Could you determine longitude based on measuring time? Early explorers used a longitude clock to do just that. Scholars learn about early exploration and the importance of the invention of the clock. Then pupils build their own longitude...

During the Battle of Baltimore in the War of 1812, only 25% of the bombs and rockets fired at Fort McHenry actually reached their target. Using an interactive online simulation, combine your historical study with physics and...

Fifth and sixth graders are introduced to the primary landforms of Illinois and discover how they were created. Landform cards are made for each pupil. They use the twenty-questions format until they have identified each one. Then,...

Haiku poetry is explored in this language arts lesson. Yong readers identify the characteristics of haiku and read several examples. Young scholars make connections between their study of Japan and the poetic form of haiku, and they...

Students are introduced to the five senses and how they are sorted throughout the brain. After reading about each type of mind, they discuss ways in which they can focus on each one on a daily basis. As a class, they discover ways in...

As part of a case study of U.S. immigration during the first part of the 20th century, class members examine a variety of primary sources that present multiple perspectives of the responses of those in favor of immigration and those...

Students discover the primary landforms of Illinois. They examine how those landforms were formed as well. In groups, they research one of the landforms from their vocabulary list. They create their landform in a shoebox and present it...

Students define a word from the natural disaster list, find a location in the world where this type of disaster has occurred and discuss what they have identified. They design a crossword puzzle of natural disaster words or check a...

Fourth graders determine how many different types of immigrant groups came to America. They discuss how immigrants feel when moving to a new place. They read the story, "How Many Days to America" by Eve Bunting and discuss how some...

Students identify consequences to the resistance of the draft in Arkansas during World War II. They role-play scripts of local board members who were Southern businessmen, farmers; and conscientious objectors, their friends, families, or...

Students conduct research into the lives of pirates and create a personal skit based upon the research as inspiration. The use of imagination is a key component to the type of writing to be done during the class.

Students engage in a creative project of making a paper koi pond meant to illustrate the type of life that can be found in the pond ecosystem. They build cultural appreciation for the Japanese by researching the use of the koi ponds.

Kids in grade four through eight research Inuit artists and art styles. After a critical look at Inuit sculpture, they use those forms for inspiration as they create one of their own. They practice using the subtractive method of...

Fourth graders examine the culture and environment of Japan, beginning with a KWL chart. They use clay and cups of water to construct representations of the Japanese Islands. After designing flags representing farming and food, 4th...

Students study immigration in the late 19th and early 20th century. In this immigration lesson plan, students participate in activities including creating maps, responding to non fiction text, memorizing and analyzing poetry, and...

How can you recognize bullying? How is verbal bullying different from physical or social bullying, and when has a joke gone too far? Learners use their own experiences and ideas to inform the discussion.

Students analyze the use of color, images and type used in print advertising, then "pitch" a company. They, in groups, brainstorm products and services of companies that may be affected by the war in Iraq.

Students watch the PBS program "In the Mix" about teen immigrants. They discover the number of immigrants in America and their problems moving to this country. They answer questions as the film plays.

Young scholars research severe weather conditions that occur in their region of the country and develop guidelines to deal with natural disaster-related emergencies.

Students examine working conditions during the Industrial boom. In this Industrialization lesson, students analyze primary sources in order to chart the responsibilities of workers in industrial jobs.

Young scholars determine what lures immigrants to the Pittsburgh area. They conduct interviews to compare the experiences of new immigrants to the area to those of previous immigrants.

Students, after hearing a radio broadcast on 'A Day in School Abroad,' explore and study the lives and experiences of children in a variety of places. They assess the advantages and disadvantages of living on a small island, find out...

Fourth graders create a model of the formation of Indiana by glaciers. Working in groups with appropriate materials, they create a model documenting how glaciers moved through the land and formed the geological structure and land masses...

In this Vikings instructional activity, students read about the Vikings and the Viking Age and then answer the 15 questions in the packet. The answers are on the last page.