Virginia Department of Education
Researching and Narrowing Topics
Internet research is becoming more common, so why not conduct an online research project in your classroom? Use this resource to get you and your class started. The lesson includes basic instructions and a list of questions to help...
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Teen Drivers with Passengers
Students research the current driving laws, particularly as they apply to teens. Students interview state legislators perhaps to see if they think this is a good idea. Students write an in-depth article about teen driving and the effect...
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Personalities of the Renaissance
Have the class interpret historical evidence presented in primary and secondary resources. They examine sources regarding architecture, art, exploration, government, literature, religion, and technology of the era. Then they use their...
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Life as a Legend: Marilyn Monroe: What is Beautiful?
Learners consider the notion of beauty and what impact the media and popular culture have on it. In this cross curricular lesson, students examine print ads, write down and share their thoughts on them. Then learners form literary groups...
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Heart Rate equals gym grade
Students find out about an interesting activity that is going on in their school. Then the student interviews students and teachers to see how they would feel if a teacher monitored their heart rate during that specific project and that...
National Park Service
Freedom at Antietam
Explore how the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation affected everyday individuals in the Civil War era. Learners are given the opportunity to read and evaluate primary and secondary source material, and then to compose a writing...
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Bird Interdisciplinary Possibilities
Students explore birds, their territory, breeding, and seasonal movement. They research and collect information on birds through writing letters to ornithologists, reading in books, comparing web sites, and observing pictures. Students...
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Jack-O-Latern Lesson
Have a Happy Halloween and build strong oral language skills. Special needs Pupils functioning at a moderate level can practice sequencing, writing lists, and using oral language by explaining how they carve a pumpkin.
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Turning Literature into News
Students analyze the format and structure of various newspaper articles. Then, they rewrite events from literature into news stories about acts of kindness.
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News Watch
Students examine newspaper articles that deal with human rights issues, prejudice, ethnic wars, antisemitism, racism, and inequality.
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Heroes and Heroines in Science: Dispelling the Stereotype
students think of scientists as heroes and heroines by dispelling the stereotypes of persons in scientific careers. They work in cooperative groups to research the life and works of a scientist and (through the use of the library and the...
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Violence
Students create a drama based on the theme 'violence'. Students then find newspaper articles that depict violence and share them with the class.
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Inquiring Minds Want to Know
First graders write probing questions and select an interviewee from a given list. They meet with the person, ask questions and take a picture of the person being interviewed. They write an article or draw a picture of the person's answers.
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The Cost of Saving
Tenth graders compare accounts provided by the two newspaper articles with the visual account provided by Sue Coe. They articulate how those accounts are alike and different. Students consider the economic choices that made the Hamlet...
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The Allergy Chronicles
Students discuss their preconceived ideas about allergic reactions. They assume the role of health writers preparing a special section for the school newspaper on allergies. They research information about allergies and discuss their...
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Economic Market Pain
Students read and discuss article, and write an interpretation of the message for a class newspaper.
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Journalism 101
Students understand the writing style in a newspaper. In this journalism lesson, students recognize that a newspaper has a catchy headline and objective writing. Students interview someone in an area of interest and write a news article.
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Transcontinental Railroad Web Quest
Students examine aspects of the Transcontinental Railroad. In this Westward Expansion lesson, students conduct a web-quest in order to gather information about the Transcontinental Railroad. Students will use their information to analyze...
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What's the Story?
Students explore how the same news story can be presented differently through various journalistic styles. They discuss the unique characteristics of each style and find articles on the same event in each of the different styles.
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Short Story Lesson Plan
Students read and discuss the short story, "The McWilliamses and the Burglar Alarm," by Mark Twain. They assume the role of the main characters in the story and write a humorous letter of complaint using a business letter format. They...
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Sgt. Humiston, Where are You?
Learners become familiar with the events of the Civil War. For this identification lesson, students use deductive reasoning to understand how the deceased soldier was identified. Learners view primary documents for...
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At the Heights of Conflict
Students examine the historic and present conflict between Israel and Syria over the Golan Heights. In groups students present the class with information on the Golan Heights. They write an essay defending his or her view on the future...
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A Right to Bear Arms - One Patriot's View
Students research Samuel Adams' role in the crafting of the Second Amendment. They consider how Adams' views evolved with time and write a one-page response linking their research to current events.
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Electronic Media
Students compare forms of electronic media. They watch a news broadcast and take notes on the content being conveyed. After viewing the broadcast, they read newspaper articles or news magazines to locate articles with similar content to...