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Introducing Vocabulary
Eleventh graders create a timeline of events. In this vocabulary instructional activity, 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...
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Lesson Plan: U.S. Government
Students examine reasons for studying government. In this U.S. government instructional activity, students brainstorm the reasons for rules. Students draft their own class constitution in the style of the U.S. Constitution.
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Every Picture Tells a Story
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...
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Discovering Peace
Students explore vocabulary related to peace. In this peace lesson, students define the word "peace" and create a poem about peace. Students create a "peace quilt" as a follow-up activity.
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Jazz Dance and Music
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...
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Masks and Aesop's Fables
Students 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...
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Harriet Tubman
Students sing the song "Harriet Tubman" by Walter Robinson. In this African-American history lesson, students review code words that were used during the slave trade and listen to the song "Harriet Tubman". Students create movements to...
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Life of a Navajo Weaver
Young scholars explore Native American weaving patterns and dance movements. In this Native Americans lesson, students view examples of weaving patterns on the Internet and compare the patterns to a Native American dance. Young scholars...
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Chivalry and Courtly Love
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...
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Cultural Creation Myths
Students write original plays based on supernatural explanations of existence. In this cultural creation myths lesson, students listen to five different stories about supernatural creation. Students record similarities and differences in...
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Dali & Desnos: Surrealism in Poetry and Art
Young scholars research the surrealism movement and its primary artists. Language is also analyzed, and students will create their own original poem utilizing surrealistic techniques.
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Rhythm and Art: Gesture Drawing
Students 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...
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Castles and Cornerstones
Students become familiar with the style of architecture of medieval times. In this architecture activity, students design a model of a medieval castle including its cornerstone. Students understand scale in their representation.
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Drawing Political Cartoons
Young scholars draw political cartoons. In this editorial cartoons activity, students discover the history of the cartoons in America, analyze some cartoons, and then draw their own cartoons that make social statements.
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Exploring Pottery Techniques
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...
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From Greece to Main Street
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....
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A Way with Words or Say What?
Students examine Shakespearean language. In this word study lesson, students investigate the meaning of words that Shakespeare invented. Students draw and pantomime with the words prior to writing short stories that feature Shakespeare's...
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Alexander Calder: Master of Balance
Students build simple mobiles. In this equilibrium lesson, students investigate the functions of three types of levers as they analyze artwork by Alexander Calder. Students then create their own simplified mobiles.
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An American Scene Painter
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.
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Creating Characters
High schoolers examine the methods of effective characterization. In this writing skills instructional activity, students discuss how emotions, dialogue, actions, and physical descriptions build believable characters. High schoolers then...
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Dali & Desnos
Learners explore surreal art and poetry. In this visual arts lesson plan, students examine works by André Breton, Robert Desnos, Salvador Dalí, and Joan Miro. Learners then apply the techniques in the works they analyze to their own poetry.
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Discovering Russian Folk Dance
First graders explore the art of Russian folk dancing. For this cultural traditions lesson, 1st graders research the Troika and incorporate attributes of the Russion folk dance into their own renditions.
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Elements of Fables
Students explore the attributes of fables. In this literature lesson, students read several fables and identify the moral lesson, characterization, and figurative language in each. Students then retell their favorite fables in their own...
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Fractured Families in American Drama
Learners compare and contrast the flawed families in two plays. In this American drama instructional activity, students read Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and Long Day's Journey into Night. Learners research information about the playrights and...