oklahoma in the 1930s, The Grapes of Wrath presents a powerful view of life during the Great Depression. An insightful lesson plan takes a closer look at the characters in John Steinbeck's classic novel, combining the...

A geographic perspective helps historians learn about significant eras such as the civil rights movement. Through research and source analysis, learners create a report depicting a significant location of this time. They synthesize their...

Explore the U.S.S. Nevada. Researchers use primary sources, secondary sources, children's books and websites to study the naval ship. Their study commences with a class alphabet book on the ship. Intended to be part of a lesson on...

Students practice researching history through oral traditions.  In this U.S. History lesson plan, students examine an online exhibit titled Harvesting the River, in which students interview someone from the story.  Students...

Students complete an experiment.  In this water pollution lesson plan, students brainstorm information about river habitats and water pollution. Students then read the story Freddy the Fish and complete an experiment where they use...

Students explore the National Road to Indiana. In this U.S. highway history and primary source research lesson, students read an original journal written by Jane Voorhees Lewis in 1806 describing her trip west on the first federally...

Middle schoolers explore the composition and function of blood through a variety of media and hands-on experiences. This activity is a very good introduction to blood and the circulatory system.

Students create brochures about recreational activities along the Mississippi River. Focusing on points of interest, they research attractions and create maps of the surrounding area. Once students write descriptions of their...

Students use primary resources to examine the context the writings of Mark Twain. They criticize the resources for reliability, accuracy, perspective, relevancy, and authoritativeness.

Students analyze a variety of images and documents and make inferences from their readings and articulate causality.

Pupils identify jargon in poetry, prose and fiction. In this literature lesson, students will read selections from Mark Twain and identify figurative langauge, focusing on jargon.

What affect do bodies of water have on the world around us? Kids can find out by reading this passage. After reading, they answer five questions related to the text.

Students consider the effect of technological development, industrial growth and changing population on education in historical Deerfield Connecticut. They review many primary resources to investigate history and write a response to...

Students discover how rivers inspire creative expression.  In this Mark Twain activity, students list songs about rivers and discuss common characteristics. They locate the Mississippi River on a map and write a script in which a...

Young scholars are introduced to the ideas of the American Dream at the turn of the century. They present their ideas on the American Dream at the turn of the century through a person characterized in Edgar Lee Masters' Spoon River...