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Who Has the Power?
Fifth graders write persuasive letters expressing opinions about the purchase of 25 acres adjacent to Wakulla Springs proposed to include a convenience store/gas station. They submit the letter to the Florida Department of Environmental...
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English and Literacy: Children's Rights - Expanded Paragraphs
Students write expanded paragraphs about children's rights. For this writing and children's rights lesson, students listen to Caroline Castle's, For Every Child, noting the points about children's rights on each page. They discuss each...
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Hoot: Anticipation Guide
Should companies be able to build wherever they want? Are animals worth protecting? Explore the literary themes from Carl Hiaasen's Hoot with an anticipation guide. Kids read ten statements and decide if they agree or disagree, then...
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The Outsiders: Anticipation Guide
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton is always a favorite for middle and high school readers because it addresses issues that hit home to them, decades after the book is set. Have learners fill out an anticipation guide that encourages them to...
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Environment: Water & Air
The introduction to the activity mentions a sailor's limited capacity to store drinking water on his ship. Pupils then set up an overnight experiment to remove freshwater from salt water by distillation. There is a math and map activity...
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Persuasive Letter about Smoking
Students write a persuasive letter to someone they care about who smokes. They must use both logical and emotional appeals in their letter.
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Writing a How-To Paper
Students discover that when writing a how-to paper, they are telling readers how to do something such as cook a particular recipe. They then choose one of the provided topics and write their own how-to paper.
Teaching Tolerance
Community Bulletin Board
A project-based lesson has pupils create a bulletin board to share artwork, nonfiction articles, and messages based on social justice themes. The finished board is displayed in the community to create a place for discussion.
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"Shooting An Elephant": George Orwell's Essay on his Life in Burma
High schoolers read an essay by George Orwell's life in Burma and place it in its cultural and historical context. They identify the main points of the essay and Orwell's use of symbolism in the essay. They explain how each persuasive...
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Sato and the Elephants
Students write a persuasive letter to the government of an African country that has elephants as a resource. Students research and debate the pros and cons of ivory use. Students identify the value of ivory products versus the lives of...
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Main Idea in Informational Text
Readers identify main ideas and supporting details using informational texts. In this literacy lesson plan, they make predictions and read the text to find the main ideas. They use a table diagram to define the main idea and supporting...
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The Gathering and Analysis of Data
Young mathematicians gather data on a topic, graph it in various forms, interpret the information, and write a summary of the data. They present their data and graphs to the class.
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Language Arts: GloFish - Illuminating Essays
Students research the genetically-engineered GloFish and write essays expressing their views about the subject. They evaluate the pros and cons of genetic engineering.Students may also hold a debate about genetic engineering.
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Why I Like ________?
Students write a persuasive essay on why they would like to visit a particular place in the United States and why they think others should see that particular place. In their essay, they should use the title I have for this lesson and...
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Power of Persuasion
Teaching students about persuasion can be a fun experience that involves writing, PowerPoint presentations, and vocabulary building.
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Disease Lesson Plan
Young scholars research the bubonic plague including disease facts, the time frame of outbreaks and the impact it had on society. They examine the work of Edgar Allen Poe and write an essay explaining why the plague was a subject of...
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Substance Abuse Prevention at Hollywood High
Students research alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs using cd-roms, Internet websites, and media center materials. In small groups they write a script and create a computer animated movie using the "Hollywood High" computer software.
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The President's Day Has Arrived
Students state and defend their opinions regarding all aspects of the impeachment proceedings against President Clinton after completing a survey and researching the topic. They also consider opinion polls, media bias and global politics.
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The Chinese Expulsion Act of 1880
Students examine the Chinese Expulsion Act of 1880. In this History lesson plan, students explore the issues of immigration and exclusion surrounding the Chinese Expulsion Act. Students will use a variety of primary sources to write an...
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Have I Got a Graphic Organizer for You
Use Inspiration software to create webs. You have to create discussion topics (none are provided here), but learners will enjoy working with pairs and technology.
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Limited Resources - Understanding Our Cultural Resources
Young scholars examine and compare preserving natural resources and preserving cultural resources. They conduct Internet research on two topics, and write a position paper on whether cultural resources or natural resources are more...
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Who or What is Un-American?
Young scholars explore concepts about civil liberties, research the history of sedition-related legislation in the U.S. and create a position paper on the topic.
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Persuasive Text: Vocabulary Charades
Learners play charades to act out vocabulary words that have recently been introduced in class. For this vocabulary lesson students may work in groups or in pairs.
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Thesis Statements
Develop an understanding of main ideas and thesis statements with your class by using this step-by-step presentation. The concepts presented will guide learners through essay focus, main idea, central points, coherency, and proper...