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Our City, Our Words
Students write poetry that captures their feelings about their city or town. After presenting their poetry at a class reading students compare their poetry to the work of published poets who have written about the same city.
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Crossing Borders, Crossing Boundaries?
Students explore how the United States government is using biometrics to secure American borders. They examine the pitfalls of biometrics programs and propose possible ways to strengthen the program.
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Exhibiting Tools of the Trade
Students design 'mini museums' that exhibit both historic and current artifacts and information associated with specific professions. They then display and defend their work in class gallery talks and exhibitions.
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Taking the Witness Stand
Young scholars identify a pivotal event in world history that they would have liked to have witnessed. They then research this event and write a first-person account of it as if they had been present. Their first-prerson account is...
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Characterization
Students read the book Sylvester and the Magic Pebble. In this character traits instructional activity, students read the book and identify character traits. Students draw pictures of a character from the book and describe the character...
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Cooperative Comics
Students create comics identifying conflicts and their resolutions. For this conflict resolution lesson, small groups of students follow specific mapping instructions to illustrate a conflict and its resolution. Students present orally...
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"Once Upon a Time": Tearing Down Fences
Ninth graders study how individuals take responsibility in reducing societal misunderstandings. They discover the irony in thinking that building fences provides security and solves societal problems. They consider the fences that every...
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Getting the Message Across
Learners discover the emergence of e-mail as a popular communication tool and explore its impact on society. They consider the advantages and disadvantages of different types of communication tools in various creative contexts.
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To Kill a Mockingbird - Introductory Role Play and Historical Background
High schoolers participate in role-play activities to explain that emotional and social effects of prejudice discussed in the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird.
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Sacred Space
Students consider the two finalists in the contest for architectural designs for the site of the World Trade Center. They create their own designs for a meaningful public space, then critique each other's designs.
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Paper Sculpture Headdress
Students examine African masks and headdresses, and create their own.
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Thanksgiving Acrostic Poems
Students watch streaming video, Holiday Facts and Fun: Thanksgiving, define and discuss acrostic poetry, complete circle map using words associated with Thanksgiving, and create acrostic Thanksgiving poems to be typed in Microsoft Word...
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Holes-Outdoor Adventure Camp
Students read the book and watch the movie, Holes. They create a brochure (containing specific information) that advertises Camp Green Lake as a newly refurbished outdoor adventure camp. They display the brochures for the rest of the...
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Makes Cents to Me: Penny Drive
St that people have wants and must find ways to get them. In this philanthropy lesson plan, learners understand the ways people get things and arrange a penny drive to help others. Students arrange an artistic project to reflect on their...
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Frontier Life Story
Students undertake a similar (but not quite as drastic) adventure as that of Frontier House as they explore the day-to-day realities of frontier life through a Laura Ingalls Wilder story, and reflect on which time period suits them...
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Newsworthy Fairy Tales
Third graders review common fairy tales and work in teams to rewrite the fairy tales as news articles. They answer questions using the 5 Ws (who, what, where, when, why). Student articles include eye-catching headlines.
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The Chocolate War
Students scrutinize the story, "The chocolate War" by Robert Cormier for examples of nonconformity in the face of power. The nature of the relationship between students in the story is compared to the associations of the reader.
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Marc Brown's Author Study: Arthur's Nose
Student's read Arthur's Nose and view the changes in Arthur's nose. In this Arthur lesson, young scholars define difficult vocabulary, discuss choices and sing to the tune of Old MacDonald had a Farm. Students create a new nose for...
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I Am From Poem
In this poetry learning exercise, students create a poem about their memories and upbringing. Students use details and feelings that reflect their life and memories.
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Tackling Hunger on "Souper Bowl" Sunday
Students envelop basic plans, in small groups, for fundraising projects that they could actually organize and execute.
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Living History
Students investigate historic events through the eyes of people who were their age when the event happened. Through personal interviews, students gain insights on the impact of these events on these people's lives and on the world at large.
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Recalling History by Pulling Strings
Learners investigate the role and nature of story-telling as it preserves history and culture and discuss how puppetry serves as an effective method of presentation. They create basic outlines for puppet shows that relay important...
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Outreach in the Aftermath
Students investigate types of aid needed to help Turkey recover and rebuild in the wake of a devastating earthquake on August 17, 1999. They create a plan for a fundraiser or project that they can do to offer assistance to victims of...