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Highlights of Modern American Family Art and Literature
Students develop imagery in literary and art works. They discuss Jacob Lawrence's painting, the "Tombstones, 1942", which conveyed overcrowded tenements and families living in Harlem (New York, New York). They design picture stories...
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Basic Introduction to Foundation of Life: Genes, Genetics and Genetic Diseases
Students are introduced to genetics along with genetic diseases and heredity. In groups, they complete a Punnett Square to determine the dominant and recessive genes. After viewing diagrams, they identify the characteristics of DNA and...
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Nonpoint Source Pollution in Long Island Sound
Middle schoolers examine and identify the types of nonpoint pollution on Long Island Sound. In groups, they walk the shoreline, collect trash and identify its source. Using that information, they create a variety of graphs of the...
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Interactions Everywhere!
Students examine interactions within the environment and environmental engineering careers. They discuss and view photos of natural and manmade environments, explore various websites, create a web to identify interactions between living...
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Thinking About Life in Geological Time Scales
Students create a large (classroom-sized) timeline showing the history of life on Earth for the last 5 billion years. They are able to identify the events that are relevant to their taxonomic projects (the Origins and important...
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From Smithson to Smithsonian: Who Was James Smithson?
High schoolers evaluate and examine primary and secondary source material as they relate to the life of James Smithson.In this "From Smithson to Smithsonian" lesson, students analyze documents looking for clues to the identity of James...
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Stop Motion Animation
Young scholars list steps in making Stop-Motion animation. In this stop motion animation lesson plan, students will use video equipment to come up with props, characters, backdrops, and storyboards to create a video. They then present...
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Government by the People
Middle schoolers explore the concept of philanthropy. In this service learning lesson, students examine primary documents regarding the founding of the United States. Middle schoolers analyze section of the U.S. Constitution and the...
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Correctional Facility Reading
Students complete an independent reading program. For this "Reading for Giving Program" created for students in correctional facilities, students spend time reading independently and responding to the book they read. Please note:...
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Rules, Rules, Rules
Fourth graders create their classroom rules. For this Mayflower Compact lesson, 4th graders listen to the Plymouth story and learn about the Mayflower Compact. Students analyze the Mayflower Compact and create a class compact...
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Tall Tale Rollers
Students explore American tall tales. For this tall tale lesson, students discover the six characteristics that are included in tall tales. Students survey their class to find each student's favorite tall tale character and organize the...
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Investigation of Immigration
Students assume the role of a crime scene detective and examine the lives of various immigrant groups. In this immigration lesson, students examine evidence, websites, and pull from existing knowledge to determine which group they are...
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Readers Theatre: Presenting Historical Events Through Theatre
Students examine historical events. In this instructional activity on the US Constitution, students engage in a theatrical exploration of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. They also engage in an extensive discussion, complete...
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Indulgences and Salvation Lesson Plan
Tenth graders examine different perspectives regarding indulgences and salvation. For this Reformation lesson, 10th graders watch video clips about the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church and Martin Luther on indulgences and...
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U.S. Involvement in WWI – The Zimmerman Note
Young scholars investigate the significance of the Zimmerman Note. In this World War I lesson, students use the provided analysis sheet to analyze the contents of the Zimmerman note and discuss how the note led to U.S. involvement in...
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Mock Investigation
Students explore detective investigations. In this introduction to mysteries lesson, students role play eye witnesses and investigators related to a "crime" committed in their classroom. Students collect evidence and record information,...
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John Brown's Passion to End Slavery Leading Up to and Including the Rain at Harpers Ferry
Sixth graders investigate John Brown's fight to end slavery. In this slavery instructional activity, 6th graders read Harpers Ferry, The Story of John Brown's Raid and then research his life as well as the life of slave Osbourne Perry...
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Thanks Be To You
Students research U.S. history by completing a worksheet activity in class. In this historical figure lesson, students identify the contributions and risks taken by the former African-American leader Martin Luther King Jr. Students read...
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Where Am I - Navigation and Satellites
Learners explore geography by completing a navigation activity in class. In this satellite positioning lesson, students define terms such as orbit, satellite, GPS and triangulation. Learners view diagrams of the Earth's orbit and...
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"Me and My Family Tree"
Students explore genealogy by reading a family history book in class. In this family tree lesson, students read the story Me and My Family Tree by Joan Sweeney and discuss their own family history. Students identify what the term...
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Sampling Rocks
Students explore Earth science by identifying types of rocks in their schoolyard. In this geology lesson plan, students collect a group of rocks from their playground and categorize them based on color, shape and size. Students read the...
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Recycling Who cares?
Students participate in activities to understand the feelings of the community about recycling. In this recycling lesson, students look at opposing views on recycling.
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Contour Drawing Shells
Students develop skills in shading and create eye movement through the use of lights and darks. They show five principles of shading while drawing shells and bones.
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Object Graphs
Students identify geometric shapes, demonstrate construction of an object graph, compare sets of objects, estimate which student has the most geometric shapes in his or her bag, and play computer game Jump Start Kindergarten.