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Using Artifacts to Engage Students in Critical Thinking Activities
Creating learning centers with artifact-related activities are a great way to promote deductive reasoning and critical thinking skills.
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Dr. Nestler's Math 2 Pre-calculus
Students are given a description of a scenario of Professor Fink searching for a group of children. When he finds them, he states that he can express their location as a function of his hand. Students analyze the scenario and determine...
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Adapting a Musical
High schoolers transform literature into musical productions. In this integrated arts instructional activity, students discuss how musicals are written and produced. High schoolers then select literature they are familiar with to adapt...
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Lift Every Voice and Sing
Students analyze sculpture, poetry, and music to gain an understanding of historical events. In this critical thinking skills lesson, students take a closer look at African-American history as they examine "Lift Every Voice and Sing'"...
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Reaction Time 2: Zap!
Students explore critical thinking by conducting a reaction time experiment. For this human brain lesson, students utilize a timed Internet worksheet activity to research how fast their brain works when answering questions. Students...
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Imagining Back Story: Creating an Artifact for an Extra-Extended Text
Young scholars create a "back story" for a character from Measure for Measure. In this Measure for Measure instructional activity, students read the text closely as they look for clues about where the character came from and how he or...
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Curriculum Connections with Keiko Kasza
Learners read books by the author Keiko Kasza and complete critical thinking skills, and connections to different subjects. In this language lesson plan, students connect the books to language arts, social studies, science, math, health,...
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From Greece to Main Street
Students consider the influence of the Greeks on American architecture. In this American Greek Revival architecture lesson, students identify the attributes of architectural style as they compare the Parthenon with the Lincoln Memorial....
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Stop Action and Assess Alternatives
Students stop action and determine how history may have been altered. In this historical perspectives lesson, students consider how the Cherokee Removal, the Transcontinental Railroad, the Immigration Act of 1924, and the dropping of the...
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Taking a Closer Look (Critical Viewing)
Students explore persuasive writing in advertisements. In this advertisements lesson, students evaluate tobacco advertisements for persuasion techniques. Students then create a counter advertisement against smoking.
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Meet the Reformers
Seventh graders interpret historical evidence presented in primary and secondary resources. In this American reformers lesson, 7th graders research the accomplishments of selected reformers. Students then use the information they uncover...
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The Underground Railroad
First graders read a book about Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad. In this underground railroad lesson, 1st graders learn songs and code words that the slaves used to communicate with one another. Students discuss how all...
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Genre Lesson: What is a Mystery?
Examine the elements in a mystery with The Westing Game. Learners unscramble words as if they had to put clues together. Additionally, they discuss terms used in mysteries. They practice the word using the context of the story, as well...
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Interpreting & Verifying the News in an Era of Info Overload
Students practice their critical thinking skills. In this media awareness lesson, students read articles about media overload and interpretation of media. Students respond to discussion questions and discuss how they verify news....
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The Lion and the Mouse
Students write a story. In this critical thinking and writing lesson, students read a fable, answer the provided thinking skills questions, and write their own fable.
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Mount Everest
Students brainstorm about what different professions roles are and what skills they obtain. In this critical thinking lesson, students discuss reasons of why different people would want and need to climb Mount Everest.
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Critically Examining, Analyzing and Evaluating Picture Books on Aboriginal Canada
Students combat pervasive stereotypes. In this Critical Analysis lesson plan, students examine and evaluate the stereotypes of Aboriginal groups, as depicted in a picture book. Students will use primary and secondary sources to compose...
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The Student Cafateria as the "Leafy Chestnut Tree"
Students examine the difference between "news" of earlier periods, and "news" as we know it today. They then go out into the school common areas and analyze news from the perspective of word-of-mouth storys and discuss what they can...
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As a Bird Flies or as a Submarine Dives...
In this geography worksheet, students look critically at a map containing a variety of different directions. Students answer 2 short answer questions regarding giving someone the best directions from point A to point B.
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The Cask of Amontillado
Students examine the Edgar Allan Poe story "The Cask of Amontillado." For this character lesson, students discuss and analyze the characters in the story. Students make personal connections to the characters and create a brochure...
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The Electric Hearth
Students examine popular media. In this media awareness lesson plan, students keep logs of their interactions with media and then write an essay regarding the data.
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Historical Scavenger Hunts
Students investigate the impact of historical events. In this historical scavenger hunt lesson, students examine photographs of a local monument that zoom in on details. Students record their impressions regarding the photos. Students...
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Ravishing Rings (Multiplication with a Snack)
Students understand multiplication through the use of snack manipulatives. In this multiplication instructional activity, students solve a multiplication problem using pretzels and then create and answer original problems. Students...
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The March Continues
Learners explore the Civil Rights Memorial. For this character development and U.S. History lesson, students employ reading comprehension strategies while reading a news article about the Civil Rights Memorial. Learners work in groups to...