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Hollywood
Pupils listen to a play, or perhaps, take turns reading portions of it aloud. Afterward, they thoughtfully analyze and discuss the components of a well-written play. Next, a theme is assigned, and each person writes a play in conjunction...
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Circle of Caring
Students explore the concept of philanthropy. In this service learning lesson, students study the works of well-known philanthropists and write an acrostic poem using the word CARING.
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Here Today-Gone Tomorrow
Students explore changes and how to adapt to them. They discuss the seasons, changes in the weather, and different stages of matter. Students write a poem about change. Additional cross curriculum activities are listed.
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The Places We Love
Learners examine how they and others express themselves. Using various writings and art, they discover the places they like to go in the world and share them with their classmates. They paint their favorite place and share their...
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Discovering Shoes, Step by Step
Students discuss and write about their interpretations of the art. They compare and contrast the numerous types of shoes and how they are used in a certain time and place. Students memorize the Shel Silverstein's poem, "Ickle Me, Pickle...
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Langston Hughes
Students identify similarities between Hughes' poetry and music (jazz and the blues).
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Literature and History of the Holocaust
Students examine quotes and text passages related to the Holocaust. They generate a list of questions about the Holocaust and analyze a piece of writing based on the authorship of the work. They infer the meaning of a poem and determine...
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Circle of Caring
Middle schoolers examine lives that have been lived for the positive good of others. In this philanthropy instructional activity, students discuss famous philanthropists and what they have in common. Middle schoolers define philanthropy,...
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Lesson Plan Three: Sense of Hearing and The Ear
Students use their sense of hearing to observe sounds at school, label parts of the ear, and write their own version of the "Ears Hear" poem by following the example provided.
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Insects
Young scholars study the characteristics and basic needs of insects. They compare and describe similarities among insects. They examine the body structure, covering, and movement of insects and also, examine insect life cycles in this...
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Art and National Identity: Analyzing Painting and Literature from the Era of Manifest Destiny
Students begin the lesson by discussing the causes and effects of the movement west. Using primary sources, they develop their own definition for manifest destiny. In groups, they view examples of paintings and read poems on the topic. ...
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Magic, Sass, and Rage
Young scholars are introduced to the characteristics of autobiographies. In groups, they read Maya Angelou's "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" and develop their own rules for survival in the classroom. They bring in family photos in an...
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Scribe of Self
Seventh graders read "Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank. In groups, they discuss the reasons why people would write an autobiography and identify their own identity crisis. After reading excerpts of other autobiographies, they...
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I Am . . .
Eighth graders read Eloise Greenfield's novella, 'Sister'. They write their personal responses quickly, foregoing concern about usage, spelling, and punctuation at this point. They write about their day, or may write about any...
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Courageous Heroes
Students investigate the concept of a hero. For this character education lesson, students define courage and discuss heroes they know. Students brainstorm ways to describe a hero and create an acrostic poem.
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Harvest Happenings
Young scholars explore the history of agriculture and develop a personal connection to agriculture. Students investigate how farming practices have evolved through the years and create poetry relating to harvest.
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Fly Away Home
Second graders investigate the human right of having a home. They listen to Eve Bunting's, "Fly Away Home" before looking a pictures of different types of homes around the world. They write sentences about the homes before writing an...
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Pilkey Author Study
Third graders read and hear stories by the author, Dav Pilkey and research the list of books written by this author. They become illustrators to the novel "Captain Underpants: An Epic Novel," then they create a timeline of their lives...
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Children's Literature Across the Curriculum Ideas-Polar, The Titanic Bear
Learners read Polar, The Titanic Bear by Daisy Corning Stone Spedden. They complete a variety of cross-curricular activities surrounding this true story of a toy bear that survived the sinking of the Titanic. Included are reading, art,...
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Legends of the Fifth
Fifth graders discover the difference between myths, legends, and folk tales. They summarize legends. They work together to dramatize legends and then create their own legend using the writing process. Handouts and worksheets are included.
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AFRICA: "The Orphan Boy"
Learners read a story of the Masai people The Orphan Boy. They create a list of characteristics of the Masai people. They write a descriptive poem about the Masai people.
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A Country Twice Divided
Students study biography from the 19th century. They read "The Red Badge of Courage." Students research a topic from the list provided in the lesson and write a 5-7 page paper. They study lyrics and melodies of the confederacy and...
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Thank You!
Young scholars demonstrate appreciation for volunteer workers. In this philanthropy lesson, students create a card, picture, or poem for a school volunteer. Young scholars use a variety of art supplies to create the appreciation gift.
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The Farm/Prairie
Learners explore what people do on the farm/prairie and the importance of the farm/prairie to our lives. Students read books and look at pictures to study about the different aspects of farming. Learners create a mural and write a...