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Spelling and Reading
Students use their spelling words for the week to solve analogies. In groups, they work together to place the correct word in the correct place in a sentence. They also read a paragraph and determine the meaning of the word using...
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Same, But Different
Students compare and contrast specific characters in the book, "Old Henry." They discuss similarities and differences between people and define character traits. They assess one's own character traits and have a class discussion about...
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Designing Animal Masks
Students explore cultural traditions. In this lesson, about culture, students understand beliefs and traditions of different civilizations. Students analyze the meaning of animals to represent meaning to a culture. Students create a mask...
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My Secret War - The WWII Diary of Madeline Beck: Lesson 2
Fifth graders explore world history by reading historical fiction. In this World War II lesson, 5th graders read the story My Secret War and identify the importance of fiction when analyzing history. Students answer study questions about...
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Poetry Book
Students study the following terms and concepts: word choice, dialect, invented words, concrete terms, abstract terms, figurative and sensory language. In cooperative groups, they select three of the terms, research them, and pick poems...
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"You Shall Do Your Best Endeavor" - Working With Primary Documents
Students read and interpret primary source documents regarding historic Jamestown. In small groups, they read the primary documents, answer questions, and view online maps of Jamestown Island and Virginia.
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"Christmas Comes to Moccasin Flat"
Students discuss the life of the author of "Christmas Comes to Moccasin Flat". They also discuss the piece of literature and what Christmas means to them. In groups, they discuss how the novel ends.
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Homes Sweet Homes
Students view various examples of homes by Robert Harris. In groups, they describe how houses are different in various climates around the world. Individually, they use one artifact from their own home and research its significance in...
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The Star-Spangled Banner
Students sing the national anthem and analyze the lyrics. They work in cooperative groups to sequence the lyrics, research the cultural and historical context of the anthem and record a class performance.
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Chanting
Students use pictures and text to gain meaning from written materials by connecting text. message heard, and/or material viewed to prior knowledge and experiences. Finally, students recognize and name upper and lower case letters and...
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Putting on Beowulf
Pupils read "Putting on Beowulf" then, in separate groups, choose a segment of Beowulf to perform. They prepare a performance either "live" or on videotape. After listening and watching each performance, Students evaluate each...
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Introduction to Night by Elie Wiesel
Students research background knowledge of the Holocaust using Internet websites and the video Seared Souls as preparation for reading Elie Wiesel's Night. In this Night lesson, students visit websites for Holocaust vocabulary,...
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British Surnames Derived from Places
Students use a guiding question in order to provide a context for future research. They develop an understanding of British surnames derived from locations and learn some of the more common names still prevalent today.
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How Advertising Works
Students investigate the concept of advertising while using the context of tanning lotion. They have a class discussion using examples provided in the lesson to measure the effectiveness of advertising. Students investigate the key...
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Keeping Your English Up To Date: Bless
Students explore the definition and derivation of the popular usage of the word bless to talk about sweet or cute things. Using worksheets and lecture materials, students provide meanings for the word "bless" when used in varying contexts.
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Grab Hands and Run: Understanding Human Rights
Sixth graders read the novel Grab Hands and Run by Frances Temple. They explore the effects of war on human rights. Students explore the idea that human rights are protected by the United Nations. They identify the human rights that were...
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Daisyworld: Interactive On-line PC and Mac
Students use a JAVA interface to explore the Daisy World model to illustrate a mechanism through which - according to the Gaian hypothesis - biota might optimize their abiotic environment by means of negative feedback.
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Street Cred
Students explore the definition and derivation of the popular word "cred." Using worksheets and lecture materials, students provide meanings for the word when used in varying contexts and when used as a phrase. They also consider the...
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Name Squares
Students examine the sounds the letters of their name make. They read Dr. Seuss' ABC Book and Mary Engelbreit's Put Em All Together. They practice writing the individual letters of their names in squares.
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The Smacking Debate
Students compare and contrast the United States laws with other countries laws on spanking children. After reading an article, they discuss how adults and children are treated differently within the law. In groups, they compare and...
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Who's Inside The Mitten?
Students use the Jan Brett story, 'The Mitten,' to develop self-confidence and improve their oral language skills. They also practice performing in front of a group. Students take on the various roles that the animals play in the story.
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Group Newspaper-American System of Government
Eighth graders, in groups, design, research, and create a newspaper that explains four historical events that have influenced the American system of government.
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Post-War Japan
Students research the conditions of post-war Japan. In groups, they examine the plans that were put into place for the country and identify the attitude of the Allies. To end the lesson, they discuss the changes that came about in their...
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How Are Boundaries Made, Kept, Broken?
Students complete essays reflecting themes in Things Fall Apart. They use Microsoft Word to revise, edit, and complete their essays. They complete their dialectical journals for Things Fall Apart.