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Bird Banners
Middle schoolers create banners for their classroom that contain the same information as field guides.
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Anne Frank and Louisiana - There is a Connection!
How is Louisiana connected to the Holocaust? After reading The Diary of Anne Frank, eighth graders complete a research report about a survivor of the Holocaust who currently resides in Louisiana. Though the idea is a good way to...
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Design a Soda Bottle Label
Students make a mind web to describe their favorite soda. They then make thumbnail sketches of their labels. Tehy create a unique font with which to write the mane of their soda.
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What is Your Story?
Students listen to Picnic In October and Memory Coat to explore the concept of memoirs. They interview a family member and write a personal memoir that reflects their own family history.
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Making an Argument: Effective use of Transition Words
Work on using transition words in context by prompting elementary and middle schoolers to write their own persuasive essays using transition words. They explore new forms of transition words and examine how they are used in an editorial...
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Sorting Out Homophones in Roald Dahl's
Young scholars explore the concept of homophones. In this homophone lesson, students use a selection from the book Matilda to review homophones. Young scholars use a web to identify homophones.
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Reading Comprehension: Context Clues
Fifth graders use context clues to help them understand unknown words. In this context clues lesson, 5th graders practice identifying context clues on a worksheet, then work with a peer to write their own story. Stories are peer edited...
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Vocabulary - Unfolding Meaning
Learners write the "word for the day" onto a note card. They add a definition, discuss in class and file the card in their own metal box. At the end of the week students play a game with the words from that week.
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Adjective Games and Associated Worksheets
In this adjective games worksheet, students use adjective wheels, practice spelling adjectives, combine roots words to create an adjective, and explain how different objects using adjectives. Teachers are given detailed information on...
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Family Search We All Came To America
Eighth graders participate in a computer based Family Search Unit. They use multimedia resources to research their country of origin, conduct interviews, and use software to produce narratives, databases, spreadsheets and graphs in this...
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Synonyms
Students discover the defintion for synonyms and how they describe similar situations. They start with a common word such as "happy" and brainstorm different words that mean the same as happy. They draw pictures or write sentences to...
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Bullying
Fourth graders define the role of a bully, then participate in skits with bullying situations. For this health and safety lesson, the teacher introduces the idea of bullying with the book Enemy Pie. Then students create a double bubble...
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Introduction to "The Secret School"
Fourth graders read The Secret School and define vocabulary in the text. In this Secret School lesson, 4th graders recognize difficult text and are able to comprehend its meaning and answer questions.
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Laurence Yep's, Dragonwings
Students discuss vocabulary words and compare definitions. They read chapters 6-9 of the novel, Dragonwings, and discuss point of view, and complete a plot diagram. Then they review the four types of conflict and identify the conflicts...
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How to Express Actions
Students use online resources to practice and master the use of the most commonly used Spanish verbs in the infinitive form. They develop an understanding of how verbs work, and follow a set of patterns to conjugate them.
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Reference Resources: Being a Good Detective
Students explore a variety of reference resources while seeking information. atlases, almanacs, dictionaries, encyclopedias, thesauri, and online search engines as well as library card catalogs are utilized in this lesson.
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Laurence Yep's Dragonwings
Learners read independently the novel, "Dragonwings," by Laurence Yep and make connections between a text and the world. They summarize, paraphrase, analyze and evaluate skimming and scanning techniques when reading a novel. Each student...
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Wolf Fact Cards
Students write a non-chronological report about wolves. They read and discuss wolf fact cards in small groups, complete a KWL chart, observe the teacher model the steps of writing a report, and conduct research and write an original...
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Boston Women: The Struggle for Freedom 1760 -1850
Fifth graders investigate the lives and various accomplishments of selected women of Boston.For this famous women writing lesson, 5th graders research biographical information. Students discuss the achievements of these women using...
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Research project
Eighth graders explore reference materials and then complete a research project. In this research project lesson, 8th graders choose the best reference source to use. Students learn to correctly site sources for their project....
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Transforming Negatives to Positives
Students write diamonte poems that correspond to the double-exposed photograph they created. In this poetry and multimedia artwork lesson, students use the photographic process to create a double-exposed photo then create...
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Create a Word Graveyard to Teach Synonyms
Students explore descriptive writing by creating headstones. In this memorial lesson plan, students utilize an 11" x 17" piece of paper to create a cemetery headstone memorializing a word rather than a person. Students decorate their...
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“Home on the Range”
Fourth graders analyze the song "Home on the Range" and identify its meaning and setting. In this timeline and retelling instructional activity, 4th graders use dictionaries to find definitions of unfamiliar words, create a...
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Recasting Language through Found Poetry
Discover the concept of found poetry in this engaging lesson. Secondary learners will explore the poem "Natural Selection" and compare it to the writings of Charles Darwin in Origin of the Species. Students chose a text and create...