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'No Cussing' Clubs Catching on with Kids
Students read a news article about a boy in California who wants to encourage his peers to use good language. In this current events instructional activity, the teacher introduces the article with a short rap, discussion, and vocabulary...
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Very Good Facts About Very Good Books
Students identify the characteristics of fiction and non-fiction texts. In this genre study instructional activity, students read the books A Butterfly Alphabet Book and I Wish I Were a Butterfly. Students develop a graphic organizer to...
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Honeybees are Vanishing
Learners decide if they agree with a series of statements about the bee population, then read a news article about the disappearance of millions of U.S. honeybees. In this biology and current events instructional activity, the teacher...
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Prehistoric Discoveries
Students agree or disagree with several statements about ancient animals, then read a news article about recent prehistoric discoveries. In this earth science and current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a...
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Construction Starts on Freedom Tower
Students are introduced to an image of Freedom Tower, then read a news article about the construction of this building that will be completed in 2011. In this current events activity, the teacher introduces the article with an...
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Turn Down Music to Save Hearing
Students participate in a informal survey of their listening habits, then read a news article about the possibility of portable music players harming kids hearing. In this current events lesson plan, the teacher introduces the article...
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Chips, Anyone?
Students identify how computer technology affects their lives, then read a news article about the impact of computer chips implanted under some people's skin. For this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a...
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Scientists Use Web Site to Report Volcano Activity
Students react to statements about volcanoes, then read a news article about scientists monitoring eruptions at Augustine volcano in Alaska. For this earth science and current events lesson, the teacher introduces the lesson with a...
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Creative Can Sculptures Help Feed the Hungry
Young scholars look at pictures of Canstruction sculptures, then read a news article about the construction of these canned food sculptures. In this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with pictures of winning...
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"The Big Orchard Book of Funny Poems"
Learners read and analyze various poems from the book "The Big Orchard Book of Funny Poems." They clap to the rhymes, identify patterns, compare and contrast poems, and write an alternative poem based on the poem "Christine Crump."
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African Slaves in Haiti
Sixth graders examine how Africans were treated in the Caribbean and Haiti after reading about the Atlantic Slave Trade. From a multicultural information passage, they complete a time line on Toussiant L-Ouverture and write an obituary.
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Pets are Popular with U.S. Presidents
Students discuss their pets and read about pets that have lived in the White House. In this current events instructional activity, the teacher introduces the article with a vocabulary activity and pet survey, then the students read the...
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National Turkey Off to Disneyland
Young scholars share their holiday traditions, then read about an American Thanksgiving custom. In this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the news article with a discussion and vocabulary activity, the students participate in...
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Kids Build Pumpkin-Tossing Catapult
Students read a news article about the creation of a catapult that will throw pumpkins. In this current events instructional activity, the teacher introduces the article with a discussion of catapults and a vocabulary activity, then...
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Farmers Use Falcons to Protect Berries
Students share information about falcons, then read about how farmers are using falcons. In this falcon lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a discussion and vocabulary activity, then students read the news report and...
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Bike-Sharing Catches On
Students discuss how people are reducing their fuel consumption, then read a news article about a new bike-sharing program in Washington, D.C. In this current events and alternative transportation lesson, the teacher introduces the...
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Recycled Vegetable Oil Powers Vans, Cars
Students share their knowledge about fuel sources, then read a news article about vegetable oil as a cleaner alternative to gasoline. For this current events and environmental science lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a...
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Scientists Discover Giant Frog Fossil
Students examine a world map and read a news article about the discovery of a giant frog fossil. In this earth science and current event instructional activity, the teacher introduces an article with a discussion about continental drift...
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Will Smog be a Problem at the Olympic Games?
Students locate China on a world map, then read a news article about pollution in Beijing. In this current events activity, the teacher introduces the article with a discussion about smog and a vocabulary activity, then students read the...
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A Town on the Move
Students evaluate the moving of buildings, then read a news article about one town relocating building to save their economy. In this economics and current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a discussion and...
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No Choice!
Young scholars investigate freedom. In this character development and U.S. history lesson, students participate in role playing in which the teacher assigns recess restrictions including whom they play with and what they play. Young...
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Picture Books, Retelling, and Writing
Students create stories using only pictures. In this visual storytelling lesson, students read Pancakes for Breakfast by Tomie de Paola and analyze the wordless story. Students create new text for the book by writing on...
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It's in the Elements - Lesson Four
Students compare and contrast story elements in two versions of Cinderella. In this literature elements lesson, students are read two different versions of Cinderella, they identify the characters, plot, and setting, then they...
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Responding to Literature
Fifth graders examine how to respond to literature. In this literature response lesson, 5th graders discuss how to respond to literature. They write a response in a literature log each night based on their reading and the connections...