Finding the central idea is the focus of this lesson. Middle schoolers write descriptions of different animals using details and descriptive language. They watch a video of kids using descriptive language, and then use showing language...

Young scientists develop their observation and writing skills as they craft and then post a detailed description of a plant or animal they have spotted and photographed.

Imagine 28 instructional strategies, appropriate for all subject areas and all grade levels. Directed Reading-Thinking Activities (DRTA), Question-Answer Relationship (QAR) activities, KWL charts, comparison matrixes, classification...

Upper graders identify the major characteristics of a wetland. They explore the human factors that change a wetland and write a descriptive paragraph about wetlands. This comprehensive lesson plan also has an interactive "Watershed Game"...

Scientific method, linear measurements, friction, inertia. Imagine learning scientific vocabulary in an ELA class. Before researching and developing a presentation about simple machines, class members build a common, but decidedly...

Learners, after reading Chapter 1 in the book, "Cyprus," design and create a nature journal for an imaginary trip around Cyprus. They identify animals and plants that in their minds live in Cyprus as well as describe the landscape all...

Third graders create reports in the fashion of small books. They write brief descriptions for a variety of topics and answering a variety of questions. They create a picture book for their individual animals. They utilize basic computer...

Invite your pupils to explore their surroundings with a walk around the neighborhood. Learners use their senses to make observations about their surroundings. 

Comets are also known as dirty snowballs or icy mud balls. With your super scientists, create a model comet nucleus to discover how they are made and take part in a scientific discussion to learn how it behaves.

Turn your students into flocks of migratory birds for this fun lesson plan on animal migration. Prior to the activity, the teacher creates four different migration routes in the classroom or any available open space,...

How can you determine the maximum speed of a sailboat? A sailing presentation included with a straightforward lesson plan prompts learners to calculate the maximum speed of a sailboat with a displacement hull. The...

Make music. Class members construct a simple record player using a paper cone and a pin. The resource provides a description of what is happening and why listeners can hear the sounds through the cone. 

What is a prism? A place for light waves that commit minor refractions! The thorough resource includes three hands-on investigations covering light reflection and refraction; mirrors, lenses, and images; and optical systems. Subject...

Practice electric vocabulary using multiple methods. Learners begin by watching a video that explains vocabulary related to electric currents. They match vocabulary cards to practice and then create an electric circuit. Using the...

Four lessons spotlight a variety of professions while boosting listening and observational skills and making inferences. Lesson one challenges pupils to group cards based on a commonality then justify the relationship they see....

For this objective thinking worksheet, student practice thinking objectively when observing information. They summarize two paragraphs. One they summarize in an objective manner and the other is summarized in a subjective manner.

Students create a visual organizer that describes different groups of vertebrates in this pre-writing activity. They view and discuss a video on descriptive writing and then form small groups to research vertebrate classes using the...

Learners review subject matter using a game format. In this quiz game lesson plan, students work in small groups or teams to state the question that matches the answer given by the teacher. (This is similar to the game of Jeopardy) They...

Students design and conduct an experiment to test a hypothesis. They create a question/objective based on the results of their experiment that can be answered by performing a human clinical trial. Students write inclusion and exclusion...

Pupils imagine they are taking a trip around Ireland. They create a nature journal for their trip including the description of the landscape, climate, animals and plants. They are to give details to make it seem real. Students may use...

Learners imagine they are taking a trip around Latvia. They create a nature journal for their trip including the description of the landscape, climate, animals and plants. They are to give details to make it seem real. Students may use...

Students imagine they are taking a trip around Slovenia. They create a nature journal for their trip including the description of the landscape, climate, animals and plants. They are to give details to make it seem real. Students may use...

Students imagine they are taking a trip around Sweden. They create a nature journal for their trip including the description of the landscape, climate, animals and plants. They are to give details to make it seem real. Students may use...

Wanted! Pests are on the loose! Here, class members create a wanted poster highlighting one pest. Posters includes a picture, description, and signs of pest activity.