Students explore 1920s America. For this American history lesson, students research primary and secondary sources in order to examine the events and noteworthy people of the time period. Students use their...

Eleventh graders create a timeline of events. In this vocabulary lesson plan, 11th graders work in groups to create a timeline of major events that occurred during the Civil Rights era. Students present to class then create a larger...

Learners examine reasons for studying government. In this U.S. government lesson, students brainstorm the reasons for rules. Learners draft their own class constitution in the style of the U.S. Constitution.

Students explore story structure. In this literacy and story structure lesson, students listen to picture books and illustrate a favorite part of the story. Students share their pictures and place them in sequential order on a bulletin...

Young scholars explore vocabulary related to peace. In this peace lesson, students define the word "peace" and create a poem about peace. Young scholars create a "peace quilt" as a follow-up activity.

Fourth graders write a poem. In this jazz music lesson, 4th graders learn about the basics of jazz dance and practice basic movements. Students learn common terminology and listen to several recordings of jazz music. Students create a...

Learners study and perform Aesop's fables. In this Aesop's fables lesson, students read and/or listen to a number of the famous fables. They make masks based on the characters and perform a fable using the masks. They write about the...

Students sing the song "Harriet Tubman" by Walter Robinson. In this African-American history instructional activity, students review code words that were used during the slave trade and listen to the song "Harriet Tubman". Students...

Eleventh graders examine chivalry and courtly love. In this Arthurian legend lesson, 11th graders explore the legend and how chivalry, honor, and courtly love have been internalized into today's culture. Students author and perform plays...

Students write original plays based on supernatural explanations of existence. In this cultural creation myths lesson plan, students listen to five different stories about supernatural creation. Students record similarities and...

Students research the surrealism movement and its primary artists. Language is also analyzed, and students will create their own original poem utilizing surrealistic techniques.

Learners explore connections between non-verbal language and art. In this visual and auditory art instructional activity, students investigate the science of sound and principles of drawing. They then use various genres of music to...

Learners become familiar with the style of architecture of medieval times.  For this architecture lesson, students design a model of a medieval castle including its cornerstone. Learners understand scale in their representation.

Students draw political cartoons. In this editorial cartoons lesson, students discover the history of the cartoons in America, analyze some cartoons, and then draw their own cartoons that make social statements.

Students examine Native American pottery. In this visual arts lesson, students analyze burnished and glazed clay pots. Students study how to create pots from online sources and respond to questions about the process. Extension activities...

Learners consider the influence of the Greeks on American architecture. In this American Greek Revival architecture lesson, students identify the attributes of architectural style as they compare the Parthenon with the Lincoln Memorial....

Learners examine Shakespearean language. In this word study lesson, students investigate the meaning of words that Shakespeare invented. Learners draw and pantomime with the words prior to writing short stories that feature Shakespeare's...

Learners build simple mobiles. In this equilibrium instructional activity, students investigate the functions of three types of levers as they analyze artwork by Alexander Calder. Learners then create their own simplified mobiles.

Students study the work of American scene painter Charles Burchfield. In this visual arts lesson, students research the nature paintings of Burchfield and then paint their own watercolor scenes in his style.

High schoolers examine the methods of effective characterization. For this writing skills lesson, students discuss how emotions, dialogue, actions, and physical descriptions build believable characters. High schoolers then use the...

Students explore surreal art and poetry. For this visual arts lesson, students examine works by André Breton, Robert Desnos, Salvador Dalí, and Joan Miro. Students then apply the techniques in the works they analyze to their own poetry.

Young scholars explore the attributes of fables. In this literature lesson, students read several fables and identify the moral lesson, characterization, and figurative language in each. Young scholars then retell their favorite fables...

High schoolers compare and contrast the flawed families in two plays. In this American drama lesson, students read Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and Long Day's Journey into Night. High schoolers research information about the playrights and...

Students study the American immigration experience. In this Ellis Island lesson, students research primary documents from the immigration station, take a tour of the station, and then prepare and perform dramatic presentations based on...